160 A MCCB with TM220 release — what the ratings mean for your panel
The Siemens SENTRON 3VM1116-5GE42-0AA0 is a 4-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection, rated 160 A continuous at 40 °C and carrying a TM220 thermal-magnetic release. The TM220 designation means the thermal (overload) pickup is fixed at 100% of the 160 A frame rating, and the magnetic (short-circuit) pickup is fixed at 10× In — no field-adjustable trip unit, so what you see on the nameplate is what protects the feeder. That 160 A holds steady from 40 °C up through 50 °C (–), then derates to 158 A at 55 °C, 155 A at 60 °C, 153 A at 65 °C, and 150 A at 70 °C (–). If the panel ambient runs hot, the continuous load needs to stay under those derated numbers, not the 160 A label. The interrupting ratings are where this breaker earns its keep in high-fault installations: 187 kA at 240 VAC, 121 kA at 415 VAC, 76 kA at 440 VAC, and 17 kA at 500 VAC. That 187 kA figure at 240 V is well into current-limiting territory — it clears a fault before the first peak, which reduces let-through energy on downstream components. For a 480 V panel on a 440 V system, the 76 kA SCCR gives plenty of headroom for most industrial service entrances. The insulation voltage is rated 800 V, so the breaker itself is comfortable on 690 V systems as long as the interrupting rating at that voltage is checked against the available fault current.
Panel fit and thermal management
The 3VM1116-5GE42-0AA0 measures 101.6 mm wide, 130 mm tall, and 70 mm deep — a 4-pole MCCB that fits a standard 100 mm-wide DIN-rail or panel-mount footprint. Front face carries IP40 protection, meaning tools and fingers stay out but the breaker is not sealed against dust ingress; mount it inside a cabinet, not in a washdown zone. Maximum power loss is 38 W at rated load, which is modest for a 160 A frame but needs to be factored into the enclosure's thermal dissipation calculation — especially if the panel packs several breakers side by side. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C.