What this MCCB delivers — and where the ratings matter
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2325-5HL32-0JC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 250 A continuous current (Iu) with an ETU320 electronic trip unit. It is configured for line protection — meaning it guards feeders and distribution circuits against overload and short-circuit, not motor or generator protection. The shunt trip (STL) allows remote opening via a control signal, and the two HQ auxiliary switches provide status feedback to a PLC or annunciator panel. Breaking capacity is the headline number that decides whether this breaker clears a fault or welds shut. At 240 V it interrupts 187 kA — enough for high-capacity transformer secondaries or large bus risers. At 415 V and 440 V it holds 121 kA, dropping to 75.6 kA at 500 V and 17 kA at 690 V. That steep derating above 500 V means you need to verify the available fault current at your system voltage, not just the highest number on the nameplate.
Thermal derating — the number that governs real-world ampacity
Rated 250 A at 40 °C, 45 °C, and 50 °C without derating. At 55 °C it drops to 240 A, at 60 °C to 235 A, at 65 °C to 230 A, and at 70 °C to 225 A. If your panel ambient runs above 50 °C — common in sealed enclosures or near process heat — you must size the breaker for the derated current, not the 250 A label. The maximum operating temperature is 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C.
Auxiliary and trip accessories
Comes with two HQ auxiliary switches (part of the basic switch assembly 3VA2325-5HL32-0AA0) and an integrated shunt trip (STL) release (3VA9688-0BL32). No undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring, no communication module, and no phase-failure detection are included — those are separate add-on options if your application requires them. Power loss at rated current is 37.5 W max, so account for that heat in your enclosure thermal calculation.