What the ratings mean for fit
The 5SY1716-4 is a SENTRON device protection switch — a 1-pole unit with an integrated auxiliary switch (1P+AS), rated 16 A at AC and 60 V DC. The F2 tripping characteristic is a fast-acting curve that sits between the standard B and C curves; it trips within 0.1–5 seconds at 4–7 times rated current, making it suited for protecting semiconductor loads, control transformers, and sensitive electronics where a standard MCB would be too slow. The auxiliary switch provides a separate signal contact for remote status monitoring or PLC input — useful in a panel where you need to know the breaker has opened without running a separate sensor. Rated to IEC / DIN EN 60934 and UL1077, this is a supplementary protector, not a branch-circuit rated device. In a UL panel, it goes downstream of a branch-circuit overcurrent device.
Thermal derating — the real current you get
The 16 A rating is at 30 °C. In a warm cabinet, the continuous current drops: 15.47 A at 35 °C, 14.67 A at 40 °C, 14.25 A at 45 °C, 13.82 A at 50 °C, 13.38 A at 55 °C, and 12.93 A at 60 °C (–). If your panel ambient runs 50 °C, plan for a 13.8 A continuous load maximum — not 16 A. The device also carries a humidity derating: 30 °C at 85% rF, 60 °C at 20% rF.
Integration notes
Fastens on standard DIN rail. Installation depth is 70 mm; overall depth 76 mm — enough clearance for wiring behind the rail. The auxiliary switch (1P+AS) is wired separately from the main load circuit; it changes state when the breaker trips or is manually switched off. No neutral conductor switching, no combined top or bottom terminals — line and load are separate. Pollution degree 2 and overvoltage category III suit fixed-installation industrial panels.