What this 3VM1 frame 160 breaker delivers on the line
The Siemens 3VM1180-5EE36-0AA2 is a 3-pole IEC molded-case circuit breaker on a 160 A frame, carrying a breaking capacity class M rating of Icu=55 kA at 415 V AC. That 55 kA interrupting capacity means it can safely clear a bolted fault up to that level without venting or cascading upstream — critical for maintaining selectivity in a distribution panel feeding motor control centers or weld-line power supplies. Rated In=80 A with a TM220 thermal-magnetic trip unit, the overload protection band is adjustable Ir=56…80 A, and the instantaneous magnetic pickup is fixed at Ii=10 × In (800 A). For a body-shop weld line where one minute of downtime costs thousands, that fixed magnetic pickup gives deterministic short-circuit response — no adjustment drift, every cycle.
Integration into the panel
Mounts on a standard DIN rail or directly to the backplate via the 3VM1's fixed-format footprint. Terminal connection type suits panel-wiring practices — spring-cage or screw terminals depending on the variant; this order code specifies terminal connection. The 160 A frame leaves fill-factor headroom for auxiliary contacts or shunt trips alongside the main poles.