The Siemens SENTRON 5SM1111-0 is a 2-pole residual current circuit breaker (RCCB) rated for 16 A at 40 °C with a 10 mA residual trip threshold, designed for 230 V AC single-phase circuits. It provides earth leakage protection per IEC 61008-1, tripping instantaneously on AC-type residual currents above 10 mA — the threshold that covers personnel protection against direct contact in wet or conductive environments.
The 10 mA trip rating is the critical selection parameter: it is the lowest standard sensitivity for RCCBs, used where the installation requires enhanced protection against ventricular fibrillation — typically in medical locations, wet rooms, or circuits supplying hand-held equipment. The 16 A continuous rating holds through 45 °C ambient, then derates linearly to 11.2 A at 70 °C, so the thermal limit in a warm panel is the real ampacity, not the 16 A nameplate. The short-circuit current rating (SCCR) is 10 kA per IEC 61008-1, but note the conditional rating against EN 60898 is only 0.5 kA — the lower figure applies when the RCCB is used as a stand-alone device without an upstream MCB or fuse to limit the let-through energy. For the 10 kA rating to hold, the RCCB must be backed by a suitable overcurrent protective device with a let-through I²t of 70 000 A²·s or less. The 10 000 mechanical switching cycles are typical for an RCCB in a distribution board — the part is designed for infrequent manual operation (test button and isolation), not for switching loads on every cycle. The IP20 rating is standard for enclosed distribution boards; the protection applies only with conductors connected and the board closed.
The 55 mm installation depth fits flush in most domestic and light-commercial distribution boards. The silicon-free construction makes it suitable for use in potting or encapsulation environments where silicone outgassing could contaminate contacts or optical components.