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© COMSTOCK

A historical evolution, the benefits of updating,

and why you should care

HIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES THE EXPE- update the 1996 version of this standard. In addition,

T riences in revising and updating a key IEEE

Standard C37.2—Standard for Electrical
Power System Device Function Numbers, Acro-
nyms, and Contact Designations. The
article cites the historical evolution of
BY JOHN T. TENGDIN
this standard dating back to 1928. The
wide utilization of modern, multifunc-
tion relays and many new functions made clear the need to
10
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MIAS.2009.934964
1077-2618/10/$26.00©2010 IEEE
the interweaving of communication facilities into pro-
tection and control requirements had to be addressed
from function and designation points of view. The arti-
cle demonstrates the importance of
the involvement of the members of
the IEEE in standards and the need
for continued input from these mem-
bers to ensure relevance to present application needs,
coherence, and compatibility with other industry
standards and practices.
History of the IEEE Standard C37.2
Just a little history is appropriate here. IEEE C37.2 is
probably one of the oldest IEEE standards still in regular
use. It was first published in 1928 as AIEE No. 26 and
provided a language to describe automatic substations as
well as other applications. These automatic substations
were self-contained, unattended rotary converter stations
(ac–dc) to provide 600-V dc for street cars, subway, and inter-
urban rail transit. They had multiple (two, three, and even
four) rotary converters that would be brought on or offline as
the load changed. This automatic sequencing included start-
ing the rotary converters at partial voltage to reduce inrush,
then changing to full voltage when up to speed.
To describe these control systems on elementary dia-
grams, a set of device numbers and contact designations
were standardized in AIEE No. 26. That original 1928 ver-
sion had many device numbers that are still in use today:
27—undervoltage relay, 40—field relay, 49—machine or
transformer thermal relay, 50—instantaneous overcurrent
relay, 51—ac time overcurrent relay, 52—ac circuit breaker,
72—dc circuit breaker, and 79—ac reclosing relay. There
were other numbers not so familiar to most of today’s
audiences: 1—master element, 7—rate of change relay,
10—unit sequence switch, 19—starting to running transi-
tion contactor, 22—equalizing circuit breaker, and 82—dc
load measuring reclosing relay (would not reclose on faults
but would on overloads). Not surprisingly, not all the num-
bers 1 through 99 were defined in the 1928 edition. For
example, device 16 was labeled ‘‘not used (reserved for future
applications)’’ and 95–99 ‘‘used only in specific applications
if none of the functions 1 through 94 are suitable.’’ Other
device number definitions were added over time, as needs
arose. For example, device 24, volts per Hertz relay, was
added in 1962 to cover this brand new function, a relay that
was developed to provide protection against transformer
overexcitation [generator step up units had failed on over
excitation (excessive volts per Hertz)] when power plants
had started to apply field current to unit connected genera-
tor/transformers at the very early stages of unit startup with-
out taking the generator voltage regulator out of service.
The standard has undergone numerous revisions (in
1937, 1945, 1956, 1962, and 1979), but these have been
relatively few considering its 80-year time span. In 1987,
device 11, multifunction device, was added (three or more
functions in one device). The handling of two functions
had always been defined, as 50/51 for example, but not for
more than two functions.
There were major changes in 1996. Two methods were
added for defining the contents of a multifunction device
11—the empty box and filled box methods. Frankly,
neither has worked particularly well, as the empty box
method conveyed almost no information, and the filled
box method was too cumbersome to use. That 1996 revi-
sion did add eight examples for the proper use of the suf-
fixes N and G in ground detector relay applications. Then,
in 2001, IEEE C37.2 was reaffirmed with no changes.
Changes in the Last Revision
At an IEEE Power System Relaying Committee meeting
in 2006, I made the infamous observation that nothing
has changed, so we plan to reaffirm C37.2. Fortunately,
Alex Apostolov spoke up and suggested that at least we
