What this MCCB carries — and where the ratings matter
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1050-2ED36-0HC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for line protection — the standard role in a distribution panel feeding motor control centers or lighting subpanels. Its continuous current rating holds 50 A from 40 °C up through 50 °C, then derates to 49 A at 55 °C, 48 A at 60 °C, 46 A at 65 °C, and 45 A at 70 °C. That means in a warm enclosure — say 55 °C ambient — you lose 1 A of headroom; at 70 °C you lose 5 A. If your load draws 48 A and the panel runs at 60 °C, this breaker still holds without nuisance tripping.
Breaking capacity — the real fault-handling envelope
This MCCB delivers 52.5 kA at 240 V, 32 kA at 415 V, 13.6 kA at 440 V, and 7.5 kA at both 500 V and 690 V. The 52.5 kA figure at 240 V is the headline number, but the 32 kA at 415 V is what matters for a 400 V-class panel — that covers most industrial distribution transformers up to about 2 MVA. At 690 V the 7.5 kA rating still clears a fault in a 690 V drive line-up, though you'd want to verify coordination with upstream fuses if the available fault current exceeds that.
Built-in auxiliary release and switch configuration
The breaker ships with a shunt trip (STL) release — designated as "Design Of The Auxiliary Release" — and two auxiliary switches (HQ). The shunt trip lets a remote emergency-stop button or a PLC output trip the breaker without pulling the handle. The two auxiliary switches provide status feedback (open/closed) to a control system or a local indicator lamp. No undervoltage release is fitted on this variant, so if you need a UVR for a safety circuit, you'd order a different suffix. The rated insulation voltage is 800 V, which covers 690 V systems with margin.
Power loss and thermal budget
Maximum power loss is 14.6 W. In a sealed, high-fill-factor panel, that heat stays inside; if you're stacking several breakers in a row, factor the cumulative loss into the enclosure's ventilation or forced-air cooling. The operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C.
Physical footprint and panel fit
Dimensions: 130 mm height, 76.2 mm width, 70 mm depth. The 76.2 mm width is exactly three 25.4 mm (1-inch) module spaces — standard for a 3-pole MCCB on a DIN rail or panel-mount footprint. Depth of 70 mm means it clears most shallow enclosures; verify the door clearance for handle operation.