What it is and what it does
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2325-6HN32-0KC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 250 A continuous current across the full ambient range from 40 °C to 70 °C — no derating needed up to that ceiling. It's designed for line protection in distribution panels, meaning it sits at the feeder or main breaker position, not on a specific motor or load circuit. Breaking capacity is the headline number here: 242 kA at 240 V, 187 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 121 kA at 500 V, and 7.5 kA at 690 V. That 242 kA at 240 V tells you this breaker handles extreme fault currents — think large transformer secondaries or high-capacity busways where the available fault current is in the hundreds of kiloamps. The 7.5 kA at 690 V is the limit on higher-voltage systems; if your panel runs 690 V with a high fault current, this breaker may not be the right choice.
Built-in accessories and physical fit
This variant ships with a shunt trip (STL) for remote tripping and two HQ auxiliary switches for status feedback — both factory-installed, so no field retrofitting. The basic switch core is order code 3VA2325-6HN32-0AA0; the -0KC0 suffix adds the shunt trip and aux switches. No undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring, no communication module on this version. Dimensions are 248 mm high, 138 mm wide, 110 mm deep. That's a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for this current class — it fits the SENTRON mounting base and busbar system without adapters. Panel builders should confirm the 138 mm width against existing busbar spacing; it's wider than a compact 160 A frame but narrower than a 400 A frame.
Lifecycle and sourcing reality
Maximum power loss is 37.5 W — relevant for thermal coordination inside a sealed enclosure. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C. The 70 °C operating ceiling matches the continuous current rating, so no additional derating curve to track.