Faculty of Engineering Technology Page No.

1/9

Department of Electrical Engineering Technology Revision No. 1

Title: Overcurrent & Earth Fault Relay Test Effective Date 19/02/2018

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGY

INDUSTRIAL INSTALLATION TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

(MAKMAL TEKNOLOGI PEPASANGAN INDUSTRI)

WORKING INSTRUCTION AND REPORT

Course Code & Name / BNE 42902/BNE 45002
Kod & Nama Kursus ( EWP 4 )/(SCADA& POWER PROTECTION LAB)
Code & Title of Experiment/
EXP 10_ Over Current & Earth Fault Relays Test
Kod & Tajuk Ujikaji
Date of Experiment/
Tarikh Ujikaji
Programme/Program
Group/ Kumpulan
Matrix No./
Name/Nama
No. Matrik
Group Members/ 1.
Ahli Kumpulan 2.
3.
4.
Instructor Name / 1.
Nama Instruktor 2.
COGNITIVE
/5%
Question
/5%
Conclusion
PSYCHOMOTOR
/20%
Data Analysis and Discussion
/30%
Assessment / Penilaian Result & Observation
AFFECTIVE
/10%
Team Work
/5%
Attitude

TOTAL / JUMLAH /75%

 Faculty of Engineering Technology Page No. 2/9

Department of Electrical Engineering Technology Revision No. 1

Title: Overcurrent & Earth Fault Relay Test Effective Date 19/02/2018

1. EXPERIMENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the experiment, students should be able to:

1.1 To identify the setting of Over Current and Earth Fault Relays.
1.2 To study the protection of equipment and system by relays in conjunction with Low Voltage Switch
Board.
1.3 To explain briefly how the test is conducted.

2. INTRODUCTION / THEORY

The function of a relay is to detect abnormal conditions in the system and to initiate through appropriate
circuit breakers the disconnection of faulty circuits so that interference with the general supply is
minimized. Relays are of many types. Some depend on the operation of an armature by some form of
electromagnet.

A very large number of relays operate on the induction principle. The passage of current in the coil of the
trip circuit actuates the plunger, which causes operation of the circuit breaker, disconnecting the faulty
system.

Figure 2.1: Combined Over Current and Earth Fault Relays

The protective relaying which responds to a rise in current flowing through the protected element over a
pre-determined value is called overcurrent protection and the relays used for this purpose are known as
overcurrent relays. Earth fault protection can be provided with normal overcurrent relays, if the minimum
earth fault current is sufficient in magnitude.

The design of a comprehensive protection scheme in a power system requires the detailed study of time-
current characteristics of the various relays used in the scheme. Thus it is necessary to obtain the time
current characteristics of these relays.
 Faculty of Engineering Technology Page No. 3/9

Department of Electrical Engineering Technology Revision No. 1

Title: Overcurrent & Earth Fault Relay Test Effective Date 19/02/2018

The overcurrent relay works on the induction principle. The operating time of overcurrent relays tends to
become asymptotic to a definite minimum value with increase in the value of current. This is an inherent
property of the electromagnetic relays due to saturation of the magnetic circuit. By varying the point of
saturation, different characteristics can be obtained and these are:

1. Definite time
2. Inverse Definite Minimum Time (IDMT)
3. Very Inverse
4. Extremely Inverse

3. EQUIPMENT

3.1. Low Voltage Switchboard

3.2. Multimeter
3.3. Hand tools (as necessary)
3.4. Secondary current injection test set
3.5. Personnel Protective Equipment (as necessary)

4. PROCEDURES

Activity 1 - (Minimum Current Pick-up Start)

4.1 Tests on the over current and earth fault protection relay are carried out using the
Secondary Current Injection Test Set with the wiring connections as shown in Figure 4.1,
where the relay R phase over current element is shown connected to it.

4.2 Before the tests, ensure that the primary circuit of CT’s is de-energised.

4.3 Check and record all particulars of the relay to be tested and its operational settings.

4.4 Supply the OCR and EFR with external 240V source.

4.5 Set up the Secondary Current Injection Test Set at 0 - 10 A; 0 - 240 V AC operation.

4.6 Increase the output current of the test set gradually until the over current element of R
(red) phase picks up. Record the ‘starting’ or ‘pick-up’ current reading in the test report as
shown in Table 1.
 Faculty of Engineering Technology Page No. 4/9

Department of Electrical Engineering Technology Revision No. 1

Title: Overcurrent & Earth Fault Relay Test Effective Date 19/02/2018

Figure 4.1: Minimum Current Pick-up Start Test circuit

Activity 2 - (Timing Checks With Test Settings)

4.7 The following tests are carried out to verify the relay operating times under various test
settings. Connect a relay trip contact to Secondary Current Injection Test Set timer
terminals. Referred to Figure 4.2.

4.8 Switch on the Secondary Current Injection Test Set and set the output current to 2.0 x Io
(tripping current setting).

4.9 Switch off the test set with control knob remaining in the set position. Switch the
Secondary Current Injection Test Set to the ‘Test’ position to inject the set current and start
the timer at the same time.

4.10 After the relay trip contact has operated, record the relay operating time in the above-
mentioned test in the test report as shown in Table 1.

