What it is and what it does
The Siemens SENTRON 5SL4616-8 is a 4-pole miniature circuit breaker (MCB) with a D tripping characteristic, rated 16 A at 400 V AC. It provides overcurrent and short-circuit protection in residential and infrastructure installations per IEC 60898 and IEC 60947-2, with a 10 kA breaking capacity under both standards. The D-curve means it tolerates high inrush currents — typically used for motor, transformer, or lighting ballast circuits where the start-up surge exceeds what a B or C curve would pass through. At 16 A, it's sized for moderate loads; the 4-pole version switches all three phases plus the switched neutral, so it's a single-device solution for three-phase final subcircuits.
Ratings that matter for fit
Breaking capacity is 10 kA per IEC 60898 and IEC 60947-2 — that's the fault current it can safely interrupt without welding contacts or rupturing the case. For most commercial and light industrial panels fed by a transformer of 500 kVA or less, 10 kA at 400 V provides adequate SCCR headroom; above that, you'd step up to a 15 or 25 kA device. The 16 A rating is at 30 °C ambient. At elevated panel temperatures the breaker derates: 14.78 A at 40 °C, 14.08 A at 45 °C, and 12.74 A at 55 °C. If the panel runs hot — near a drive or transformer — factor the derated value into your load calculation. Voltage rating is 400 V AC line-to-line for multi-phase operation, with a maximum of 440 V AC. DC rating is 72 V maximum — not a DC-main breaker, but fine for control-circuit tap-offs.
Mounting and panel fit
Snaps onto standard 35 mm DIN rail. The 4-module-width housing (72 mm wide) occupies four 18 mm slots. Installation depth is 70 mm; overall depth including terminals is 76 mm. Mounting position is unrestricted — horizontal, vertical, or flat — so it fits tight enclosures without derating. IP20 with connected conductors — protected against finger contact but not water ingress, so it belongs inside a panel, not in a washdown zone. Sealable, halogen-free, and silicon-free housing suits environments where outgassing or contamination is a concern.
Lifecycle and sourcing
Current production — no end-of-life notice on this order code. The 5SL4616-8 is a standard catalog item in the Siemens SENTRON family, widely specified across European and Middle East infrastructure projects. Sourced and quoted to order through independent distribution; availability and current pricing confirmed at quote time.