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Date Code 20170413 SEL Application Guide 2017-10 Applying a Universal

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 Application Guide Volume II AG2017-10

Applying a Universal Expression in the RTAC to

Parse RTD Data From SEL Devices
Brian Waldron and Dinesh Baradi

INTRODUCTION
Thermal commands (MET T and MET RTD) in SEL products return temperature measurements
from resistance temperature detectors (RTDs). A real-time automation controller (RTAC) is
capable of collecting this temperature information through a flex parse message. The format of
ASCII responses is largely dependent upon the configuration in the SEL product and, therefore, it
will often require a unique search expression based upon specific settings in that SEL device.
This application guide provides a template for creating flex parse messages that use a universal
expression for parsing temperature measurements across all SEL products, regardless of the
configuration.
Specifically, this application guide covers the following:
• An explanation of regular expressions
• A Job Done® example using the SEL-710 Motor Protection Relay, including additional
data other than temperature measurements
• A Job Done example using the SEL-2411 Programmable Automation Controller (PAC),
including only temperature measurements

REGULAR EXPRESSION EXPLANATION

A regular expression (RegEx) defines a specific pattern of characters for which a device searches
in a body of text and the computational function it performs.
When creating a regular expression to extract information from a data response, it is important to
summarize the possible match conditions. This simplifies organization and identification of the
necessary regular expression operators. For ASCII responses containing temperature data, each
response could contain three conditions.
• Temperature measurement
• Status message (i.e., Open or Short)
• No other RTD data to parse and end of data response
The SEL-5033 ACSELERATOR RTAC© Software instruction manual contains information
regarding regular expression syntax and the meaning of the available operators. Table 1 provides
abbreviated descriptions of the operators used in this application guide.

Date Code 20170413 SEL Application Guide 2017-10

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Table 1 Regular Expression Operators

Operator Description
[] Defines a character class. This is usually a grouping of letters or numbers.
\x00 Specifies a character in the ASCII table in hexadecimal form.
Specifies the number of minimum and maximum repeats for the preceding class or
{min,max}
character.
() Specifies a capture group for the expression.
| Defines a logical OR.
Specifies a look ahead for the specified character but does not advance the search past the
(?=)
match or initial search point.
Defines a syntax to match a signed integer available in the ACSELERATOR RTAC software
package. Other such match expressions are available to assist in reducing the complexity
(?#<INS>) of regular expressions. See an RTAC instruction manual for additional details on the
syntax and configuration of this notation. This is an SEL-type class definition in an RTAC
instruction manual.

The following regular expression searches for these three possible conditions:
[\x00-\x09\x0B\x0C\x0E-\xFF]{5,20}\x20(?#<INS>)|( Fail| Open| Short| NA| NONE)|(?=\x03)
As noted previously, this regular expression can be separated into three match conditions
(separated by the logical OR operator: |).

Temperature Measurement
[\x00-\x09\x0B\x0C\x0E-\xFF]{5,20}\x20(?#<INS>)
This expression searches for an integer number that is preceded by a space, which is preceded by
any series of characters (except carriage returns and line feeds) that may repeat 5 to 20 times.

Status Messages
(Fail| Open| Short| NA| None)
This expression searches for any words an SEL product may return indicating something other
than a temperature reading, separated by the logical OR operator: |.

End of Response (No More Temperature Data to Parse)

(?=\x03)
This expression searches ahead in the response for the hexadecimal character, 03. This is a non-
printable control character signifying the end of transmission (EOT). In ASCII responses from
SEL devices, this is included when no more ASCII data are expected in that response. This
expression is used to successfully complete expressions for data that may not exist in the
response.
Before the RTAC can begin processing the data response, using the previously defined RegEx
match expressions to populate information into configured flex parse tags, it first uses a separate
RegEx. This first RegEx identifies the point in the response at which the RTAC should start
applying the other configured regular expressions, Start of Response Parse Expression.

SEL Application Guide 2017-10 Date Code 20170413

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To create a universal expression for this purpose, it is necessary to have a unique parameter that is
shared between all temperature responses. All temperature measurement responses from SEL
devices contain the date and time in the beginning of the message; this marker signals the RTAC
to parse the response for temperature measurements. The following regular expression tells the
device to search for the time in the response and prompts the configured regular expression to
extract temperature measurements.
[\x54\x49\x4d\x45\x74\x69\x6d\x65]{4,4}[\x00-\xFF]{0,95}:[\x00-\xFF]{0,94}:
[\x00-\xFF]{0,94}.[\x00-\xFF]{0,3}
The first bracket of this response indicates a search for the word Time by using hexadecimal
representations of all uppercase and lowercase letter combinations. The next bracketed parts of
the expression indicate searches for hours, minutes, seconds, and milliseconds.

