The Siemens Betagard 5SL7316-7RC is a 3-pole miniature circuit breaker rated 16 A with a C tripping characteristic, designed for industrial branch-circuit protection on 415 V AC systems at 50/60 Hz. Its breaking capacity is 15 kA per EN 60898 and 20 kA per IEC 60947-2, giving it headroom above standard 10 kA residential-grade MCBs — useful for high-fault locations like sub-distribution boards or MCCs where the prospective short-circuit current is known to exceed 10 kA.
The IP20 enclosure (with connected conductors) is standard for enclosed panelboards — not suitable for wet or outdoor locations without a secondary enclosure. The sealable design allows lockout/tagout in safety applications.
Compared to the SENTRON 5SL4363-7 (a 3-pole, C-curve, 63 A MCB), the Betagard 5SL7316-7RC shares the same 76 mm depth, 90 mm height, and 3 MW footprint, but at 18 mm per pole it is narrower — the 5SL4363-7 uses 54 mm per pole (3 MW total same width). The key difference is rating: 16 A vs 63 A, and breaking capacity: 15/20 kA vs 10 kA. The Betagard is the industrial-grade choice for lower-current branches with higher fault current potential.