add a cross-reference table to International Electrotechni-
cal Commission (IEC) 61850 logical nodes. That IEC
standard had a cross-reference table to C37.2 device num-
bers (he and I had seen to that during the early stages of
IEC 61850 development), but the reverse did not exist.
Then, Eric Udren pointed out that there was no way in
IEEE C37.2 to describe and document the communica-
tions network in a substation (whether Ethernet or serial
RS232/485). He proposed that device 16 be used, as it was
then labeled ‘‘Reserved for Future Use’’ in C37.2. So, a
joint working group was formed: C5 in the IEEE Power
Engineering Society (PES, now Power & Energy) Substa-
tions Committee and I14 in Power System Relaying Com-
mittee (PSRC) plus correspondent members from the
IEEE Industry Applications Society and the IEEE Rail
Transit Standards Subcommittee.
Eric Udren’s idea was to label device 16 as ‘‘communi-
cation networking device’’ and to create a unique set of
suffixes, applicable only to device 16. His proposal was
adopted, with the first device 16 suffix letter to be either S
for serial devices or E for Ethernet devices. The subsequent
suffix letters are used to more completely describe the
device, with multiple suffix letters allowed. The subse-
quent suffixes are:
n C: security processing function [virtual private
network (VPN), encryption, etc.]
n F: firewall or message filter function
n M: network managed function [e.g., configured via
simple network management protocol (SNMP)]
n R: router
n S: switch [e.g., port switch on a dial up connec-
tion is 16 serial switch (16SS), an Ethernet switch
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is 16 Ethernet switch (16ES)]
n T: telephone component (e.g., autoanswer modem).
An example combination: 16ERFCM ¼ Ethernet
router/firewall/VPN/network managed. The device 16
examples in Figures 1 and 2 also appear in the 2008
update of IEEE C37.2. Figure 3 describes a dual redundant
Ethernet relaying configuration, with no single point of
failure from a protective relaying perspective. It shows all
the physical connections and paths.
11-1
11-2
11-3
11-4
RS-232 Link
16SS Telephone Circuit Pair
Phone Line Telephone Service
16SCT
Isolation to Substation
1
Protective relays with device 16 serial communications.
11
16SCT: serial encryption modem and 16SS: serial switch.
 devices. Since redundant paths are identical from a logical
node standpoint, redundancy is also out of scope. How-
WAN ever, as shown in Figure 3, those devices and connections
can be described using device 16 with its suffixes.
There are additional functions in the new C37.2 that are
defined not by function numbers but by acronyms. During
HST RTU 16ERFCM 16ESM the early stages of the revision effort, the joint working
group explored the possibility of retiring and reusing seven
of the old, old function numbers from the automatic substa-
tion era. An e-mail survey, conducted for us by the IEEE
11-1 Strategic Planning Services, showed that these old function
Ethernet Link numbers were still in use. So, the decision was made to use
acronyms for the additional functions. These are functions
11-2
that may reside in a single function device or as one of several
in a multifunction device, and device 11 had already been
11-3 established as the device number for a multifunction device.
The first suggestion was to define (in C37.2) a number of
acronyms that were already in regular use. These were DFR
11-4 for digital fault recorder, HMI for human–machine inter-
2 face, PMU for phasor measurement unit, RTU for remote
Ethernet device. 16ESM: Ethernet switch managed and terminal unit, and SER for sequence of events recorder. As
16ERFCM: Ethernet router firewall VPN network managed. the work continued, we ultimately added 12 more acronyms
for new functions not previously defined in C37.2. These
functions may reside in a single function device or one of
Be aware that there are limitations in IEC 61850 Part several functions in a device 11: multifunction device.
6—Substation Configuration Language. The whole concept
of IEC 61850 is to deal with logical (not physical) devices Acronym Labels for New Functions
and connections within the substation. In addition, Part 6 So, there are now 17 new functions, with acronym labels
cannot show switches, firewalls, or network management instead of numbers. The following are the acronyms, with
the titles and descriptions that are in
C37.2-2008 (Notes inside square
brackets are not in C37.2-2008):
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Operations on Information Users n AFD (arc-flash detector): a

