What it is and what it does
The Siemens 5SL5116-7RC is a 1-pole SENTRON miniature circuit breaker rated for 16 A at 220 V DC with a 10 kA breaking capacity and C-curve trip characteristic. It protects DC circuits in residential and infrastructure installations — think telecom rectifiers, solar combiner boxes, or DC bus distribution in building controls. The C-curve (5–10× In magnetic trip) handles moderate inrush from small DC loads like contactor coils or LED drivers without nuisance tripping.
Panel fit and integration
Snaps onto standard 35 mm DIN rail. At 18 mm width (1 modular unit), it occupies a single slot — important for dense DC distribution panels. Depth is 76 mm, installation depth 70 mm, so it clears most standard enclosures without a deep can. Mounting position is unrestricted; the breaker can be installed vertically, horizontally, or flat. IP20 with connected conductors means it's protected against finger contact but not washdown — keep it inside the enclosure.
Environmental and compliance
Rated for ambient temperatures from -40 °C to +75 °C, so it's suitable for unconditioned telecom shelters or rooftop combiner boxes. Halogen-free and silicon-free construction — no corrosive off-gassing in sealed enclosures. Overvoltage category III and pollution degree 2, standard for fixed-installation MCBs. Sealable terminals allow tamper-proofing after commissioning.