What it is and what it does
The Siemens SENTRON 5SL4416-8 is a 4-pole miniature circuit breaker (MCB) from the 5SL series, rated 16 A with a D tripping characteristic. It protects final branch circuits against overload and short-circuit in residential and infrastructure installations, per IEC/EN 60898 and IEC 60947-2. The D-curve means it tolerates high inrush currents — typically motor or transformer loads — without nuisance tripping, while still clearing a fault at 10 kA breaking capacity. That 10 kA rating holds under both IEC 60898 and IEC 60947-2, so it's accepted in commercial and light industrial panels, not just residential boards.
Panel fit and mounting
Snaps onto standard DIN rail. Occupies 4 modular width units (72 mm wide), with a depth of 76 mm and an installation depth of 70 mm. Mounting position is unrestricted — horizontal, vertical, or upside-down, no derating needed for orientation. IP20 with connected conductors, so it's suited for enclosed distribution boards where accidental contact is prevented by the enclosure door. Touch protection is built in (finger-safe terminals).
Environmental and service life
Rated for ambient temperatures from -40 °C to +75 °C, with a humidity limit of 95% at +55 °C. Halogen-free and silicon-free construction — relevant for clean-room or sensitive electronic environments where outgassing matters. Mechanical service life is 10 000 switching cycles typical. The unit is sealable (provision for a lead seal or tamper-evident tag), which is useful for metering or landlord-tenant subpanels where unauthorized switching must be prevented.