What it is and what it does
The Siemens 3VA2325-5HL32-0DC0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) with a 250 A rated continuous current (Iu) and an ETU320 electronic trip unit. It is a 3-pole line-protection breaker, meaning it sits in the main feeder or a large subfeed to protect cables and busbars from overload and short-circuit faults — not a motor-protection device with phase-failure detection. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, and the breaking capacity varies by system voltage: 187 kA at 240 V, 121 kA at both 415 V and 440 V, 75.6 kA at 500 V, and 17 kA at 690 V. That 187 kA at 240 V is high — it handles a very large fault current at low-voltage distribution levels, typical for a main breaker in a 240 V delta or 277/480 V wye panel where the available fault current is stiff. The ETU320 is a basic electronic trip unit — it provides LSI (long-time, short-time, instantaneous) protection curves but no ground-fault or communication functions. No voltage trigger, no phase-failure detection, no communication module on this variant.
Current derating and thermal limits
The breaker holds its full 250 A rating from 40 °C up to 50 °C. At 55 °C it derates to 240 A, at 60 °C to 235 A, at 65 °C to 230 A, and at 70 °C to 225 A. If the panel ambient runs hot — say, a crowded enclosure near a furnace line — the 55 °C derate is the first step to watch. Maximum power loss is 40 W. That's the heat the breaker dumps into the enclosure — factor it into your thermal budget if the panel is sealed or has limited ventilation.
Dimensions and panel fit
The breaker measures 248 mm high, 138 mm wide, and 110 mm deep. That 138 mm width is a 3-pole frame — it fits standard MCCB mounting footprints in SENTRON distribution boards or on a mounting plate. The 110 mm depth includes the case body; add clearance for cable lugs and the auxiliary switch wiring.
Auxiliaries and releases
This variant comes with an undervoltage release (UVR) fitted and two auxiliary switches (HQ type). The UVR trips the breaker when control voltage drops below a threshold — standard for emergency-stop or undervoltage protection schemes. The auxiliary switches provide status feedback (open/closed) to a PLC or indicator lamp. The integrated auxiliary trip is order code 3VA9608-0BB25; the basic switch (without auxiliaries) is 3VA2325-5HL32-0AA0. If you need a different auxiliary configuration, the base breaker accepts field-installable accessory kits.