ANSI DEVICE NUMBERS FOR PROTECTIVE RELAYS

In the design of electrical power systems, the ANSI Standard Device Numbers (ANSI /IEEE
Standard C37.2) denote what features a protective device supports (such as a relay or circuit breaker).
These types of devices protect electrical systems and components from damage when an unwanted event
occurs, such as an electrical fault. Device numbers are used to identify the functions of devices shown on a
schematic diagram. Function descriptions are given in the standard.

ANSI/IEEE C37.2-2008 is one of a continuing series of revisions of the standard, which originated
in 1928.

LIST OF DEVICE NUMBERS AND ACRONYMS

 1 - Master Element  19 - Starting to Running Transition

 2 - Time Delay Starting or Closing Contactor
Relay  20 - Electrically Operated Valve
 3 - Checking or Interlocking Relay  21 - Distance Relay
 4 - Master Contactor  22 - Equalizer Circuit Breaker
 5 - Stopping Device  23 - Temperature Control Device
 6 - Starting Circuit Breaker  24 - Volts Per Hertz Relay
 7 - Rate of Change Relay  25 - Synchronizing or
 8 - Control Power Disconnecting Synchronism-Check Device
Device  26 - Apparatus Thermal Device
 9 - Reversing Device  27 - Undervoltage Relay
 10 - Unit Sequence Switch  28 - Flame detector
 11 - Multi-function Device  29 - Isolating Contactor or Switch
 12 - Overspeed Device  30 - Annunciator Relay
 13 - Synchronous-speed Device  31 - Separate Excitation Device
 14 - Underspeed Device  32 - Directional Power Relay
 15 - Speed - or Frequency,  33 - Position Switch
Matching  34 - Master Sequence Device
Device  35 - Brush-Operating or Slip-Ring
 16 - Data Communications Device Short-Circuiting Device
 17 - Shunting or Discharge Switch  36 - Polarity or Polarizing Voltage
 18 - Accelerating or Decelerating Devices
Device  37 - Undercurrent or Underpower
Relay
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  38 - Bearing Protective Device  61 - Density Switch or Sensor
 39 - Mechanical Condition Monitor  62 - Time-Delay Stopping or
 40 - Field (over/under excitation) Opening Relay
Relay  63 - Pressure Switch
 41 - Field Circuit Breaker  64 - Ground Detector Relay
 42 - Running Circuit Breaker  65 - Governor
 43 - Manual Transfer or Selector  66 - Notching or Jogging Device
Device  67 - AC Directional Overcurrent
 44 - Unit Sequence Starting Relay Relay
 45 - Abnormal Atmospheric  68 - Blocking or "Out-of-Step"
Condition Monitor Relay
 46 - Reverse-phase or Phase-  69 - Permissive Control Device
Balance Current Relay  70 - Rheostat
 47 - Phase-Sequence or Phase-  71 - Liquid Level Switch
Balance Voltage Relay  72 - DC Circuit Breaker
 48 - Incomplete Sequence Relay  73 - Load-Resistor Contactor
 49 - Machine or Transformer,  74 - Alarm Relay
Thermal Relay  75 - Position Changing Mechanism
 50 - Instantaneous Overcurrent  76 - DC Overcurrent Relay
Relay  77 - Telemetering Device
 51 - AC Inverse Time Overcurrent  78 - Phase-Angle Measuring Relay
Relay
 79 - AC Reclosing Relay
 52 - AC Circuit Breaker
 80 - Flow Switch
 53 - Exciter or DC Generator Relay
 81 - Frequency Relay
 54 - Turning Gear Engaging
 82 - DC Reclosing Relay
Device
 83 - Automatic Selective Control or
 55 - Power Factor Relay
Transfer Relay
 56 - Field Application Relay
 84 - Operating Mechanism
 57 - Short-Circuiting or Grounding
 85 - Communications,Carrier or
Device
Pilot-Wire Relay
 58 - Rectification Failure Relay
 86 - Lockout Relay
 59 - Overvoltage Relay
 87 - Differential Protective Relay
 60 - Voltage or Current Balance
 88 - Auxiliary Motor or Motor
Relay
Generator

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  89 - Line Switch  DDR - Dynamic Disturbance
 90 - Regulating Device Recorder

 91 - Voltage Directional Relay  DFR - Digital Fault Recorder

 92 - Voltage and Power Directional  ENV - Environmental Data

Relay  HIZ - High Impedance Fault
 93 - Field Changing Contactor Detector

 94 - Tripping or Trip-Free Relay  HMI - Human Machine Interface

 95 - For specific applications where  HST - Historian

other numbers are not suitable  LGC - Scheme Logic
 96 - For specific applications where  MET - Substation Metering
other numbers are not suitable  PDC - Phasor Data Concentrator
 97 - For specific applications where  PMU - Phasor Measurement Unit
other numbers are not suitable  PQM - Power Quality Monitor
 98 - For specific applications where  RIO - Remote Input/Output Device
other numbers are not suitable  RTU - Remote Terminal Unit/Data
 99 - For specific applications where Concentrator
other numbers are not suitable  SER - Sequence of Events
 AFD - Arc Flash Detector Recorder
 CLK - Clock or Timing Source  TCM - Trip Circuit Monitor
 SOTF - Switch On To Fault

SUFFIXES AND PREFIXES

A suffix letter or number may be used with the device number; for example, suffix N is
used if the device is connected to a Neutral wire (example: 59N in a relay is used for protection
against Neutral Displacement); and suffixes X,Y,Z are used for auxiliary devices. Similarly, the
"G" suffix denotes a "ground", hence a "51G" is a time over current ground relay. Suffix
numbers are used to distinguish multiple "same" devices in the same equipment such as 51-1,
51-2.

Device numbers may be combined if the device provides multiple functions, such as the
instantaneous/time-delay AC over current relay denoted as 50/51

For device 16, the suffix letters further define the device: the first suffix letter is S for
Serial or E for Ethernet. The subsequent letters are: C Security Processing Function VPN,
Encryption F Firewall or message Filter M Network Managed Function R Router S Switch T
Telephone Component. So a managed Ethernet switch would be 16ESM
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Ref: Wikipedia MEP Consultant, [email protected]