Overview of IEEE C37.
92-2005
Standard for Analog Inputs to Protective Relays
From Electronic Voltage and Current Transducers
Working Group I5 of IEEE Power System Relaying Committee
E.A. Udren (Chairman)
D. C. Dawson P. R. Drum
W. C. Kotheimer P. J. Lerley

Abstract
The paper gives an overview of the new IEEE Standard C37.92,
which defines a low-voltage (11.3 V max) analog signal interface
between new types of electronic sensors, and microprocessor-based
protective relays or intelligent electronic devices. The application
requirements are described; the technical specifications of the
interface are summarized. The paper explains electromagnetic-
environment considerations. The new interface standard offers
simplicity and low cost, ease of adaptation of existing relay designs,
and the opportunity to transform and combine signals from existing
conventional instrument transformers in hybrid protection
schemes.
I. INTRODUCTION
Iron-cored current transformers, wound voltage transformers, and
capacitive voltage transformers have all served the power-system
measurement needs of protective relaying, metering, monitoring, and
control functions for the last century. They have evolved to a high
state - acceptable and well-understood performance, dependability,
and efficient manufacturing. The cost is very low, at least at lower
voltages. Accordingly, all but a handful of the modern
microprocessor-based multifunction protective relays or other
intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) installed today measure power-
system voltages and currents through these familiar instrument
transformers. All protective relaying engineers are familiar with
their capabilities and limitations.
Conventional current transformers are standardized to deliver a
current of 1 A or 5 A when rated load is flowing in the primary
power conductor. For protective relaying applications, the CTs have
compliance voltage capability of up to 800 volts to deliver significant
energy to heavy burdens of multiple relays and associated wiring.
The voltage transformers deliver a standard voltage of 69 V or 120 V
when the primary is at rated voltage, with up to hundreds of watts of
burden capability. The existing body of relays and IEDs are thus
designed to work with these high-energy signals, even though most
of today's microprocessor-based products don't need much energy
internally and present very low burden.
The new IEEE Standard C37.92 defines a practical way of
interfacing new types of electronic instrument transformers to
electronic relays and IEDs. These new voltage and current
transducers cannot deliver
Eric A. Udren is with KEMA Consulting, Pittsburgh, PA (e-mail:
eric.udren@kema.com)
Peter G. McLaren is with the Center for Advanced Power Systems, Florida
State University, Tallahassee, FL (e-mail: mclaren@caps.fsu.edu).
1­4244­0178­X/06/$20.00 ©2006 IEEE 527
P. G. McLaren (Vice Chairman)
H. Gilleland C. F. Henville
V. Skendzic J. T. Tengdin
the familiar high-energy standard secondary outputs without
impractical power amplifiers. Nonetheless it is worth the effort to
interface to them since they can overcome some of the long-
recognized performance or accuracy deficiencies of the familiar older
transformer types.
Comparison with Conventional Instrument Transformers
Conventional instrument transformers offer both advantages and
disadvantages as compared to new electronic sensors. A strong
advantage is that they are trusted and reliable. Application engineers
are familiar with their features and behavior, and have developed
acceptable or practical solutions for handling many of the drawbacks
we describe next.
In the case of conventional current transformers (CTs), the magnetic
behavior of the iron core causes ratio errors at very high or very low
currents. The core may saturate at high currents, especially for a
fault with a prolonged decaying-exponential ("dc") offset transient.
The saturation causes loss of secondary current output, leading to
failure to trip for overcurrent or distance relays, and false tripping for
differential or pilot protection schemes. At the low end of the load
current range, that same relaying current transformer may have
magnetizing losses which cause secondary output current to tail off
excessively, making it unsuitable for accurate metering at low levels.
By contrast, special metering-accuracy CTs emphasizing low-end
accuracy are not capable of reproducing fault currents. So two
separate instrument transformers may be needed to cover the range of
tasks, each with its own measuring circuits and devices.
Conventional iron-core voltage transformers (VTs) may also saturate
for overvoltage conditions, causing them to heat up and to distort the
measurement signal. Iron-core VTs are very expensive to build at
higher voltages, where the economical solution is a capacitive
voltage transformer (CVT). A capacitive divider with a transformer
and a tuned burden circuit exhibits well-known transient response
errors when the voltage collapses for a nearby fault. This has been a
cause of occasional distance relay misoperation.
Both CT and VT wired secondary circuits are subject to transients
and surges induced by switchyard or control system operations,
requiring special protection for electronic relay interfaces.
Furthermore, the threat of insulation failure imposes demanding
design requirements to meet IEEE and IEC product safety standards
to protect operators and technicians who may be in contact with the
relays.
Most notably, as the system primary voltage rises from the HV into
the EHV range, the massive and elaborate insulation systems of the
PSCE 2006
instrument transformers make them expensive, regardless of the
years of manufacturing experience and refinement. In addition, there
are safety and maintenance demands for the insulation system. In
one body of work on magneto-optic current transducers, the initial
impetus for a new HV/EHV current transducer was the significant
number of cases of explosion of HV oil-insulated CTs in one utility's