4.11 Switch off test set.

4.12 Repeat the relay operation timing tests with current injected set at 3.0 x Io to 5.0 x Io and
record the corresponding relay operating times.

4.13 Repeat the tests on relay ‘pick-up’ current and relay operation times for the Y (yellow), B
(blue) and E/F elements of the relay.

4.14 Upon completion of all tests, change settings back for all elements (R, Y, B & E/F) to ensure
that the start currents now correspond to originally noted operational settings as required.
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Department of Electrical Engineering Technology Revision No. 1

Title: Overcurrent & Earth Fault Relay Test Effective Date 19/02/2018

4.15 Finally, disconnect all wiring between test set and relay and ensure that all connections to
relay are returned to the normal operational conditions.

Figure 4.2 : Timing Check Test circuit

Figure 4.3 : OCR and EFR testing connection Figure 4.4 : Indicate ‘trip’
 Faculty of Engineering Technology Page No. 6/9

Department of Electrical Engineering Technology Revision No. 1

Title: Overcurrent & Earth Fault Relay Test Effective Date 19/02/2018

5. RESULTS

Table 1: IDMT O/C & E/F Relay Test Report

Relay Details:

Make: Rated Current:

Type: V aux:

Serial No: CT Ratio:

Relay Setting:

Type of Protection Setting Symbol Service Setting Test Setting

O/C IDMT RYB I>

Curve: TMS

E/F IDMT Io>

Curve: TMS

Activity 1 : Minimum current to check relay pick-up start function with test setting

Inject Red O/C Yellow O/C Blue O/C Earth Fault

Pick-up / start current (A)

 Faculty of Engineering Technology Page No. 7/9

Department of Electrical Engineering Technology Revision No. 1

Title: Overcurrent & Earth Fault Relay Test Effective Date 19/02/2018

Activity 2 : Timing checks with test settings

Current injected for Current injected for E/F

R (s) Y (s) B (s) E/F (s)
O/C (A) (A)
2.0 x Io> = 2.0 x Io> =

3.0 x Io> = 3.0 x Io> =

4.0 x Io> = 4.0 x Io> =

5.0 x Io> = 5.0 x Io> =

Tripping Circuit :

Remarks :

Tested by :

Date :

6. DATA ANALYSIS & DISCUSSION

Inject Model TMS I max T op Reading Calculation
Curve Graph
10 E. I 1 80% 13.446 11.50 11.021
0.75 10.054 10.50 8.752
0.5 6.722 6.50 5.214
10 V. I 1 100% 12.042 12.00 10.894
0.75 9.067 9.00 7.841
0.5 6.058 6.50 4.958
10 N3.0 1 50% 1.976 2.00 1.849
0.8 3.809 4.00 3.698
0.75 1.478 1.50 1.237
0.5 2.465 2.00 2.224
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Department of Electrical Engineering Technology Revision No. 1

Title: Overcurrent & Earth Fault Relay Test Effective Date 19/02/2018

7. QUESTIONS

7.1 Briefly explain the function of Over Current Relay (OCR).

 Overcurrent relays (OCR) are used as the main protection device due to their lower cost compared to
other types of relays. On the other hand, in transmission power networks OCRs are used only as
backup protection, while distance relays are used as a primary protection of transmission lines. This
was done due to their relatively high time delays (the problem of OCR selectivity).

7.2 Briefly explain the meaning of IDMT.

 Inverse Definite Minimum Time (IDMT) Overcurrent Relays have the combined characteristics of
definite time and inverse time relays. The IDMT relays operate as inverse time relay i.e., there exists
an inverse relationship between time and current for lower values of fault current. While for higher
values of fault current the relay acts as the definite time relay where the operating time is
independent of fault current.

 The relay exhibits an inverse relation between operating time and fault current near pick-up value
and becomes almost constant just above the pick-up value. IDMT relays are widely used for the
protection of distribution lines or distribution feeders.
 Faculty of Engineering Technology Page No. 9/9

Department of Electrical Engineering Technology Revision No. 1

Title: Overcurrent & Earth Fault Relay Test Effective Date 19/02/2018

8. CONCLUSION
 Immerse meaning that “a higher value of the current, less time required for the relay to activate the
circuit”. The current and time of the line to travel in the Circuit Breaker follows an inverse
proportionality. Re-transmission of inverted overload relay time.
 Inverse Definite Minimum Time (IDMT) relay is an inverse definite minimum time relay. It is one in
which Time of operation is inversely proportional to magnitude of fault current near pickup value
and becomes substantially constant slightly above the pickup value of the Relay. This is achieved by
using a core of the Electromagnet which gets saturated for currents slightly greater than the pickup
current.
 Relay that operates or pick up when it’s current exceeds a predetermined value (setting value) is
called Over Current Relay
 Over current protection protects electrical power systems against excessive currents which are
caused by short circuits and ground faults.
 Over current relays can be used to protect practically any power system elements like transmission
lines, transformers, generators, or motors.

Prepared by / Disediakan oleh : Approved by / Disahkan oleh :

Signature / Tandatangan : Signature / Tandatangan :

Name / Nama : Zurina Binti Abdul wahab Name / Nama : PM Dr Jamaludin Jalani
Date / Tarikh : February 2018 Date / Tarikh :