EXAMPLES

Background Information
Temperature (or Thermal) command responses can be classified into two categories based on the
format of the responses.
• First format: Contains only instantaneous RTD-specific measurement information, such
as the temperature in degrees Celsius.
• Second format: Contains all instantaneous RTD-specific measurement information
described previously and additional calculated or recorded data such as Maximum
Temperature across different RTDs.
The following Job Done examples demonstrate how to use a universal expression to parse data
from both response formats.

Job Done Example 1: Flex Parsing Using an SEL-710 Relay

In this example, a serial SEL protocol client connection is already configured to communicate
with the SEL-710.
Figure 1 shows an example of the MET T response. Note that the response contains data in the
following sequential pattern:
• Maximum Temperature: Maximum Winding Temperature, Maximum Bearing
Temperature, etc.
• RTD Data: Instantaneous temperature in degrees Celsius and RTD location
• Miscellaneous: Motor Load, Stator Thermal Capacity Used (TCU), etc.

Date Code 20170413 SEL Application Guide 2017-10

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=>MET T

SEL-710 Date: 04/03/2015 Time: 08:59:27

MOTOR RELAY Time Source: Internal

Max Winding RTD 203 C

Max Bearing RTD Fail
Ambient RTD -4 C
Max Other RTD -5 C

RTD 1 WDG Open

RTD 2 BRG Open
RTD 3 AMB -4 C
RTD 4 OTH -5 C
RTD 5 WDG 203 C
RTD 6 WDG Open
RTD 7 BRG Open
RTD 8 BRG Open
RTD 9 WDG Open
RTD 10 OTH Open

Motor Load (xFLA1) 0.0

Stator TCU (%) 0.0
Rotor TCU (%) 0.0
RTD TCU (%) 0
Thermal Trip In (sec) 9999

Time to Reset (min) 0

Figure 1 MET T Response From an SEL-710 Relay

In these regular expressions, an additional keyword associated with each regular expression
ensures storage of a temperature value into a particular configured flex parse tag.
Step 1. In the SEL-710 SEL Client configuration in ACSELERATOR RTAC, click the Flex
Parse Messages tab.
Step 2. Click the + option at the bottom left of the display screen and add one flex parse
message. Name the newly created flex parse message RTD and enter MET T
<CR><LF> in the command string field.
• <LF> stands for line feed, which moves the cursor down to the next line.
• <CR> stands for carriage return, which moves the cursor to the beginning
of the current line.
• <LF> <CR> stands for a line feed and carriage return combination that
moves the cursor to the beginning of the next line.
Step 3. Paste the following expression into the Start of Response Parse Expression field:
[\x54\x49\x4d\x45\x74\x69\x6d\x65]{4,4}[\x00-\xFF]{0,9}:[\x00-\xFF]{0,9}:
[\x00-\xFF]{0,9}.[\x00-\xFF]{0,3}
Step 4. Set the poll period to 10000 ms. This setting configures the RTAC to send the
MET T command every 10 seconds. Refer to Figure 2 for the completed settings.
Step 5. Leave the other settings at their default values and save the project file. The Flex
Parse Message RTD tab should appear below the Flex Parse Messages tab in the
SEL-710 device template within the project file.

Figure 2 RTD Flex Parse Message Setting: SEL-710 Relay

SEL Application Guide 2017-10 Date Code 20170413

 5

Step 6. Select the Flex Parse Message RTD tab, click the + icon, and create 14 tags in the
Flex Parse Message RTD tab.
Step 7. Rename the tags as appropriate and ensure that tag type is set to INS.
Step 8. Paste the Universal RegEx in the Parse Expression column for all the tags.
[\x00-\x09\x0B\x0C\x0E-\xFF]{5,20}\x20(?#<INS>)|( Fail| Open| Short| NA|
NONE)|(?=\x03)
Step 9. Use the keywords Ambient, Bearing, Winding, and Other to parse the Maximum
Temperature Tags, as shown in Figure 3.
Step 10. Leave the other settings at their respective default values.
Step 11. Click the Flex Parse Helper Form button at the top right of the display screen to
begin testing the Flex Parse programming for the SEL-710 MET T response (see
Figure 3).

Figure 3 Flex Parse Helper Form

Step 12. Connect to your SEL-710 by using a terminal program, and type the password to
enter Access Level 1. Type MET T<Enter> and copy the response from the relay.
Step 13. Paste the MET T command response from the SEL-710 into the helper form,
which shows yellow highlighted text for successfully parsed tags. Use your mouse
to hover your pointer over the highlighted text, and identify the tag in which the
data are parsed and stored, as shown in Figure 4.