switchyards [2]. Gas-insulated CTs require special maintenance
attention and equipment.
To call any of these familiar, conventional CTs or VTs expensive or
difficult to live with is a statement that has meaning only when a
better or lower-cost solution is available, and in fact there are new
solutions claiming these benefits, now going into service.
New Current and Voltage Transducers
Power system voltage and current measurements can now be
captured using electronic measuring circuits or optoelectronic
systems. Examples of recent measuring devices include:
x Magneto-optic current transducer (MOCT).
x Electro-optic voltage transducer (EOVT).
x Current-measuring Rogowski coil (air-core transformer),
working with an electronic buffer/conditioner circuit.
x Capacitive or resistive divider voltage transformer or bushing
tap with electronic buffer/conditioner circuit in lieu of
transformer connected to a relatively high voltage tap on the
divider, and tuning circuits to handle the capacitor –
transformer interactions.
The MOCT has been one of the most widely publicized of these
systems, and we use it as an example in the following. See [2] and
other references for more details on design and field application
experience with MOCTs and other new transducers. Rogowski coils
are also getting increased attention as a means of very inexpensive,
accurate, compact current measurement in lower-voltage applications
[4].
While specific features of each transducer vary, as a group they offer
high accuracy over the full dynamic range of power-system currents
and voltages, and are notably free of saturation or transient response
errors. A single current transducer can meet low-level revenue
metering accuracy specifications, while also reproducing fault
currents up to 100 kA with smooth output waveform and minimal
ratio error. They offer superior bandwidth; the technologies are
generally capable of measuring fast-rise transients that are of interest
for system studies - far beyond the high-frequency needs of any
protection or monitoring scheme.
When the voltages are very high, the all-dielectric optical transducer
types eliminate the need for massive insulating structures or systems,
bringing a large cost advantage and opening new opportunities for
embedding sensors in other power apparatus.
Low-Energy Interface
From the relay user's point of view, a notable characteristic of these
transducers is that they give only low-level electronic signals as
outputs. They would require large and expensive amplifiers to yield
signals at 5A (with up to 100 A symmetrical for faults) and 69 or 120
V. They can't drive electromechanical relays. Thus, for practical
purposes, the only compatible relays or measuring systems are low-
energy electronic or microprocessor types. Clearly, these connected
protection and measuring systems won't interface if they are designed
for the conventional 5A and 69 to 120 Vac input signals, as most are
today. The relays must instead have a low-level signal interface that
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takes advantage of the minimal signal energy needs of the
microprocessor A/D input subsystem.
This points to the need for the new Standard C37.92. Manufacturers
and users of electronic transducers and relays must have standardized
interfacing levels and interconnection schemes, which take on the
role of the familiar 5A and 69-120 V signals for the installation of the
low-energy electronic signal circuits.
The following gives only an overview of the technical details to be
found in the Standard. It is important for the user to refer to the
document C37.92 itself to properly implement the interface.
II. OVERVIEW OF THE INTERFACE
C37.92 defines the interface between voltage or current sensors with
electronic outputs and suitably designed protective relays or other
substation measuring equipment. The standardized measurement is
an analog electrical signal of ± 11.3 volts peak. The origin of this
particular level is explained below.
This standard also defines requirements for optional intermediate
summing or ratio-adjusting amplifiers needed to combine the signals
of more than one transducer for measurement by a single relay or
IED. Figure 1 shows an example configuration of system elements
for an MOCT system in a high voltage station. In this case the
optical sensors are located on the bus at high potential. In other cases
the sensors may be embedded inside power apparatus or insulators.
Optical signals are exchanged over fiber-optic cables between the
sensors and optical-to-electrical conversion module at ground
potential, shown here inside the control building. The standard
specifies the electrical signals that pass from the optical-to-electrical
conversion module to the relays or other measuring devices using
these signals.
The interaction between a sensor and its associated electronic
conversion module (if any) is presumed to be a proprietary scheme of
a particular manufacturer's sensing design, not subject to
standardization. It is the output of the conversion module, and
therefore, the input of relays and other measuring functions, which is
to be standardized for interoperability. The bracket to the right of
Figure 1 shows the location of the standardized interface.
The interface is presumed to exist within the control building, or in
any case over short distances of less than 50 m between devices
having well-bonded ground references. In no case should the ground
potential differences between connected devices exceed 20 V during
a heavy ground fault.
There is increasing interest in this style of interfacing for other
applications, notably where the sensors are an integral element in a
unitized device or system:
x Distribution automation (reclosers, intelligent switches,
sectionalizers)
x Metal clad switchgear
x Capacitor bank control and protection
x Power electronic devices (rectifiers, static var controllers,
fast transfer switches, low-voltage motor soft-starters)
x Industrial installations.
C37.92 specifications are suitable for all of these uses.
 Control House

