ANSI (IEEE) Protective Device Numbering

By Steven McFadyen on March 22nd, 2012

The widely used United Sates standard ANSI/IEEE C37.2 'Electrical Power System Device
Function Numbers, Acronyms, and Contact Designations' deals with protective device function
numbering and acronyms. Even in those parts of the world where IEC standards are
predominate, the use of ANSI numbering for protective device functions is still common place.

Contents [hide]

1. Protective Device Numbers

2. Prefixes and Suffixes
3. ANSI IEC Comparison

Protective Device Numbers

Protective relays are commonly referred to by standard device numbers. For example, a time
overcurrent relay is designated a 51 device, while an instantaneous overcurrent is a 50 device.
Multifunction relays have combinations of device numbers. A 27/59 device, for example, is a
combination under/over voltage relay. Letters can be added to clarify application (87T for
transformer differential, 59G for ground overvoltage).

 1 – Master Element
 2 – Time Delay Starting or Closing Relay
 3 – Checking or Interlocking Relay
 4 – Master Contactor
 5 – Stopping Device
 6 – Starting Circuit Breaker
 7 – Rate of Change Relay
 8 – Control Power Disconnecting Device
 9 – Reversing Device
 10 – Unit Sequence Switch
 11 – Multi-function Device
 12 – Overspeed Device
 13 – Synchronous-speed Device
 14 – Underspeed Device
 15 – Speed – or Frequency, Matching Device
 16 – Data Communications Device
 17 – Shunting or Discharge Switch
 18 – Accelerating or Decelerating Device
 19 – Starting to Running Transition Contactor
 20 – Electrically Operated Valve
 21 – Distance Relay
 22 – Equalizer Circuit Breaker
 23 – Temperature Control Device
 24 – Volts Per Hertz Relay
 25 – Synchronizing or Synchronism-Check Device
 26 – Apparatus Thermal Device
 27 – Undervoltage Relay
 28 – Flame detector
 29 – Isolating Contactor or Switch
 30 – Annunciator Relay
 31 – Separate Excitation Device
 32 – Directional Power Relay
 33 – Position Switch
 34 – Master Sequence Device
 35 – Brush-Operating or Slip-Ring Short-Circuiting Device
 36 – Polarity or Polarizing Voltage Devices
 37 – Undercurrent or Underpower Relay
 38 – Bearing Protective Device
 39 – Mechanical Condition Monitor
 40 – Field (over/under excitation) Relay
 41 – Field Circuit Breaker
 42 – Running Circuit Breaker
 43 – Manual Transfer or Selector Device
 44 – Unit Sequence Starting Relay
 45 – Abnormal Atmospheric Condition Monitor
 46 – Reverse-phase or Phase-Balance Current Relay
 47 – Phase-Sequence or Phase-Balance Voltage Relay
 48 – Incomplete Sequence Relay
 49 – Machine or Transformer, Thermal Relay
 50 – Instantaneous Overcurrent Relay
 51 – AC Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay
 52 – AC Circuit Breaker
 53 – Exciter or DC Generator Relay
 54 – Turning Gear Engaging Device
 55 – Power Factor Relay
 56 – Field Application Relay
 57 – Short-Circuiting or Grounding Device
 58 – Rectification Failure Relay
 59 – Overvoltage Relay
 60 – Voltage or Current Balance Relay
 61 – Density Switch or Sensor
 62 – Time-Delay Stopping or Opening Relay
 63 – Pressure Switch
 64 – Ground Detector Relay
 65 – Governor
 66 – Notching or Jogging Device
 67 – AC Directional Overcurrent Relay
  68 – Blocking or "Out-of-Step" Relay
 69 – Permissive Control Device
 70 – Rheostat
 71 – Liquid Level Switch
 72 – DC Circuit Breaker
 73 – Load-Resistor Contactor
 74 – Alarm Relay
 75 – Position Changing Mechanism
 76 – DC Overcurrent Relay
 77 – Telemetering Device
 78 – Phase-Angle Measuring Relay
 79 – AC Reclosing Relay
 80 – Flow Switch
 81 – Frequency Relay
 82 – DC Reclosing Relay
 83 – Automatic Selective Control or Transfer Relay
 84 – Operating Mechanism
 85 – Communications,Carrier or Pilot-Wire Relay
 86 – Lockout Relay
 87 – Differential Protective Relay
 88 – Auxiliary Motor or Motor Generator
 89 – Line Switch
 90 – Regulating Device
 91 – Voltage Directional Relay
 92 – Voltage and Power Directional Relay
 93 – Field Changing Contactor
 94 – Tripping or Trip-Free Relay
 95 to 99 – For specific applications where other numbers are not suitable

* for a full definition of each function, please refer to the ANSI/IEEE C37.2 standard

Prefixes and Suffixes

Letters and numbers may be used as prefixes or suffixes to device function numbers to provide a
more specific definition of the function. Prefixes and suffixes should, however, be used only
when they accomplish a useful purpose.

