The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2225-5JP32-0AG0 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 maximum breaking capacity of 187 kA at 240 V AC, stepping down to 121 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 75.6 kA at 500 V, and 4.5 kA at 690 V — the voltage-dependent curve tells you where it delivers full fault interruption and where you need upstream coordination.
Ratings and thermal performance
Continuous current holds at 250 A from 40 °C through 50 °C ambient, then derates to 238 A at 55 °C, 225 A at 60 °C, 213 A at 65 °C, and 200 A at 70 °C. If your panel runs hot — say, 55 °C inside the enclosure — you lose 12 A of headroom from the nameplate. That derating curve is the number to check against your actual load, not the 250 A sticker. The minimum rated current is 375 A, which sets the lower bound for the electronic trip unit adjustment range. Maximum power loss at full rating is 48 W, so factor that into your enclosure thermal budget if you're stacking several breakers in a row.
Dimensions and panel fit
Footprint: 105 mm wide, 181 mm tall, 86 mm deep. That 105 mm width is the critical dimension for multi-breaker mounting — it determines how many poles fit across a standard distribution panel. The 86 mm depth includes the case body; allow clearance for wiring and the communication module pigtail.
Communication and auxiliary switching
This variant includes an onboard communication function — it can report status and trip events to a higher-level control system without an add-on module. The supplied basic switch is order code 3VA2225-5JP32-0AA0. Auxiliary switching is handled by one auxiliary switch plus one trip alarm switch (HP type). No undervoltage release or ground-fault monitoring is built in; those are external add-ons if your application requires them.