Search

Premium Membership ♕

Limited Time Offer: Save 15% on PRO Plan with discount code: LRN15 and study specialized LV/MV/HV technical articles and studies.

Home / Technical Articles / Connections Of Overcurrent Relay (part 2)
Connections Of Overcurrent Relay
Connections Of Overcurrent Relay (part 2)

Continued from first part: Types and Applications Of Overcurrent Relay (part 1)


Connections of Overcurrent and Earth Fault Relays

1. 3 Nos O/C relay for overcurrent and earth fault protection

It’s used for:

  • 3-phase faults the overcurrent relays in all the 3-phases act.
  • Phase to phase faults the relays in only the affected phases operate.
  • Single line to ground faults only the relay in the faulty phase gets the fault current and operates.

Even then with 3 overcurrent relays, the sensitivity desired and obtainable with earth leakage overcurrent relays cannot be obtained in as much as the high current setting will have to be necessarily adopted for the overcurrent relay to avoid operation under maximum load condition.

3 Nos O/C Relay for Over Current and Earth Fault Protection
3 Nos O/C Relay for Over Current and Earth Fault Protection

Over current relays generally have 50% to 200% current setting while earth leakages over current relays have either 10% to 40% or 20% to 80% current settings.

One important thing to be noted here is that the connection of the star points of both the C.T. secondary’s and relay windings by a neutral conductor should be made.

A scheme without the neutral conductor will be unable to ensure reliable relay operation in the event of single phase to earth faults because the secondary current in this case (without star-point interconnection) completes its circuit through relay and C.T. windings which present large impedance.

This may lead to failure of protection and sharp decrease in reduction of secondary currents by CTs.

It is not sufficient if the neutral of the CTs and neutral of the relays are separately earthed. A conductor should be run as stated earlier.


2.  3 No O/C Relay+ 1 No E/F Relay for Overcurrent and Earth Fault Protection

The scheme of connection for 3 Nos Over current Relay 1 No Earth Fault Relay is shown in figure below.

3 No O/C Relay+ 1 No E/F Relay for Overcurrent and Earth Fault Protection
3 No O/C Relay+ 1 No E/F Relay for Overcurrent and Earth Fault Protection

Under normal operating conditions the three phase fault conditions and current in the 3-phase are equal and symmetrically displaced by 12 Deg. Hence the sum of these three currents is zero. No current flow through the earth fault relay.

In case of phase to phase faults (say a short between R and Y phases) the current flows from R-phase up to the point of fault and return back through ‘Y’ phase. Thus only O/L relays in R and Y phases get the fault and operate.

Only earth faults cause currents to flow through E/L relay. A note of caution is necessary here. Only either C.T secondary star point of relay winding star point should be earthed.

Earthing of both will short circuit the E/L relay and make it inoperative for faults.


3.  2 No O/C Relay + 1 No E/F Relay for Over Current and Earth Fault Protection

The two over current relays in R and B phases will respond to phase faults. At least one relay will operate for fault involving two phase.

2 No O/C Relay + 1 No E/F Relay for Over Current and Earth Fault Protection
2 No O/C Relay + 1 No E/F Relay for Over Current and Earth Fault Protection

For fault involving ground reliance is placed on earth fault relay.

This is an economical version of 3-O/L and 1-E/L type of protection as one overcurrent relay is saved. With the protection scheme as shown in Figure complete protection against phase and ground fault is afforded.


Current Transformer Secondary Connections

For protection of various equipment of Extra High Voltage class, the star point on secondary’s of CT should be made as follows for ensuring correct directional sensitivity of the protection scheme.

Transmission Line , Bus Bar and Transformer:

  • For Transmission Lines – Line side
  • For Transformers – Transformer side
  • For Bus bar – Bus side
Transmission Line , Bus Bar & Transformer scheme
Transmission Line , Bus Bar & Transformer scheme

Generator Protection:

  • Generator Protection – Generator Side
Generator protection scheme
Generator protection scheme

The above method has to be followed irrespective of polarity of CT’s on primary side.

For example, in line protection, if ‘P1’ is towards bus then ‘S2’s are to be shorted and if ‘P2’ is towards bus then ‘S1’s are to be shorted.