Other
High Voltage
Relay Relay Meas.
Bus
Device

Optical Current
Sensing Element Standardized
Analog
Interface

High Voltage
Insulation

O ptics/Electronics
Module

Optical Fiber
in Conduit

Figure 1 - Optical Current Sensing System with Standardized Analog Interface.

III. SIGNAL SPECIFICATIONS The peak value of ±11.3 volts results when a one per unit level of
The specifications characterize a voltage signal passing across the 200 mV is established for currents. Maximum symmetrical RMS
interface from a sensor system to a relay. Note that if we are fault current is 20 per unit, or 4 V. The peak value is about
sensing current, the signal is a voltage waveform that mimics the 5.65V. If the wave is fully offset, the peak could approach 11.3
current waveform in the primary circuit. This is fundamentally volts, although it is not actually likely to reach this value. This
different from a conventional CT, and changes the input circuit corresponds to 40 per unit for a fully offset current wave.
design of the relays receiving the signal. The change, however, is Electronic operational amplifiers that can be economically
often as simple as elimination of an isolating auxiliary CT and applied in sensors and in relays are typically powered with ±15 V.
burden resistor. Therefore, designers can handle this signal level with interface
electronics already widely used in microprocessor relays and
The standard levels are those that can be readily obtained from a meters designed to work with conventional instrument
transducer whose analog electronic output is developed via an transformers. In many cases, a small isolating transformer inside
operational amplifier. the relay, or other IED is eliminated completely, or the primary
turns count is changed.
C37.92 gives current and voltage specifications for:
x Dynamic range IV. INTERCONNECTING SENSORS AND IEDS
x Nominal 1 p.u. level Input/Output Characteristics
x Maximum instantaneous values Sensor outputs and IED inputs may be either fully isolated,
x Signal to noise ratio (SNR) balanced types or single-ended, unbalanced. Balanced inputs and
x Accuracy table over the range outputs are called reversible-polarity and allow connection of
x For currents, a special metering-only optional range the sensor to an IED in either polarity, in accordance with power
x Output burden capability system needs. Unbalanced inputs or outputs are called non-
x Common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) reversible polarity and, when interconnecting two devices with
x Output dc offset (electronic zero error; not related to power- non-reversible polarity, do not permit polarity to be inverted.
system decaying transient) Terminals and markings are specified in the Standard.
x Bandwidth
Fan-Out and Signal Combining
x Transient response - voltage collapse
x Transient response - decaying-exponential component in Multiple IEDs are connected in parallel, as shown in Figure 2. If
fault current multiple sensors are to feed a single relay or IED input, a
x Fan-out design requirements summing amplifier is required (or multiple inputs on the IED
x Squelching on internal error detection by electronic itself, not typically found today). These amplifiers may also
transducer system. incorporate facilities for signal scaling and polarity reversal so
x Data-valid auxiliary output that sums or differences of signals may be created. Intermediate
x Sensor trouble auxiliary output, optional summing amplifiers may also have inputs for conventional