Date Code 20170413 SEL Application Guide 2017-10

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=>MET T

SEL-710 Date: 04/03/2015 Time: 08:59:27

MOTOR RELAY Time Source: Internal

Max Winding RTD 203 C

Max Bearing RTD Fail
Ambient RTD -4 C
Max Other RTD -5 C

RTD 1 WDG Open

RTD 2 BRG Open
RTD 3 AMB -4 C
RTD 4 OTH -5 C
RTD 5 WDG 203 C
RTD 6 WDG Open
RTD 7 BRG Open
RTD 8 BRG Open
RTD 9 WDG Open
RTD 10 OTH Open

Motor Load (xFLA1) 0.0

Stator TCU (%) 0.0
Rotor TCU (%) 0.0
RTD TCU (%) 0
Thermal Trip In (sec) 9999

Time to Reset (min) 0

Figure 4 Flex Parse Helper

Step 14. Click Go Online and download the settings to the RTAC.

Job Done Example 2: Flex Parsing Using an SEL-2411 PAC

In this example, a serial SEL protocol client connection is already configured to communicate
with the SEL-2411. This example covers collection of all data from the SEL-2411 MET RTD
command, which only includes instantaneous RTD measurements. An example of the MET RTD
response is shown in Figure 5.
Note that the SEL-2411 thermal response (besides using a different command than for the
SEL-710) is unique in that it does not contain the maximum temperature data and the
miscellaneous data that the SEL-710 response displays.

=>MET RTD

SEL-2411 Date: 02/26/2015 Time: 16:13:10

DEVICE

INTRTD01 96 C
INTRTD02 96 C
INTRTD03 -32 C
INTRTD04 -32 C
INTRTD05 75 C
INTRTD06 Open
INTRTD07 Open
INTRTD08 Open
INTRTD09 Open
INTRTD10 Open

Figure 5 MET RTD Response From the SEL-2411

SEL Application Guide 2017-10 Date Code 20170413

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Step 1. In the SEL-2411 SEL Client configuration in ACSELERATOR RTAC, click the Flex
Parse Messages tab.
Step 2. Click the + option in the bottom left of the display screen and add one flex parse
message. Create a flex parse message named RTD and enter MET RTD <CR>
<LF> in the command string field.
Step 3. Paste the following expression in the Start of Response Parse Expression field:
[\x54\x49\x4d\x45\x74\x69\x6d\x65]{4,4}[\x00-\xFF]{0,9}:[\x00-\xFF]{0,9}:
[\x00-\xFF]{0,9}.[\x00-\xFF]{0,3}
Step 4. Set the poll period to 10000 ms. This setting configures the RTAC to send the
MET T command every 10 seconds.

Figure 6 RTD Flex Parse Message Settings: SEL-2411

Step 5. Leave the other settings at their default values and save the project file. The Flex
Parse Message RTD tab should appear below the Flex Parse Messages tab in the
SEL-2411 device template within the project file.
Step 6. Select the Flex Parse Message RTD tab, click the + icon, and create 10 tags.
Step 7. Rename the tags as desired and ensure that the tag type is set to INS.
Step 8. Paste the Universal RegEx into the Parse Expression column for all the tags.
Step 9. Leave the other settings at their respective default values.
Step 10. Connect to the SEL-2411 by using a terminal program, type the password to enter
Access Level 1, type MET RTD <Enter>, and copy the response.
Step 11. Click the Flex Parse helper Form button at the top right of the display screen to
begin testing the flex parse programming for the SEL-2411 MET RTD response.
Step 12. Paste the MET RTD response from the SEL-2411 in the helper form, which shows
yellow highlighted text for successfully parsed tags. Use your mouse to hover your
pointer over the highlighted text, and identify the tag in which the data are parsed
and stored.
Step 13. Click Go Online and download the settings to the RTAC.

CONCLUSION
This application guide describes how to use regular expressions allowing for a consistent RTAC
flex parse message for collecting RTD data from SEL products and how you can save time and
increase efficiency through use of a consistent regular expression for multiple SEL products.

Date Code 20170413 SEL Application Guide 2017-10

 8

FACTORY ASSISTANCE
We appreciate your interest in SEL products and services. If you have questions or comments,
please contact us at:
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
2350 NE Hopkins Court
Pullman, WA 99163-5603 U.S.A.
Tel: +1.509.338.3838
Fax: +1.509.332.7990
selinc.com
info@selinc.com

© 2017 by Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.

All rights reserved.

All brand or product names appearing in this document are the

trademark or registered trademark of their respective holders. No
SEL trademarks may be used without written permission.

SEL products appearing in this document may be covered by

U.S. and Foreign patents.

SEL Application Guide 2017-10 Date Code 20170413

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