Auxiliary devices Main device

 C - Closing relay/contactor  A - Alarm/auxiliary power

 CL - Auxiliary relay, closed  AC - Alternating current
 CS - Control switch  AN - Anode
 D - "Down" position switch relay  B - Battery, blower, bus
 L- Lowering relay  BK - Brake
 O - Opening relay/contactor  BL - Block (valve)
 OP - Auxiliary relay, open  BP - Bypass
  PB - Push button  BT - Bus tie
 R - Raising relay  C - Capacitor, condenser, compensator,
 U - "UP" position switch relay carrier current, case, compressor
 X - Auxiliary relay  CA - Cathode
 Y - Auxiliary relay  CH - Check (valve)
 Z - Auxiliary relay  D - Discharge (valve)
 DC - Direct current
 E - Exciter
 F - Feeder, field, filament, filter, fan
Actuating quantities  G - Generator/ground
 H - Heater/housing
 A -Air/amperes/alternating  L - Line, logic
 C - Current  M - Motor, metering
 D - Direct/discharge  MOC - Mechanism operated contact
 E - Electrolyte  N - Network, neutral
 F - Frequency/flow/fault  P - Pump, phase comparison
 GP - Gas pressure  R - Reactor, rectifier, room
 H - Explosive/harmonics  S - Synchronizing, secondary, strainer,
 I0 - Zero sequence current sump ,suction (valve)
 I-, I2 - Negative sequence current  T -Transformer, thyratron
 I+, I1 - Positive sequence current  TH - Transformer (high-voltage side)
 J - Differential  TL - Transformer (low-voltage side)
 L - Level/liquid  TM - Telemeter
 P - Power/pressure  TOC - Truck-operated contacts
 PF - Power factor  TT - Transformer (tertiary-voltage side)
 Q - Oil  U - Unit
 S - Speed/suction/smoke
 T - Temperature
 V - Voltage/volts/vacuum
 VAR -Reactive power Main device parts
 VB - Vibration
 W - ater/watts  BK - Brake
 C - Coil, condenser, capacitor
 CC - Closing coil, closing contactor
 HC - Holding coil
Other suffix letters  M - Operating motor
 MF - Fly-ball motor
 A - Accelerating, automatic  ML - Load-limit motor
 B - Blocking, backup  MS - Speed adjusting or synchronizing
 BF - Breaker failure motor
 C - Close, cold  OC - Opening contactor
 D - Decelerating, detonate, down,  S - Solenoid
disengaged  SI - Seal-in
 E - Emergency, engaged  T - Target
 F - Failure, forward  TC Trip coil
 GP - General purpose
  H - Hot, high  V - Valve
 HIZ - High impedance fault
 HR - Hand reset
 HS - High speed
 L - Left, local, low, lower, leading Reference positions of devices
 M - Manual
 O - Open, over  Adjusting means - Low or down
 OFF - Off position
 ON - On  Clutch - Disengaged position
 P - Polarizing  Contactor - De-energized position
 R - Right, raise, reclosing, receiving,  Contactor (latched-in type) - Main
remote, reverse contacts open
 S - Sending, swing  Density switch - Standard reference
 SHS - Semi-high speed  Disconnecting switch - Main contacts
 T - Test, trip, trailing open
 TDC - Time-delay closing contact  Flow detector - Lowest flow
 TDDO - Time delayed relay coil drop-  Gate - Closed position
out  Level detector - Lowest level
 TDO - Time-delay opening contact  Load-break switch - Main contacts
 TDPU - Time delayed relay coil pickup open
 THD - Total harmonic distortion  Power circuit breaker - Main contacts
 U - Up, under open
 Power electrodes - Maximum gap
position
 Pressure switch - Lowest pressure
 Reclosure - Main contactor open
 Relay - De-energized position
 Relay (latched-in type)
 Rheostat - Maximum resistance
position
 Speed switch - Lowest speed
 Tap changer - Center tap
 Temperature relay - Lowest temperature
 Turning gear - Disengaged position
 Vacuum switch - Lowest pressure that
is highest vacuum
 Valve - Closed position
 Vibration detector - Minimum vibration

ANSI IEC Comparison

ANSI IEC 60617 Description
21FL FLOC Fault locator
21G Z< Underimpedance
24 U/f> Overexcitation
25 SYNC Synchronisation check
27 U< Undervoltage
Directional power relay
32 P→ 32P, P→, - active power
32Q, Q→ - reactive powerpower
37 I< Non-directional undercurrent
40 X< Underexcitation
46 I2> Negative-phase sequence
47 U2> Phase-sequence voltage protection
48, 14, 66 Is²t,n< Start-up supervision for motors
49F Ith> Thermal protection for cables

Three-phase thermal protection for machines

49M/49G/49T
M - motor, G - generators, T - transformer

50N/51N I0> Non-directional earth-fault

Non-directional overcurrent
51 I> 51C, I> - shunt capacitors
51V, I(U)> - voltage dependant
Overvoltage
59 U>
59N, U0> - residual overvoltage
Directional overcurrent
67 I>→
67N, I0>→ - directional earth-fault
68 I2> Transformer/motor inrush current
79 0→1 Auto-reclosure
Frequency relay
81 f 81N, f< - underfrquency
81O, f> - overfrequency
Differential protection
87G, ΔI> - generator
87 ΔI> 87M, ΔI> - motor
87T, ΔI> - transformer
87N, ΔI0> - restricted earth fault