What it is and what it does
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2225-5JP32-0AE0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 250 A continuous current, designed for line protection in distribution panels and industrial switchgear. Its 187 kA interrupting capacity at 240 V means it can safely clear a fault of that magnitude without upstream devices needing to trip — critical for high-fault locations like service entrances or transformer secondaries.
Breaking capacity across voltages
The interrupting rating drops as voltage rises: 121 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 75.6 kA at 500 V, and 4.5 kA at 690 V. That 690 V figure is the one to watch if you're feeding a 690 V drive or motor — it still clears, but the fault current available must stay under 4.5 kA.
Thermal derating curve
The breaker holds its full 250 A rating from 40 °C up to 50 °C ambient. Above that, it derates linearly: 238 A at 55 °C, 225 A at 60 °C, 213 A at 65 °C, and 200 A at 70 °C. If the panel runs hot — say, a non-ventilated enclosure near a furnace line — size the breaker for the actual ambient, not the nameplate.
Panel fit and integration
Mounts on a standard DIN rail or direct-panel footprint. Dimensions: 105 mm wide, 181 mm tall, 86 mm deep. That depth is tight for shallow enclosures — check gland-plate clearance before pulling cable. The breaker ships with 4 auxiliary switches (HQ design) and a basic switch (order code 3VA2225-5JP32-0AA0) for status feedback to the PLC.
Communication and power loss
This variant includes a communication function for remote trip indication, current monitoring, and parameterization. Maximum power loss is 48 W.