ENDLESS

POSSIBILITIES
®
E D I S O n I D E A™ A N D I D E A WOR K BENCH™
 Edison Idea Relays

Cooper Power Systems’ Edison® Idea™ relay platform was developed specifically to give power

systems professionals the ultimate in protection, control and communications flexibility. This

versatility, combined with the highest degree of build quality, gives the Idea relay the ability

to survive the most rigorous environmental conditions while minimizing the risk of technical

obsolescence. The Idea offers both the physical and technical longevity required for today’s

world of ever-changing requirements.

All Idea relays use Cooper Power Systems’ ProView™ software package for PCs running the

Windows® operating system. The Idea Workbench™ feature of ProView permits the user to

add additional protection and control functionality to any Idea relay by means of downloadable

Custom Software Modules. This ability provides a continuous upgrade path that not only

protects the initial investment in the relay, but also provides a means to increase the relay’s

functionality in response to changing regulatory, power quality and reliability concerns.

The Idea Workbench™ Easily

Customizes the Idea Relays
All Edison Idea relays are fully functional and ready to use, right out of the box. However,
there are applications where it may be desirable to add custom control logic or other
custom functions to the relay. The Idea Workbench is a revolutionary graphical software
programming environment provided within ProView that permits the user to customize
the Edison Idea. You can:
■ Add new features or protective functions by means of Idea Workbench Custom
Software Modules. Similar in principle to the plug-ins for Microsoft’s Internet Explorer® or
Netscape’s Communicator® internet browsers, the ability to customize the product
protects your investment as future needs and developments may be addressed by
simple software downloads.
■ Minimize inventory. Custom Software Modules can be loaded into the relay at the
same time settings are. This avoids the need to stock different versions of the same
relay for different feature sets. You are in control of adding extra features to any Idea
relay whenever you choose.
■ Reduce “Firmware of the Month Club” problems. Many, if not most, firmware releases
for relays are to add new capabilities or features. The firmware of the Idea relay is main-
tained separately from the Idea Workbench. Therefore when new features become
available, the power to choose if and where these features are needed is in
your control.
Provide Ultimate Flexibility

Edison Idea and IdeaPlus Relays

■ Create custom control and protection logic using over 400 programming signals and
tools, all selectable from drag-off Toolboxes. Logic created using these tools can even be
saved as Custom Software Modules to be reused or shared with associates.
■ Monitor and control practically every aspect of the relay’s operation.
■ Create custom metering and measurement quantities.
■ Create custom sequence of event records.
■ Configure communication protocols. All of the same power and flexibility of the
Idea Workbench is available in the Communications Workbench™.
The Idea Workbench also addresses some of the more difficult questions associated with
custom relay programming, namely:
Clarity: Compared to equation and command based programming techniques, graphical
programming results in customizations whose operation is intuitive and easy to understand.
Testing: ProView provides a Virtual Test Set™ (VTS™) which can be used to test the
developed logic with real fault signals. During test, the logic diagrams become “live”
showing the state of all variables, logic gates, contacts, counters, etc. To avoid any
question of how the custom logic interacts with the relay itself, the VTS environment
models the entire relay in addition to the custom programming. Unlike other programming
environments, the Idea Workbench does not require the user to have an actual relay or
relay test set on hand to verify the proper operation of the programmed logic.
Documentation: Notes regarding how the custom logic operates may be embedded
within the Idea Workbench. This improves the ability of others to quickly understand
how the logic is designed to work. Links to external files may also be embedded in the Idea
Workbench, providing fast access to larger documents stored on your company’s
network servers.
Portability: If the original data files are lost, the entire Idea Workbench may be uploaded
from the relay, complete with logic diagrams, embedded notes and external reference links.

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 Intuitive logic wo

The Idea Workbench offers the user the ability to rapidly

and accurately create customizations by working the way
the engineer thinks, by using logic diagram and flowchart
construction methods. No equation based or command
based logic programming is required.

These buttons allow saving and loading

entire Idea Workbenches as well as
Custom Plug-in Workbench modules
so you can add new protection and
control functions without the need to
update firmware.

The Advanced Toolbox provides

drag-and-drop access to a variety of
math functions, settings, latches, etc.

