What this 3VA2 breaker carries in the carton
The Siemens 3VA2225-7KQ42-0KK0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) in a 4-pole frame, rated for 250 A continuous current (Iu) and an insulation voltage of 800 V. It ships with the ETU860 electronic trip unit, which supports communication and other measurement functions — meaning this breaker reports its status and load data to a higher-level system, not just trips on overcurrent. The front face carries IP40 protection, so it's suited for enclosed panel mounting where incidental tool or finger contact is the concern. What ships in the carton? The basic switch assembly is order code 3VA2225-7KQ42-0AA0, and the integrated auxiliary trip is 3VA9688-0BL33 — both are factory-fitted, so the kit is complete on arrival. The auxiliary contact complement is one auxiliary switch, one trip alarm switch, and one electrical alarm switch (HQ type). A shunt trip (STL) is included as the auxiliary release design.
Breaking capacity and thermal derating — the numbers that govern fit
This breaker's interrupting capacity varies sharply with system voltage: 330 kA at 240 V, 242 kA at 415 V, and 4.5 kA at 690 V. At 690 V the 4.5 kA figure is the limiting case — if your fault current at that voltage exceeds it, you need a different frame. The 330 kA at 240 V is well into current-limiting territory for most North American 240 V distribution. Thermal derating is published in 5 °C steps from 40 °C upward. The breaker holds 250 A flat from 40 °C through 50 °C. At 55 °C it derates to 240.625 A, at 60 °C to 231.25 A, at 65 °C to 221.875 A, and at 70 °C to 212.5 A. If your panel ambient sits at 55 °C or higher, the continuous current you can pull is lower than the nameplate 250 A — factor that into your load schedule.
Panel fit and integration
Dimensions are 181 mm height, 140 mm width, 107 mm depth. The 140 mm width is standard for a 4-pole MCCB frame in this class — it occupies roughly 5.5 inches of DIN-rail or mounting-plate width. Depth of 107 mm means it clears most 200 mm deep enclosures with room for rear-connected busbars or cable lugs. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C. Maximum power loss is 55 W. In a sealed, non-ventilated enclosure, that heat must be factored into the thermal budget — especially if multiple breakers are ganged. The latching endurance is rated at 20,000 operations.