What this MCCB does for your panel
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1150-6EF36-0DC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 50 A continuous current at 40 °C, with a TM240 thermal-magnetic release for line protection. It's built for high-fault environments: 220 kA interrupting capacity at 240 V, 154 kA at 415 V, and 121 kA at 440 V — numbers that tell you this breaker can clear a serious fault without upstream coordination headaches. The IP40 front protection means it's fine in a clean indoor panel, but I wouldn't put it where washdown hoses are aimed — that's IP65 territory. Current lifecycle stage, so it's still a standard BOM line, not a scavenger hunt.
Ratings that matter for fit
That 50 A rating holds steady from 40 °C up to 50 °C — no derating needed in a warm enclosure. At 55 °C it drops to 48 A, at 60 °C to 47 A, and at 70 °C to 45 A. So if your panel sits near a hot motor or a sunny wall, check your ambient: at 65 °C you're down to 46 A. The TM240 release is thermal-magnetic, meaning it handles overloads with a bimetal strip and short-circuits with a solenoid — no electronics to fail in the heat. Undervoltage release is built in, so this breaker can drop out on a brownout, which is handy for motor protection sequences.
Panel fit and dimensions
The breaker measures 76.2 mm wide, 130 mm tall, and 70 mm deep — standard MCCB footprint for a 3-pole frame at this rating. Mounts on a DIN rail or direct panel; the IP40 front means it's fine behind a cabinet door. The auxiliary contact version is 2 HQ switches, which gives you two form-C contacts for status feedback to a PLC or annunciator panel. No communication function onboard, so if you need remote tripping or metering, you're adding a separate module.