SENTRON 3VM1096-3ED32-0AA0 — 3-pole MCCB, 16 A, TM210 release
The Siemens 3VM1096-3ED32-0AA0 is a 3-pole SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection. It carries a 16 A rating at 40 °C with a TM210 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release — meaning the thermal trip element is fixed at 16 A and the magnetic short-circuit pickup is 10× the rated current (160 A). Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, and the interrupting capacity scales with system voltage: 76 kA at 240 V AC, 53 kA at 415 V AC, 32 kA at 440 V AC, and 8 kA at 500 V AC. These are the values that determine whether this breaker clears a fault without welding its contacts or venting arc gas into the panel — the 76 kA at 240 V covers most North American 240/120 V distribution, while the 53 kA at 415 V handles European 400 V three-phase panels. At 500 V the drop to 8 kA means it's not a primary choice for 480 V industrial feeders unless fault current is well-characterized below that level. Thermal derating is minimal through 55 °C (still 16 A), then drops to 15 A at 60 °C, 14 A at 65 °C, and 14 A at 70 °C. This means in a warm enclosure — say a non-ventilated panel near a process line — you can still count on 16 A up to 55 °C ambient before you need to downrate. The breaker dissipates 11 W maximum at rated load, which is modest for a 3-pole MCCB and helps keep internal panel temperature rise manageable. Mounts on a DIN rail or panel-mount baseplate; dimensions are 76.2 mm wide (3 in), 130 mm tall (5.12 in), and 70 mm deep (2.76 in). Front protection is IP40 — sealed against tools and wires over 1 mm, but not washdown-rated. No undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring, no communication function; this is a straightforward thermal-magnetic breaker for distribution panels where you need a clean trip curve and no auxiliary electronics.
Comparison with 3VA1020-3ED36-0AA0
The closest functional sibling is the 3VA1020-3ED36-0AA0, also a 3-pole SENTRON MCCB with a TM release. The 3VA1020 carries a higher current rating (the "20" in the code suggests 20 A frame vs. 16 A on the 3VM1096) and uses the 3VA platform which offers more accessory options (auxiliary switches, shunt trips, motor operators). If your panel was specified around the 3VA1020-3ED36-0AA0, the 3VM1096-3ED32-0AA0 will not drop in without rewiring — the physical footprint is similar (both 3-pole, DIN-rail mountable) but the current rating and trip curve differ. For a like-for-like replacement, stick with the same order code.
Integration notes
This breaker fits a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint: 76.2 mm wide leaves room for adjacent breakers in a multi-pole distribution block. The IP40 front means it is suitable for enclosed panels where the door seals the environment — not for open-frame or washdown areas. No auxiliary contacts or shunt trip are built in, so if you need remote trip indication or undervoltage release, you will need to add an external relay or specify a different variant.