SCADA/EMS
Control WAN on Enterprise WAN device/function that detects an
unintentional electrical arc in
air. [Arc-flash detection in met-
HMI HST RTU 16ERFCM alclad switchgear is certainly a
hot topic today. This is the
sensing function that may be a
16ESM 16ESM part of a Device 11 multifunc-
A-1 B-1 tion protective relay.]
n CLK (clock or timing source):

16ESM 16ESM
a device/function that receives
A-1 B-2 an accurate timing signal
input and distributes an accu-
rate timing signal output to
11L-A 11L-B other devices.
Note: An example of an
accurate timing signal input is
11B-A 11B-B
a signal received from a global
positioning system (GPS) sat-
11T-A 11T-B ellite clock. An example of an
accurate timing output signal
is interrange instrumentation
Monitor IED A Monitor IED B group type B (IRIG-B).
n DDR (dynamic disturbance
System A Ethernet Optical Fiber Pairs System B recorder): a device/function
Redundant Redundant that records incidents that
Relays Relays portray power system behavior
3 during low-frequency (0.1–3 Hz)
Dual redundant configuration. 16ESM: Ethernet switch network managed; oscillations, and abnormal fre-
12
16ERFCM: Ethernet router firewall VPN network managed. quency or voltage excursions.
 [Definition from the Southeast
Electric Reliability Council.] THE TCM
n DFR (digital fault recorder): a
device/function that records, PROVIDES THE
for analysis purposes, events on
the power system. It records MEANS TO
voltage and/or current wave-
forms replicating the primary INDICATE THE
power system voltages and cur-
rents when triggered by a sud- TRADITIONAL
den change in the waveforms RED-LIGHT
or by an external event.
n ENV (environmental data): a FUNCTION TO A
device/function that measures
and stores variables relating to REMOTE HMI.
the environment, such as weather
data, ice buildup conditions, geo-
magnetic disturbances, earthquakes, and other
similar phenomena.
n HIZ (high-impedance fault detector): a device/
function that detects high impedance faults on
grounded or ungrounded systems.
n HMI (human–machine interface): a device/func-
tion that displays data/information to and allows
control of a system by an operator. A HMI may
also be local to a specific device for operator inter-
action specific to that device.
n HST (historian): a device/function that continuously
gathers states and values from a data concentrator or
directly from protection and control intelligent elec-
tronic devices (IEDs) and may also act as a recorder
of data from which trends may be determined.
of control and protection system
information but without connec-
tion to a SCADA master station.
n RTU (remote terminal unit/data
concentrator): a device/function
that serves as the primary inter-
face (the data concentrator func-
tion) between a protection and
control system and a SCADA
system to provide operational
data visibility to, and perform
command operations from the
SCADA control center.
n SER (sequence of events re-
corder): a device/function that
records events (changes of state
of equipment or functions)
with a time reference (commonly from a GPS or
IRIG-B receiver).
n TCM (trip circuit monitor): this new function
deserves some special attention. For many, many
(more than 50) years, it has been a recommended
wiring practice on circuit breaker trip circuits to con-
nect the red panel indication light (illuminated when
the breaker is closed) in series with the circuit break-
er’s trip coil. Thus, the illuminated red light not
only showed the breaker was closed, but it also that
there was a tripping voltage source available and that
there was continuity through the breaker trip coil
and the 52a contacts (that interrupt the trip coil cur-
rent after the breaker opens). This wiring practice
started in the days of electromechanical relays whose

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n LGC (scheme logic) [the function—not a device like tripping contacts were designed to carry (but not
a programmable logic controller]: a device/function interrupt) trip coil current until the breaker opened.
that provides the programmed logic for a multide- The breaker’s 52a contact would open at the end of
vice control/protective relay scheme, such as a reme- the opening cycle and were designed to interrupt this
dial action scheme (RAS) or an interlocking scheme. highly inductive circuit. (Note: 52a was defined in
n MET (substation metering): a device/function that the original 1928 version—an auxiliary contact on
is connected to current transformers (CTs) and volt- an ac circuit breaker [a device 52] that is closed
age transformers (VTs) and may calculate and store when the circuit breaker is in the closed position.)
one or several of the following quantities—watts, Then, along came microprocessor-based protective
vars, amps, volts, power factor, demand, and energy. relays. In some cases, utilities chose to show the breaker
n PDC (phasor data concentrator): a device/function closed position simply by the position of a 52a contact (and
that collects phasor and discrete event data from not one in series with the trip coil). In an unattended sta-
PMUs (and from other PDCs) and transmits the tion who could argue, as there was usually no one near the
data to other destinations. PDCs may buffer data control panel (or even in the substation) to look the indi-
for a short time period but do not store the data. cating lights. And, the SCADA system reported breaker
n PMU (phasor measurement unit): a device/func- position solely based on 52a and 52b breaker auxiliary con-
tion that samples voltage and current with very tacts, with no remote indication of trip circuit continuity
accurate time stamps and calculates phase angles or the presence of tripping voltage on that trip circuit.
versus a GPS time reference (synchrophasors). Now we have the TCM whose definition is a device/func-
n PQM (power quality monitor): a device/function tion that monitors an associated circuit breaker’s trip circuit
that monitors electrical parameters used in power for continuity and for the presence of tripping voltage and
quality measurements. Parameters include (but are sets an externally readable alarm when continuity or trip-
not limited to) RMS variations, frequency varia- ping voltage is lost (a surrogate for the traditional red light
tions, unbalance, transients, harmonics, and inter- on relay and control panels). Thus, the TCM provides the
harmonics. The storage of historical values of means, via its alarm contact connected to an RTU, to indi-
these measurements may also be performed. cate the traditional red-light function to a remote HMI.
n RIO (remote input/output device): a device/func-
tion interfacing between the power system process Added Elementary Diagram
(analog or digital) and the substation automation The 2008 update of C37.2 includes the same dc elementary
13
system that serves as a substation data repository diagram that was in the previous versions and shows
 52 Closing Circuit 52 Tripping Circuit
8
(+)
3 4 3
30 A 2 Relays (51)
15 A
4
1 43 1 43
2 M 2 A 2 2 2 1 2 86 1 1 51N 1 1
3 1 43 43 51 49 38
3 3 HR SI SI 2 2
4 71W
4 63000 20D 1 51 51N
20D 47 51
7 a25 b25 2 2 SI 2 51N SI
8 GIL RIL
9 1 3 1 1
47 1 71W 49 38
10 2 4 2 2
120 V 1 86 HR
1 52TOC
dc 2 7 52X3 52X 23
Source 52 X
5 52 8 4 1 2 3 86
1
1 52 52 120 V 4
3 52
LC 1 5 52X 2 Space
2 ac
5 3 52Y2 52 6 1 52 Heater 6
52Y4 1 aa
Source 86
6 2 TC 115 V 5 NOTE:
1 2 1 Y
52X 52Y 52 250 W Alternate symbols as shown in IEEE
2 2 cc
1 Standard 315-1975 (2) may be used;
8 15 A for example, circles may be used for
1 2 2 operating coils.
(–)
30 A
4
Coordinated trip and close fusing.

