The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2225-5KP32-0DC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 250 A continuous current at 40 °C ambient, with a trip range of 375 A minimum to 2 500 A maximum. It is designed for line protection and includes an undervoltage release and a communication function. The interrupting capacity is 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. This is a current-production part, so the failure mode to plan for is not obsolescence but correct coordination with downstream devices to avoid nuisance trips or cascade faults.
Thermal derating and real-world current
The 250 A rating holds from 40 °C through 50 °C ambient. Above that, derate linearly: 238 A at 55 °C, 225 A at 60 °C, 213 A at 65 °C, and 200 A at 70 °C. If your panel internal temperature runs at 55 °C, the breaker's effective continuous current is 238 A — not the nameplate 250 A. That 12 A delta matters when sizing for a non-linear load profile near the top of the trip curve.
Interrupting capacity by voltage level
The 187 kA at 240 V is a high-interrupt rating suitable for large transformer-fed secondary distribution. At 415 V and 440 V it holds 121 kA, dropping to 75.6 kA at 500 V and 4.5 kA at 690 V. For a 480 V panel, the available fault current must be below 75.6 kA to use this breaker without series rating restrictions. That is the number to verify against your utility's transformer impedance and cable length.
Built-in release and auxiliary switch complement
This variant ships with an undervoltage release (UVR) as the auxiliary release, and two HQ auxiliary switches. The UVR will trip the breaker if control voltage drops below a threshold — common for emergency-stop circuits or undervoltage protection on motor feeders. The two HQ aux switches provide status feedback (open/closed) to a PLC or annunciator panel. No ground-fault monitoring is included on this version.
Dimensions and panel fit
The breaker measures 105 mm wide, 181 mm high, and 86 mm deep. That 105 mm width is a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for this current class — it fits the same mounting hole pattern as other SENTRON 3VA2 frame breakers. Depth of 86 mm includes the body but not handle projection; allow clearance for the UVR wiring and communication cable bend radius in the enclosure layout.
Operating environment and power dissipation
Rated for operation from -25 °C to 70 °C ambient, storage from -40 °C to 80 °C. Maximum power loss is 50.5 W at rated current — that heat must be considered in the enclosure thermal budget if the panel is densely populated. The 70 °C upper operating limit matches the top of the derating curve, so the breaker can run at 70 °C but only at 200 A.
Communication and measurement capability
This breaker includes a communication function and an 'other measurement function' — likely current measurement and energy metering via a communication module (the basic switch variant is 3VA2225-5KP32-0AA0, which omits those). For a line protection MCCB, the communication allows remote trip indication, load current monitoring, and integration into a facility energy management system. No ground-fault monitoring is present on this variant.