Rated continuous current and thermal derating
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2225-8HL32-0AD0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 250 A continuous current at 40 °C ambient. That 250 A holds flat through 50 °C; above that it derates to 241 A at 55 °C, 232 A at 60 °C, 222 A at 65 °C, and 213 A at 70 °C. If your panel runs hot near the top of the enclosure, the 70 °C figure is the one that governs the load you can actually protect — not the nameplate 250 A.
Breaking capacity across voltage levels
Breaking capacity drops as system voltage rises: 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. For a 480 V distribution panel the relevant figure is 330 kA — that's the fault current this MCCB can safely interrupt without welding contacts or venting arc gas into the enclosure. The 52.5 kA at 690 V is for 600 V class systems; verify your available fault current against that curve before committing the BOM line.
Panel fit and auxiliary configuration
Footprint is 86 mm deep by 105 mm wide by 181 mm tall. Three auxiliary switches HQ are built in — that's the HQ designation on the order code, meaning high-capacity auxiliary contacts rated for control circuit switching. No undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring, no communication function on this variant. The basic switch is order code 3VA2225-8HL32-0AA0; this -0AD0 suffix adds the HQ auxiliaries.
Operating limits and power loss
Operates from -25 °C to 70 °C ambient; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C. Maximum power loss is 48 W at rated current — that's heat that stays inside the enclosure, so factor it into your panel thermal budget. No trip indicator, no voltage trigger, no communication function on this variant.