Interrupting capacity and selectivity
The 3VA2216-7MN32-0DA0: This MCCB delivers 330 kA at 240 V, 242 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 187 kA at 500 V, and 52.5 kA at 690 V. Those figures mean it can sit upstream of smaller branch breakers in a high-fault panel and still achieve full selectivity — the 160 A frame clears a bolted fault without forcing the main breaker to trip. For a site electrical engineer coordinating a distribution board, that 242 kA at 415 V is the number that governs the arc-flash incident energy calculation.
Motor protection and release
The ETU350M electronic overcurrent release is purpose-built for motor protection — it provides adjustable thermal and magnetic curves plus phase failure detection, so a single-phase condition on a conveyor or pump motor trips the breaker before the winding overheats. The undervoltage release (UVR) drops the breaker when line voltage falls below a set threshold, which is standard for motor starters that need to prevent automatic restart after a dip. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, giving headroom for 690 V systems.
Mechanical endurance and thermal derating
Rated for 20,000 mechanical operations — that is a solid service life for a 160 A frame in a motor control centre where the breaker cycles once or twice per shift. The thermal derating curve is tight: full 160 A up to 50 °C, then 153.6 A at 55 °C, 150.4 A at 60 °C, 147.2 A at 65 °C, and 144 A at 70 °C. In a hot enclosure or near a drive cabinet, that 144 A at 70 °C is the actual continuous rating you need to respect.
Panel fit and dimensions
The 3VA2216 frame measures 105 mm wide, 181 mm high, and 86 mm deep. That 105 mm width is a standard 3-pole fixed-mount footprint for the 3VA2 series — it occupies the same panel cutout as other 160 A SENTRON frames, so a panel designed for a 3VA1112-5EF32-0CA0 will accept this breaker without drilling new holes or reworking busbars. The depth of 86 mm is shallow enough to fit in a 200 mm deep enclosure with room for rear cabling.