What this MCCB brings to the panel
The Siemens 3VM1196-5GD42-0AA0 is a 4-pole SENTRON molded case circuit breaker with a TM210 thermal-magnetic trip unit, rated 16 A continuous. The interrupting capacity is the headline: 187 kA at 240 V AC, dropping to 121 kA at 415 V AC, 76 kA at 440 V AC, and 17 kA at 500 V AC — so it handles high-fault utility feeds or transformer secondaries where the available short-circuit current is serious. The TM210 release means the thermal element is fixed at 16 A; no interchangeable rating plugs, so size it for the continuous load and leave headroom for ambient derating. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, with a max operating voltage of 690 V AC and 500 V DC. The front face carries IP40 protection — fine for a closed panel, but not washdown-rated. Power loss at rated current is 11 W, which matters for thermal calculations in a crowded enclosure.
Current rating vs. ambient — the real continuous capacity
The 16 A rating holds steady from 40 °C through 55 °C. At 60 °C it derates to 15 A, and stays at 15 A through 70 °C. That's a tight thermal curve — the breaker doesn't shed much capacity until you're well above typical panel ambient. Operating range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage from -40 °C to 80 °C.
Panel fit and dimensions
Footprint is 101.6 mm wide by 130 mm tall by 70 mm deep — a 4-pole MCCB that fits standard Siemens mounting patterns. No undervoltage release, no shunt trip, no communication module on this variant; it's a straight thermal-magnetic breaker for line protection. The 4-pole config handles three-phase-plus-neutral or three-phase with a switched neutral.