What this MCCB is and what the ratings mean for your panel
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1050-2ED36-0KA0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for line protection — meaning it sits at the feeder or main branch in a distribution panel, not on a motor circuit or as a ground-fault device. Its rated continuous current Iu is 50 A, and it holds that full 50 A up to 50 °C ambient; at 55 °C you derate to 48 A, at 60 °C to 47 A, and at 70 °C to 45 A. That thermal curve is the number that decides whether this breaker stays closed on a warm summer afternoon in a non-climate-controlled enclosure — the 50 A nameplate is only good if the panel stays under 50 °C. This version ships with a shunt trip (STL) — the auxiliary release design that lets a remote signal (E-stop, fire alarm, PLC output) trip the breaker electrically. There is no undervoltage release, no auxiliary contact, no ground-fault monitoring, and no communication module. If you need a remote trip that also reports position back, you will add the separate auxiliary trip accessory 3VA9688-0BL33. The front face carries IP40 protection — fine for a closed panel, not for washdown.
Panel fit and footprint
The breaker measures 76.2 mm wide, 130 mm tall, and 70 mm deep. That 76.2 mm width is three pole pitches — it occupies the same footprint as any 3-pole SENTRON 3VA frame.