This is an example of a text

notation that can be added to the
Idea Workbench to help you annotate
and understand your work.

The Workbench Outputs menu

provides the ability to control virtually
every aspect of the relay’s operation.
orks The Way An Engineer Thinks

The Virtual Rear Panel of the Idea relay The Virtual Test Set Simulation Control
provides drag-off access to contact Panel is used to create virtual event
inputs and contact outputs. records. This feature allows you to
test your custom logic on a PC without
the need for both a relay and a relay
test set.

This box represents underlying logic

which has been grouped into its own
object. This object can then be saved
to disk and re-used or e-mailed to
associates.

This is an example of how custom

logic looks when it’s programmed.
That’s it! Drawn just the way you
think. Gone are equations, commands,
etc. Operation of the logic is intuitive.
During Virtual Test Set simulations,
fault record playback, or when
connected to the relay on-line, this
diagram becomes live, showing you
exactly how it is operating.

The Workbench Inputs menu provides

access to hundreds of signals regarding
the status of practically every protective
element, operating mode and status
point in the relay.

The Basic Toolbox provides drag-and-

drop access to logic gates, latches and
timer functions.
The Idea Workbench Graphical Customization Environment

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 endless solutions

BUILT FOR THE FUTURE ICSF™ algorithm for identifying poor

In addition to meeting all industry quality cable splices before they fail.
standards, the Edison Idea relay was also Basic accuracy for voltage and current
designed to eliminate those environmental measurements is 0.3%, regardless of the
considerations that affect relay performance load current level or ambient temperature.
the most: EVENT RECORDS AND
■ Radio Frequency Immunity: The most ANALYSIS TOOLS
severe industry standard requires that a All Idea relays share the same event records
relay must not mis-operate when and analysis tools. The Idea allows for the
exposed to RF field strengths of 35V/m at display of event records in a variety of for-
frequencies up to 1GHz. This ignores mats including waveforms (oscillography),
modern communication devices such as
cell phones that operate at much higher
frequencies. To address the needs of
today and the future, the Idea was
designed to be immune to 100V/m field
strengths at frequencies up to 18GHz.
The IdeaPlus is immune up to 60V/m
through 18Ghz.
■ Ambient operating temperature
can affect the proper
operation of electronic
devices as well as their
life expectancy.
Though lower grade
electronic components
can be individually
tested for proper
operation at tempera-
tures higher than they
were designed for, Application Diagram View of the
such testing does not Idea iTP-100 Line Distance Relay
address the loss of life
that occurs during
such operation. All electronics in the Idea magnitude plots, phasor diagrams,
relay use either industrial or automotive symmetrical component diagrams and
grade electronic components, assuring more. ProView, the software for the Edison
not only proper operation, but long life Idea relay, also provides a unique
at all temperatures from -40 to +85°C. Application Diagram View that displays a
one-screen view of everything that is going
POWER QUALITY AND
on in the relay. Many of these event views
METERING are also available in On-Line View mode,
Idea relays are well suited for meeting where it is possible to monitor the status of
present and future power quality monitor- the relay in real-time. Most Idea relays also
ing needs by providing high accuracy include distance to fault indication.
metering, harmonics measurement, total
harmonic distortion, load profiling, sag Relay Replay™
and swell monitoring and, on the To evaluate the effect different settings
iDP-210 Feeder relay, Cooper’s exclusive would have on the relay, the Relay-Replay
With Idea and IdeaPlus

