The Siemens SENTRON 5SV6016-7GV16 is a compact arc-fault detection unit (AFDD) with an integrated miniature circuit breaker (MCB) — a single 1-module-wide (18 mm) device that combines arc-fault protection and overcurrent protection in one DIN-rail mountable package. Rated 16 A with a C tripping curve and 6 kA breaking capacity per EN 60898-1 and IEC 60947-2, it is designed for 230 V AC, 50 Hz residential and light commercial final circuits where series and parallel arcing faults need to be detected and interrupted.
The arc-fault detection circuitry monitors for both series arcs (2 A to 16 A) and parallel arcs (50 A to 500 A). Series arcs occur in a single conductor — think a loose terminal or a frayed cord — while parallel arcs are line-to-neutral or line-to-ground faults. The unit trips when it detects the characteristic high-frequency signature of an arc, not just the overcurrent. This is what makes it an AFDD, not a standard MCB.
Installation depth is 70 mm, with the unit body depth at 68.5 mm — leaves a 1.5 mm clearance behind a standard 70 mm deep enclosure. The 1P+N design switches both phase and neutral, and the neutral pole is switched (not just solid). No short-time delayed switching function is present, so it trips instantaneously on fault detection.