529
instrument transformer signals so that these may be combined
with low-level signals to drive low-level IEDs. The Standard
shows connection options.
V. OPERATING ENVIRONMENT AND WIRING THE LOW ENERGY
INTERFACE
The low energy interface standard is intended primarily for
connecting the electronic voltage and current sensors to the
protective relays within the benign environment of the control
building. A primary threat to the interface considered by this
standard consists of a 50/60Hz potential rise caused by the fault
current being channeled through the substation grounding system.
The main protective features imposed by the Standard are the
common mode voltage limit at any termination point and the 50 m
distance limit. The ground potential difference between the
connected devices is limited, in any case, to a specified value for
any power-system ground fault. These limits are aimed primarily
at insuring correct system operation during faults without undue
complexity of the interface design or the wiring methods.
The wiring methods and protection levels of the Standard are
not aimed at conveying these low-energy signals from the
switchyard into the control house unless special shielding and
other adaptations are used. The standard does not encourage or
explain methodology for such an installation. For connections
involving switchyard-mounted components, the user is expected
to engineer more robust shielding schemes to cope with the
harsher environment.
Relay or IED Relay or IED Relay or IED
10
* Optional
shield grounding
* *
source end for
frequency
* portable test sets with only low-level voltage outputs as required
reduction Sensing
Figure 2 - One Sensing System with Multiple Relay Inputs.
VI. ELECTRICAL ENVIRONMENT WITHSTAND CAPABILITY
To ensure immunity to conditions expected within the control
house or elsewhere, the Standard specifies type tests for the
interface. In addition to other normally required electrical
environment tests of the relay or sensor electronics, special
adaptations of familiar tests apply to the low-level analog signal
I/O and other auxiliary circuits:
530
x Dielectric test
x Oscillatory and fast transient surge withstand capability
(SWC) tests
x Radiated electromagnetic interference withstand (portable
radio) test
If wiring is installed outside of the protected control house, the
interface may be exposed to lightning surges, temperature
extremes, and high-level electric or magnetic fields. The system
designer or user must perform additional tests that demonstrate
robustness of the wiring installation which are not addressed in
the Standard.
VII. TESTING THE INTERFACE
The outputs of the sensors can be verified with conventional
laboratory meters and oscilloscopes.
The inputs of relays and IEDs will take some adaptation. If the
test source is a conventional relay test set, the voltage can be set
at the required low value, or a transformer or resistive divider can
be used to maintain accuracy as the value is scaled.
High-current relay test sources can be interfaced to relays with
C37.92 interfaces by developing the proportional voltage across a
precise burden resistance. Otherwise, an auxiliary current
transformer with burden is needed to scale the current to a
suitable low voltage. This transformer can be similar to those
found inside many of today's microprocessor protective relays
with 5A CT connections.
Note that signals from conventional CTs or VTs can be combined
in systems with electronic sensors and the C37.92 interface using
this same technique. An isolating transformer, exactly like the
one found inside a microprocessor relay designed for a 5A CT
input, is combined with a value of burden resistor that yields the
specified 200 mV signal at 1 per unit current. For VTs, the 69V
or 120V input is scaled to the appropriate normal value in the
Standard, with no burden resistor needed.
As use of the interface becomes widespread, the lack of need for
high output energy will drive the development of very light,
in this Standard.
VIII. ANALOG VERSUS DIGITAL INTERFACE
The newest commercial designs for the measuring functions -
relaying, metering, substation and system monitoring and control
- are routinely implemented with microprocessors. These
microprocessor-based devices typically use sampling analog-to-
digital conversion circuits for interfacing to the power system
measurement quantities. This raises the question as to why the
present standard should not include a digital electrical or optical
interface. A digital communications interface offers benefit of
noise immunity and robustness, with the option of easy optical
transmission. Also, a single conversion to digital form could
serve all the functions using the signal, saving duplication of the
analog-to-digital conversion interface in each device. Multiple
signals could be multiplexed to greatly reduce the number of
wiring or fiber runs.
For a digital interface standard to succeed, all aspects of the data
transmission and signal processing must conform perfectly. This
includes sampling rate, analog prefiltering for antialiasing, A/D
converter resolution (number of accurate bits), format or layout
and protocol layers for the data transmission, identification of
values and source or destinations, error correction methods, and
much more. A single bit out of place can completely defeat the
function of a digital interface.
