SENTRON 3VA2225-5KP32-0AE0 — 250 A MCCB for Line Protection
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2225-5KP32-0AE0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 250 A continuous current at 40 °C, designed specifically for line protection in distribution panels. Its interrupting capacity reaches 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 — a steep SCCR curve that governs where this breaker can be applied without cascading upstream.
What the Ratings Mean for Fit
The 250 A continuous rating holds flat from 40 °C through 50 °C, then derates to 238 A at 55 °C, 225 A at 60 °C, 213 A at 65 °C, and 200 A at 70 °C. That derating curve is the real selection parameter for a warm panel — if your enclosure ambient runs above 50 °C, the breaker's effective ampacity drops, and you may need to step up a frame size or improve ventilation. The interrupting ratings across voltages tell you the maximum fault current this breaker can safely clear at each voltage level. At 240 V it handles 187 kA, which covers most North American secondary distribution; at 690 V it drops to 4.5 kA, so on a 690 V system you must verify the available fault current is below that threshold. The breaker carries a communication function, meaning it can report status or trip events to a higher-level control system — useful for remote monitoring in a managed distribution scheme. Physical footprint: 105 mm wide, 181 mm high, 86 mm deep. That 86 mm depth is the dimension that matters for enclosure depth clearance — it fits standard 200 mm deep distribution boards with room for wiring gutters. The breaker ships with 4 auxiliary switches HQ and is configured without undervoltage release or ground-fault monitoring.