Standard Overcurrent and Earth Fault Protection

NoName of the EquipmentProtection
111 KV FeedersA) 2 No Over Current and one no Earth Fault IDMT relays
B) 2 No Instantaneous Overcurrent (highest) and one no Instantaneous Earth fault relay
28 MVA Capacity OR Two Transformer in a Substation (Irrespective of capacity)HV side: 33 KV Breaker (Individual or Group Control with 3 Over Current and One Earth Fault IDMT relays
LV Side: Individual 11 KV Breakers with 3 Over Current and One Earth Fault IDMT relays
38 MVA Power TransformerDifferential relays OR REF relays on LV side
4Only one PTR in a Sub Station (Less than 8 MVA)HV Side: HG fuse
LV Side: 11 KV Breaker with 3 Over Current and one E/F IDMT relay

Premium Membership

Get access to premium HV/MV/LV technical articles, electrical engineering guides, research studies and much more! It helps you to shape up your technical skills in your everyday life as an electrical engineer.
More Information
author-pic

Jignesh Parmar

Jignesh Parmar has completed M.Tech (Power System Control), B.E (Electrical). He is member of Institution of Engineers (MIE), India. He has more than 20 years experience in transmission & distribution-energy theft detection and maintenance electrical projects.

15 Comments


  1. Jeremiah Jnr Tep
    Feb 24, 2023

    I did learn lot of technical question from this portal.


  2. Mahendrasinh N. Mangrola
    Jan 11, 2020

    Question-answer for electrical interview


  3. ASHWANI
    Jan 17, 2018

    R/SIR PL.SEND ME U R DAILY COMMENTS ON ELECTRICAL


  4. Rusakaniko Tatenda
    Nov 21, 2016

    Really helpful information but can I use one overcurrent relay on 3 current transformers


  5. KANAGASABAI.K
    Oct 25, 2015

    Dear sir,
    why double set of c.ts (both ends) used in overcurrent protection ?
    pl explain


  6. yousef
    Oct 20, 2015

    Dear sir

    Good evening

    I want un example of calculate of astudy case of fault happen on transformer and fixed instantaneous over relay on it .I need to calculate IR , TAP.,IF,AND TIME OF TRIP and i need what doesn’t mean taps


  7. Jayabalan
    Sep 01, 2015

    In 2 No O/C Relay + 1 No E/F Relay for Over Current and Earth Fault Protection, which relay will operate for Y phase over current (not phase to phase fault)?. if Earth fault relay it wont be a wrong information that earth fault instead of phase overcurrent?


  8. jigyesh sharma
    Jul 22, 2015

    How directional senstivity will be stable when CT star point are towards equipment under protection?


  9. M. Younus
    Jul 07, 2015

    @M.Iqbal, check out http://gpac.link/1Tjlm6d the video tutorial on http://generalpac.com goes over wye/star connected CTs and how they are grounded.


  10. Emmanuel
    Feb 11, 2015

    please do send me newsletters


  11. Emmanuel
    Feb 11, 2015

    i am really interested in site. hope you will accept me as a member. thank you.


  12. Monsef
    Oct 22, 2014

    Thank for the information.


  13. Mohammad Iqbal
    Oct 03, 2014

    Thnx for the information. However i would like to know in case of 2 o/c +1 e/f Protection scheme what would be the changes in the operation of relays if star point of CT secondaries is earthed instead of star point of relay windings as you have shown. There is a confusion because many people show the star point of CT secondaries earthed, which one is correct? Actually I am from J&K state and devastating floods have destroyed many of our 33/ 11 kV sub-stations and we are engaged in power restoration o war footing basis. I am encountering this confusion while rewiring of 33 kV C&R panels & 11 kV VCB panels. Your suggestion would be appreciated.

    Thanks & regards
    Mohammad Iqbal
    J.E PDD J&K.


    • Bikash Mitra
      Aug 14, 2018

      You are right, Star point of ct secondary is grounded at CT junction box and one wire(usually black) called neutral is goes to the relay from that star point.This neutral wire is complete the circuit of relay..(it is the returning path)


  14. Mbongeni Ndlovu
    May 30, 2014

    I am a learner Technician and this page has helped me a lot.

Leave a Comment

Tell us what you're thinking. We care about your opinion! Please keep in mind that comments are moderated and rel="nofollow" is in use. So, please do not use a spammy keyword or a domain as your name, or it will be deleted. Let's have a professional and meaningful conversation instead. Thanks for dropping by!

  ⁄  five  =  one

Learn How to Design Power Systems

Learn to design LV/MV/HV power systems through professional video courses. Lifetime access. Enjoy learning!

Subscribe to Weekly Newsletter

Subscribe to our Weekly Digest newsletter and receive free updates on new technical articles, video courses and guides (PDF).
EEP Academy Courses - A hand crafted cutting-edge electrical engineering knowledge