independent (separate) fusing for circuit breaker trip and
close circuits. It does show the red light in series with the
trip coil. One of the balloters of the 2008 update of C37.2
observed that the Power Systems Relaying Committee had
published a working group report titled ‘‘Relay Trip Circuit
Design.’’ This report included a diagram with independent
fusing and also one with coordinated trip and close fusing.
That balloter suggested we add that coordinated example to
C37.2, and it has been done. It is now Figure 5 in the
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Cross-Reference Table and Suffix Letters
At the outset of the revision effort, Alex Apostolov
strongly urged that, with this revision, we should at least
include a cross-reference table to IEC 61850 logical nodes,
and he proceeded to produce the first version. Now that
table has grown considerably. Since it now includes all the
C37.2-2008 function numbers and acronyms, it covers
almost three pages in the standard.
This clause has also been updated with the addition of

standard (Figure 4 in this article). With coordinated fusing, ten new (to C37.2) suffixes, which are:
the close circuit fuse is downstream of the trip fuse, so that a n BU: back up
breaker cannot be closed if the trip fuses are not intact. n DCB: directional comparison blocking
n DCUB: directional comparison unblocking
n DUTT: direct underreaching transfer trip
CT CT n GC: ground check (this was added at the request of
11LA-1209 HMI/SCADA a manufacturer of mining equipment, who needed
VT 85POTT PILOT TX/RX
a way to show the presence of continuity in equip-
21P/N IRIG-B
ment grounding cables)
67N n POTT: permissive overreaching transfer trip
52a-108
SOTF n PUTT: permissive underreaching transfer trip
50BF-108 52a-118
n SOTF: switch on to fault
50BF-118 CLOSE 108
n TD: time delay
1 01A-108 CLOSE 118
VT 25A-108 n Z: impedance.
TRIP TC1 108
1 01A-118
VT 25A-118 TRIP TC1 118 Contents of a Multifunction Device 11
79 BFI-108 During the balloting, one engineer voted negative and
SER/DFR BFI-118 attached a strongly worded statement of how useless
ALARM
TRIP 86F-108 the existing methods (empty box and filled box meth-
TRIP 86F-118 ods) were to represent the contents of a multifunction
XXXX device 11 on elementary diagrams. He also attached a
5 copy of a method he had been using, which he called the
Example of the list-box method: 1) ac sensing connections list-box method, as it provided a way to list all the
are three-phase unless otherwise marked; 2) functions functions in, and connections to, a multifunction de-
apply to the multifunction device’s designated zone of vice. The example he provided was for the center
protection unless otherwise marked; 3) A/B designates breaker in a breaker and half scheme with synch check
systems A and B of the fully redundant system; 4) device on reclosing from one source and breaker failure initiate
01 is manual control of the designated power system to its back up breakers. That example (Figure 5) is now
element, 01A is local HMI and panel control, and 01B is in the standard. Our thanks to Mike Thompson, SEL,
14
remote SCADA control. for this great addition.
 Quoting from the standard, the list- n the addition of 17 acronyms
box method is a compromise between (many already in use elsewhere)
the empty box method, which forces THE RECLOSING n the addition of ten new suffix
the user of the diagram to go to other, FUNCTION IS NOT letter combinations
more detailed diagrams to determine n a complete cross reference table
what functions are provided in the pro- REDUNDANT AND to IEC 61850 logical nodes
tection and control system, and the n the addition of a new list-box
filled box method, which can be THUS DOES NOT method to describe the contents
cumbersome and difficult to generate. of a device 11—multifunctional
In the list-box method, the functions HAVE AN A OR device
in the multifunction device are simply n the addition of a ‘‘Coordinated
listed. Figure 5 is an example of the B SUFFIX. Trip Circuit Fusing’’ diagram
list-box method as used in a highly from a PSRC working group
integrated system. The zone of protec- report.
tion covered by this multifunction
device 11 is line 1209. The line is connected to a breaker- Importance of Joining
and-a-half substation via bus breaker 108 and midbreaker the IEEE Standards Association
118. This device is the system A multifunction device for Are you now a Member of the IEEE SA? If not, we encour-
line 1209. There is also a system B multifunction device age you to join and thus be able to ballot on new or revised
11 on line 1209 as well, and would have its own list box. standards. Ballot comments do work. Three of the addi-
Shown are the major functions provided in this device tions made to C37.2-2008 were as a direct result of ballot
for the protection, monitoring, and control of line 1209 comments: the new TCM function, list-box method of
and its associated breakers. It also shows how remote describing the contents of a multifunction device, and
SCADA and local control is implemented and in which coordinated trip and close fusing elementary diagram.
devices (to maintain redundancy). Note that automatic
reclosing (device 79) is implemented on a per line basis Conclusions
and not on a per breaker basis (otherwise it would have So, after all this, why should you care about these changes
been listed as 79-108 and 79-118). The reclosing function in IEEE C37.2? What’s in it for you? Most likely, every
is not redundant and thus does not have an A or B suffix. new or updated elementary diagram you create or need to
To maintain redundancy for the various close control func- understand will include a microprocessor-based product.
tions, synch check (device 25) is redundant (it does have an And, essentially, every one of those is a multifunction
A or B suffix). The binary input/output (I/O) and commu- device (device 11 in C37.2). In addition, you may be

