What this MCCB delivers — and where the ratings matter
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2225-5HN42-0JL0 is a 4-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 250 A continuous current at 40 °C ambient, designed for line protection in distribution panels. Its interrupting capacity reaches 187 kA at 240 V AC and 121 kA at 415 V AC, which means it can safely clear high-fault currents on the secondary side of a large transformer or at a main service entrance without cascading failure upstream. At 690 V the breaking capacity drops to 4.5 kA — still adequate for most motor-circuit applications at that voltage, but worth checking against the available fault current at the point of installation.
Current derating — the real-world continuous rating
This breaker holds its full 250 A rating up to 50 °C ambient. Above that, derating is linear: 241 A at 55 °C, 232 A at 60 °C, 222 A at 65 °C, and 213 A at 70 °C. If the panel runs hot — say, adjacent to a drive cabinet or in a non-conditioned enclosure — the 55 °C or 60 °C column is the one that governs the load schedule, not the 40 °C nameplate figure.
Auxiliary and release configuration
Factory-fitted with 2 auxiliary switches plus 1 trip alarm switch and 1 electrical alarm switch (HQ type), plus a shunt trip release (STL). The shunt trip allows remote tripping from a PLC or emergency-stop circuit — useful for coordinated shutdown sequences. No undervoltage release is present, so the breaker will not automatically open on loss of control power; if that function is needed, the 3VA2225-5HN42-0BB0 variant carries it.
Physical fit and panel integration
Dimensions: 181 mm height, 140 mm width, 86 mm depth. The 140 mm width is standard for a 4-pole SENTRON 3VA2 frame, so it occupies the same panel footprint as other 4-pole breakers in the series. Maximum power loss is 48 W — a non-trivial heat load in a sealed enclosure; account for it in the thermal budget rather than relying on free-air convection alone.