What this 3VA2225-5JP32-0CA0 is and what it carries
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2225-5JP32-0CA0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 250 A continuous current, built for line protection in industrial distribution panels. It carries a communication function and an undervoltage release (UVR) as the auxiliary release — meaning it can trip on loss of control voltage, which is useful for coordinated shutdown sequences in cement plant or mill MCC rooms where a voltage dip could otherwise leave a motor starter live.
Breaking capacity — what it handles at your bus voltage
This MCCB's interrupting rating varies with system voltage: 187 kA at 240 V, 121 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 75.6 kA at 500 V, and 4.5 kA at 690 V. For a 480 V plant distribution panel, the 121 kA at 440 V figure is the closest published value — that's well above typical available fault current in most industrial MCC rooms, so selectivity with downstream breakers is achievable without worrying about the main tripping on a feeder fault.
Thermal performance — rated for the heat, not the office
The breaker holds its full 250 A rating from 40 °C up to 50 °C. At 55 °C it derates to 238 A, at 60 °C to 225 A, at 65 °C to 213 A, and at 70 °C to 200 A. If your panel sits near a kiln preheater or in a non-conditioned electrical room that hits 55 °C in summer, you need to account for that 238 A ceiling — the breaker won't trip on overload at 250 A in that ambient, but it also won't carry the full nameplate continuously without nuisance tripping. The operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C, storage from -40 °C to 80 °C, so it survives the transport and shutdown cycles common in cement plants.
Panel fit and dimensions
The breaker measures 105 mm wide, 181 mm tall, and 86 mm deep. That 86 mm depth is the dimension that matters when you're laying out the panel depth against the enclosure back wall and door clearance — it fits standard 400 mm deep MCC enclosures with room for wiring gutters. The 105 mm width per 3-pole unit is the standard SENTRON 3VA footprint, so it drops into existing busbar and mounting arrangements without re-drilling.
Power loss and thermal management
Maximum power loss is 50.5 W at rated current. That's the heat you need to vent from the enclosure — in a sealed stainless steel panel on a dusty mill floor, that 50 W per breaker adds up across multiple units. Plan for forced ventilation or a larger enclosure if you're grouping several of these in a confined space.