What this breaker is and what the ratings mean for your panel
The Siemens 3VA1050-3ED42-0AC0 is a 4-pole IEC molded-case circuit breaker from the 3VA1 frame family, sized for 50 A continuous load with a fixed thermal-magnetic trip unit (TM210). The 25 kA breaking capacity at 415 V (class N) means it can safely interrupt a fault current up to that level without welding contacts or cascading damage upstream — a spec that governs the available fault current your panel can handle at the service entrance or downstream sub-feed. Overload protection is fixed at Ir = 50 A (the TM210 thermal element), and short-circuit pickup is fixed at Ii = 10 × In (500 A magnetic). No field-adjustable dials on this variant — the protection curve is set at the factory, which simplifies BOM traceability but means the breaker is sized to the load, not tuned after installation. The unprotected neutral conductor (no integral neutral protection) is standard for 4-pole breakers where the neutral is solidly grounded and not switched. The nut keeper kit and two factory-fitted auxiliary switches (HQ type) come included, so the breaker arrives ready for panel integration without sourcing separate accessory kits. The auxiliary switches signal breaker status (open/closed/tripped) back to a PLC or status lamp — useful for remote monitoring on a distribution board.
Lifecycle and sourcing posture
For a BOM freeze or a panel build, this breaker can be specified with confidence that the manufacturer continues to support it. Sourcing is handled against an RFQ — availability and current pricing are confirmed at quote time through independent distribution.
Panel integration and deployment context
The 3VA1 frame mounts on a DIN rail or can be screw-fixed to a backplate in a distribution board. The 4-pole footprint (three phases plus neutral) suits three-phase four-wire systems common in industrial and commercial power distribution — think sub-feed to a motor control center, lighting panel, or a machine disconnect. The fixed 50 A rating and 25 kA SCCR at 415 V make it a fit for IEC panels where the available fault current is known and the load is a fixed 50 A feeder. Coordination with upstream breakers or fuses should be checked per IEC 60947-2 selectivity rules, but the class N breaking capacity covers most standard industrial installations.