What the ratings mean for fit
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2225-5HL32-0CC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 250 A continuous current at 40 °C, with a maximum breaking capacity of 187 kA at 240 V AC. That 187 kA figure means it can safely interrupt a fault current up to that level at 240 V without cascading upstream — critical for high-fault installations like transformer secondaries or large motor control centers. At 415 V and 440 V the interrupting rating holds at 121 kA, dropping to 75.6 kA at 500 V and 4.5 kA at 690 V, so the voltage class of your distribution determines which rating governs the application. The continuous current rating is flat at 250 A from 40 °C through 50 °C ambient, then derates linearly to 213 A at 70 °C. For a panel running at 55 °C ambient — common in enclosed switchgear — the breaker is good for 241 A, so a 250 A feeder is still viable with a small margin. The maximum power loss of 50.5 W should be factored into enclosure thermal calculations, especially in sealed cabinets. This MCCB is designed for line protection (not motor or generator protection) and includes an undervoltage release (UVR) as standard, plus two HQ auxiliary switches for status feedback to a PLC or annunciator panel. The basic switch variant is 3VA2225-5HL32-0AA0, and this order code adds the UVR and auxiliary switches pre-installed.
Dimensions and panel integration
The breaker measures 105 mm wide, 181 mm high, and 86 mm deep — a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint. The 86 mm depth (3.39 in) is shallow enough for enclosures, leaving room for wiring gutters and busbar connections behind the breaker.