A digital bus for transmission of unprocessed switchyard data
samples, called a process bus, has been the subject of standards
development within the IEC as a part of its Standard 61850
project on Communication Networks and Systems in Substations
[5,6]. . But note that there always remains an interface between
the analog sensed value and the data transmission system that
should still be standardized, according to the scheme of C37.92.
IX. CONCLUSION
The Working Group believes that adoption of IEEE C37.92 will
give a boost to the large number of emerging sensor technologies.
The technical requirements have been formulated specifically to:
x Define an economical electronic interfacing design which
will promote the adoption and use of new, high-
performance electronic transducers;
x Make it easy to adapt existing modern microprocessor relay
and IED designs to accept inputs conforming to the
standard; and
x Keep the possibility to easily combine signals from familiar
legacy instrument transformers into protection and
measurement schemes based on the new interface.
Users are encouraged to report experience with IEEE C37.92,
or to suggest improvements. Comments may be transmitted to
the officers of the Power System Relaying Committee of the
IEEE Power Engineering Society, or to the chairman of the
Working Group that has developed this standard:
Eric A. Udren, KEMA T&D Consulting
1395 Terrace Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15228
eric.udren@kema.com
X. REFERENCES
[1] V.F. Hermosillo, “Optical Current and Voltage Sensing
Systems”, Electric Council of New England, Engineering Joint
Meeting, Newport, Rhode Island, March 1999.
[2] E. Udren and T.W. Cease, "Transmission Line Relaying with
Magneto-Optic Current Transducers", paper in Protective
Relaying for Power Systems II (Book), S.H. Horowitz, Editor,
IEEE Press, 1992.
[3] T.W. Cease, J.G. Driggans, S.J. Weikel, “Optical Voltage And
Current Sensors Used In A Revenue Metering System”, IEEE
Transactions on Power Delivery, Volume 6, Issue 4, Oct. 1991
Pages 1374 – 1379.
[4] L.A. Kojovic, “Application of Rogowski Coils used for
Protective Relaying Purposes”, IEEE PES Power Systems
Conference and Exposition 2006, Panel Session 20.22,
"Applications of Low Energy Analog Current and Voltage
Transducers for Protection", October 2006, Atlanta, GA.
[5]IEC 61850 9-1 - 2003, Communication networks and systems
in substations, Part 9-1: Specific communication service mapping
(SCSM) - Sampled values over serial unidirectional multidrop
point to point link
[6]IEC 61850-9-2 - 2004, Communication networks and systems
in substations - Part 9-2: Specific communication service mapping
(SCSM) - Sampled values over ISO/IEC 8802-3.
531
XI. BIOGRAPHIES
Eric A. Udren has a 37 year
distinguished career in design and
application of protective relaying and
control systems. He received his BSEE
from Michigan State University in 1969,
MSEE degree from New Jersey Institute
of Technology in 1981, and the
Certificate of Post-Graduate Study in
Engineering from the University of
Cambridge (UK) in 1978. In 1969 he
joined the Westinghouse Relay-
Instrument Division, where he developed
software for the world’s first computer-based relaying system.
From 1978 to 1986, he supervised relaying and control software
development for the EPRI-sponsored first development of a LAN-
based integrated protection and control system. In 1990, he
transitioned from Westinghouse to the ABB Protection and
Automation Division. He led the design of the first interface of a
microprocessor protective relay to an optical current sensor for
installation at TVA. In 1996, he joined Eaton Electrical (Cutler-
Hammer) in Pittsburgh, where he served as Engineering Manager
for Electronic Products. In 2004, Mr. Udren joined KEMA T&D
Consulting in Raleigh, NC as Senior Principal Consultant. He
maintains his office in Pittsburgh. Working with KEMA, Mr.
Udren has developed the technical strategy for some of the most
progressive utility LAN-based substation protection and control
upgrading programs using IEC 61850 and other data
communications.
Mr. Udren is a Fellow of IEEE, Member of the IEEE Power
System Relaying Committee (PSRC), and Chairman of two PSRC
Standards Working Groups. On two occasions, in 2001 and 2006,
he received the PSRC Distinguished Service Award. He serves as
Technical Advisor to the US National Committee of the IEC for
TC 95, Measuring Relays. He also serves as a US Delegate to
IEC TC 57 Working Group 10 responsible for IEC 61850. He has
written and presented over 40 technical papers and chapters of
books on relaying topics. He holds 8 patents on relaying and
power-system communications.
Peter G. McLaren was educated at the Universities of Dundee,
Cambridge and St. Andrews in the UK. He spent 5 years in the
electrical power industry in the UK and Canada and then 40 years
in various academic institutions, most
notably as a fellow of Churchill
College Cambridge and as the NSERC
Industrial Research Chair in Power
Systems at the University of Manitoba
in Canada. His research interests are in
power system protection, power system
simulation and power applications of
superconductivity. He is a Fellow of
the IEEE, the IET (formerly known as
IEE, UK) and a chartered engineer in
the UK and Europe. He is presently the Director of the Florida
Advanced Power Research Institute at Florida State University.