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nications connections (arrows on the right side of the box) installing Ethernet to link these new relays (and need the
are optional and may be implied (not shown) to reduce the new device 16 to describe the substation network). So,
complexity of the diagram. XXXX is a placeholder for the without having to invent something new, the 2008 ver-
manufacturer’s model number of this device 11. sion of IEEE C37.2—Standard for Electrical Power Device
Midbreaker 118 may also have a similar multifunction Function Numbers, Acronyms, and Contact Designations
device 11 associated with the adjacent zone. It is impor- should provide the documentation tools you will need for
tant to know whether common functions such as manual these new applications. More details on this update may
control, automatic reclosing, and breaker failure for be found at http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/sub/wgc5/
breaker 118 also reside in that device. This is readily appa- index.htm. And, if there are gaps or corrections that need
rent using the list-box method. to be made in the 2008 version, please inform the PES
Substations Working Group C5.
Balloting However, most important, if you are creating or using
The balloting invitation for PC37.2-2008 went to a wider elementary diagrams that might make use of the many
range of IEEE groups than has been customary for PES. In changes in IEEE C37.2-2008, you should have a copy of
addition to the usual Power Systems Relaying Committee, this standard readily available until you have learned all
Power Systems Communications Committee and Substa- these additions to this substation configuration language.
tions Committee, the invitation was sent to the IEEE SA
balloters list for the Industry Applications Society Standards References
Committee (responsible for the IAS Color Books), the IAS [1] IEEE Standard Electrical Power System Device Function Numbers and Con-
Rural Electric Power Committee, and the IEEE Rail Trac- [2] tact Designations, IEEE Standard 37-2, 1996 (R2001), 1997.
IEEE Standard for Electrical Power System Device Function Numbers, Acro-
tion Standards Subcommittee. There were 203 people in the nyms, and Contact Designations, IEEE Standard 37-2, 2008.
balloting body. Balloting was completed in May 2008. The
document was approved by IEEE SA at its June 2008 meet-
ing and published in October 2008. John T. Tengdin (j.t.tengdin@ieee.org) is with OPUS Consult-
ing Group in San Clemente, California. He is a Life Member
Revision Summary of the IEEE. This article first appeared as ‘‘The 2008 Revi-
The 2008 revision of IEEE C37.2 includes: sion of IEEE C37.2 Standard for Electrical Power System
n a complete description of the new device 16 and Device Function Numbers, Acronyms, and Contact Designa-
its suffixes, with example diagrams (including a tions’’ at the 2009 IEEE/IAS Industrial and Commercial
15
dual redundant configuration) Power Systems Technical Conference.