Siemens 5SJ3616-7 — 16 A C-curve MCB, 3P+N, 4.5 kA
The Siemens SENTRON 5SJ3616-7 is a 3P+N miniature circuit breaker rated 16 A with a C tripping characteristic, breaking 4.5 kA per EN 60898 at 400 V AC. The C-curve (5–10× In) handles moderate inrush from motor starters and small transformers without nuisance tripping, while the 4.5 kA interrupting rating covers most commercial and light industrial panelboard fault levels. Four width units (roughly 72 mm on a DIN rail) house the three protected poles plus a switched neutral.
What the ratings mean for fit
The 16 A rating at 400 V AC is the continuous current the breaker carries in a 30 °C ambient; above 40 °C the thermal-magnetic trip derates per the manufacturer's curve. The C-curve means magnetic trip occurs between 5 and 10 times rated current (80–160 A), so it passes the start-up spike of a 4 kW motor but clears a hard short before the let-through energy damages downstream wiring. The 4.5 kA SCCR per EN 60898 and IEC 60947-2 is the maximum prospective fault current the breaker can safely interrupt — adequate for most sub-distribution boards fed by a transformer of 250 kVA or less. The 3P+N configuration switches the neutral pole, which is required in some regional codes (e.g., UK, Australia) for final subcircuits where the neutral is not solidly bonded at the board.
Panel integration notes
Mounts on a 35 mm DIN rail in any position. Installation depth is 70 mm, which matches standard SENTRON enclosures. The terminal accepts solid or stranded conductors from 0.75 to 25 mm² — sized for the 16 A rating with headroom for parallel feeds. IP20 with connected conductors means it is protected against finger contact once wired, but the front face is not sealed against dust ingress; install inside a panel with a door or cover. The sealable feature (padlockable toggle) allows lockout-tagout without an external hasp. Halogen-free and silicon-free construction avoids corrosive off-gassing in a fire and contamination of sensitive contacts in the same enclosure.