What it is and what it does
The Siemens 3VA2225-8HL32-0AA0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 250 A continuous current at 40 °C, with an ETU320 electronic overcurrent release. It is a 3-pole device designed for line protection — meaning it guards the feeder or main distribution bus against overloads and short circuits, not a specific motor or load branch. The ETU320 release provides adjustable long-time, short-time, and instantaneous pickup settings, plus ground-fault protection is not built in (the listing shows 'Without' ground-fault monitoring). This breaker has no communication function, no undervoltage release, and no voltage trip — it is a straightforward, non-communicating thermal-magnetic replacement with an electronic trip curve.
Breaking capacity — the real-world fault clearing muscle
This MCCB delivers 440 kA at 240 V, 330 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 220 kA at 500 V, and 52.5 kA at 690 V. Those are very high interrupting ratings — typical for a large-frame, high-end SENTRON 3VA2. The 52.5 kA at 690 V is the figure that governs most industrial 690 V distribution panels; it means the breaker can safely clear a fault at that voltage without rupturing or welding contacts.
Thermal derating — what happens when the panel runs hot
The 250 A rating holds flat from 40 °C up to 50 °C. At 55 °C it derates to 241 A, at 60 °C to 232 A, at 65 °C to 222 A, and at 70 °C to 213 A. If your panel ambient sits above 50 °C — common in a packed enclosure or near a heat source — factor that derating into the feeder sizing. The maximum operating temperature is 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C. Power loss at rated current is 48 W maximum. That is not trivial in a sealed enclosure; account for it in the thermal budget if the breaker is in a confined space with other heat-generating components.
Panel fit and mounting
Dimensions: 105 mm wide, 181 mm high, 86 mm deep.