Siemens SENTRON 3VM1216-5MH32-0AA0 — 160 A MCCB with TM120M release
The Siemens SENTRON 3VM1216-5MH32-0AA0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated 160 A at 40 °C, carrying a TM120M thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. Breaking capacity reaches 187 kA at 240 V AC, tapering to 121 kA at 415 V, 76 kA at 440 V, and 30 kA at 500 V — sufficient for high-fault utility feeds or transformer secondaries where upstream SCCR demands a robust interrupt rating.
Thermal derating and panel integration
The 160 A rating holds flat from 40 °C through 50 °C, then derates to 155.6 A at 55 °C, 151.2 A at 60 °C, 146.8 A at 65 °C, and 142.4 A at 70 °C. If the breaker sits in a crowded enclosure with other heat sources, use the 60 °C or 70 °C column for realistic continuous current — the 160 A figure is only valid when ambient stays at or below 50 °C. Dimensions are 105 mm wide, 158 mm high, 70 mm deep — a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint that fits most DIN-rail or panel-mount enclosures without re-drilling. Front face carries IP40 protection, adequate for dry indoor switchgear but not for washdown zones. Maximum power loss is 33 W at full load. In a sealed enclosure with multiple breakers, that heat adds up; factor it into the thermal budget rather than assuming the derating curve alone covers self-heating.
Selectivity and coordination notes
The TM120M release is a thermal-magnetic type — no electronic adjustment, no ground-fault or communication functions. That keeps it simple and reliable for fixed-load feeders, but limits selectivity tuning compared to an electronic-trip MCCB. For DC applications, the manufacturer directs you to the 3VA Molded Case Circuit Breaker Manual for switching capacity values; this listing does not carry DC ratings directly. Insulation voltage is rated 800 V, so the breaker can be applied on 480 V or 600 V class systems without de-rating the insulation path. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to +70 °C; storage range -40 °C to +80 °C.