What you're looking at
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2225-5HL32-0BC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 250 A continuous current at 40 °C, designed for line protection in distribution panels. It carries a 187 kA interrupting rating at 240 V — that's the fault current it can safely clear without welding contacts or venting plasma into the enclosure. At 415 V and 440 V it still holds 121 kA, dropping to 75.6 kA at 500 V and 4.5 kA at 690 V, so the voltage class of your installation drives which breaking capacity number applies. This breaker includes an undervoltage release (UVR) and two auxiliary switches (HQ type). The UVR trips the breaker if control voltage drops below a set threshold — common in safety circuits where a loss of control power must open the main feed. The auxiliary switches give remote status feedback (open/closed/tripped) to a PLC or annunciator panel.
Thermal derating — what the 250 A rating really means
The 250 A continuous rating holds flat from 40 °C to 50 °C ambient. Above that it derates: 241 A at 55 °C, 232 A at 60 °C, 222 A at 65 °C, and 213 A at 70 °C. If your panel internal ambient runs 55 °C (common in a packed enclosure with other heat sources), you're limited to 241 A continuous — not the full 250 A. The maximum operating ambient is 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C. Maximum power loss at rated current is 50.5 W. That's the heat the breaker dumps into the enclosure — factor it into your thermal budget if the panel is sealed or has limited ventilation.
Panel fit — dimensions and mounting
The breaker measures 105 mm wide, 181 mm high, and 86 mm deep. That 105 mm width is a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for this class — it fits the same cutout and bus-bar spacing as other SENTRON 3VA2 frame breakers. Depth of 86 mm means it clears most standard-depth enclosures without a sub-panel spacer.