feature of the Edison Idea software allows INCIPIENT CABLE SPLICE

the user to make any number of setting FAULT DETECTOR* (ICSF)
changes and replay an existing event using One of the most common causes of buried
these new settings without the need for an cable failure is from moisture ingress to
actual relay or expensive test equipment. buried cable splices. When sufficient water
The operation of every aspect of the relay’s accumulates in a buried cable splice, a
performance, from which elements pick up, line-to-ground fault
to the response time of those elements, briefly occurs.
can be observed. This tool provides The fault is cleared
unprecedented “what-if” analysis capabili- as the water is
ties. Since the entire underlying program- suddenly converted
ming logic relay and its operating system into steam. Over
are included in Relay-Replay, the accuracy time, the insulation
of the simulated results is assured. is damaged and
Virtual Test Set™ (VTS™) the cable splice
If you ever wanted to test the settings eventually fails.
you’ve developed without the complica- Some Idea relays
tions of hooking up a test set to a relay, and contain a wave-
finding the time to do so, the Virtual Test form recognition
Set (VTS) feature of ProView is the answer. algorithm which
The VTS permits the creation of virtual recognizes the
event records on your PC, for any Idea unique characteristics of these self-clearing
faults. By counting how often these events
occur over a fixed time window, the relay is
able to give advance notice of pending
relay. These events can cable splice failures. This permits cable
then be used with the maintenance to be scheduled rather than
Relay-Replay feature of addressed on an emergency basis.
ProView to assist in analyzing how the relay COMMUNICATIONS
would behave for these virtual faults. The Both Modbus RTU and DNP 3.0 com-
VTS allows complete control over: munication protocols are included with
■ Pre-fault and post-fault voltage and all Idea relays. A Communications
current levels. Workbench™ is provided which gives the
■ Selection of phase-ground, phase-phase, user the ability to customize communica-
phase-phase-ground and three phase tion maps, add or delete information, add
fault types. control points, and even create new signals
■ Fault duration. to be brought out through communica-
■ Selection of system and fault tions. The Idea features three auto-baud
impedances. (115200 kbps max) communication ports;
■ Selection of DC time constant. two RS-232 and one RS-485. An Ethernet
■ Control over fault dynamics to verify communications option will also be
reclosing sequences and sequence available.
coordination. *U.S. patent number 6,198,401.
■ Control of frequency change, rate of
change and acceleration during faults.
■ Control over simulated breaker open and
close times.
■ Manual mode for entry of discrete
fault-phasors.
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 IdeaPlus

THE IdeaPlus WITH INTEGRATED BREAKER CONTROL

For complete integration of breaker control with a protection and control device, the
IdeaPlus relay combines the power and flexibility of the Idea relay with the following
additional control features:
■ Manual TRIP and CLOSE push buttons for direct breaker operation. Completely
independent of the relay’s microprocessor, operation of these controls is assured even
if the IdeaPlus relay itself has failed or is not powered. However, when the IdeaPlus is
operating, other circuitry in the relay monitors the push button’s status, further
enhancing the operation and control of the protection and control system.
■ Breaker indicating lights integral to the TRIP and CLOSE push buttons. Terminals for the
lights are brought out to the relay’s rear panel, allowing their wiring and connection to
be performed in accordance with normal construction practices. Both incandescent and
LED illumination options are available.
■ Integrated Hot Line Tag control to prevent closing in on a line during maintenance
conditions. Both mechanical and communication resettable Hot Line Tag options are
available. As with the integrated TRIP and CLOSE buttons, the Hot Line Tag control
operates properly even if the relay is not powered or has failed.
■ Front panel accessible Close Circuit Fuseholder. Simply
removing the fuse from this fuseholder puts a
physical open in the breaker’s CLOSE circuit,
preventing the relay or the front panel CLOSE
button from ever sending a close command to
the breaker when the IdeaPlus’s integrated
CLOSE push button is used.
■ Nine additional software controlled push
buttons to implement other functions either
specific to the relay or programmed in the
Idea Workbench.

The IdeaPlus means better integration of

local breaker control, reduced wiring,
lower costs, more compact installations,
and faster commissioning time.

For more information about

the Edison Idea and IdeaPlus line
of protective relays, contact
your local Cooper Power Systems
representative.

© 2001 Cooper Industries, Inc.

Cooper Power Systems reserves the right to update any relay firmware and/or
software at any time.
Edison® is a registered trademark of Cooper Industries, Inc. Protective Relays
Idea™, ProView™, Idea Workbench™, Communications Workbench™,
Virtual Test Set™ and Relay Replay™ are trademarks of Cooper Industries, Inc.
2800 Ninth Avenue
P.O. Box 800
Windows® and Internet Explorer® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
South Milwaukee, WI 53172-3200
Netscape Communicator® is a registered trademark of Netscape Communication Corporation.
(877)-CPS-INFO fax:(414)-768-8334
Printed in USA Bulletin 01024 July 2001 New Issue MI 701/10M www.cooperpower.com