RHO MANUAL

Application guide
1.

SELECTION OF PROTECTION FUNCTIONS

2.

MULTIFUNCTION APPLICATIONS

2.1

C.T. ratio

2.2

C.T. ratio thermal overload setting

2.3

NPS weighting factors

2.6

th
ts
Cooling time constant, tc

2.7

Hot/cold curve ratio

2.4
2.5

Heating time constant,

Starting time constant,

2.8

Thermal capacity alarm setting

2.9

Load increase alarm setting

2.10

Thermal restart inhibit setting

2.11

Motor start current (ISTART)

2.12

Motor stop current

2.13

Stall and locked rotor protection

(ts1 and ts2 settings)

2.14

Circuit breaker fail protection

(time delays 1 and 2)

3. OVER/UNDER CURRENT PROTECTION

3.1

Phase fault alarm setting (IHA) and time delay tHA)

3.2

Phase fault trip setting (IHS) and time delay (tHS)

3.3

Earth fault alarm setting IEA and time delay (tEA)

3.4

Earth fault trip setting (IEF) and time delay (tEF)

3.5

Earth fault inhibit setting (IEI)

3.6

Undercurrent protection

4. PHASE UNBALANCE PROTECTION

5. NUMBER OF STARTS PROTECTION

6. OPTIONAL TEMPERATURE INPUTS

6.1

RTD inputs

6.2

Thermistor inputs

6.3

Detector failure protection

6.4

Detector gating

7.

OTHER FEATURES

7.1

Trip circuit supervision

40

RHO MANUAL
Application guide
1

SELECTION OF PROTECTION

2.1

C.T. ratio

FUNCTIONS
The C.T. ratio should be chosen as equal to or the next
The Rho 3 series of relays incorporate a number of

standard above the motor full load rating in this case

protection functions for the protection of induction and

choose 100 amp primary. The secondary could be

synchronous motors and may be scaled to suit the

either 1 or 5 amp. The modern tendency is to

particular application. When selecting the relay and

standardise on 1 amp, so choose a 100/1 ratio.

functions some general considerations are as follows:The relay thermal full load setting is
g

Motor load eg pump, fan, compressor,

Frequency of operation

Whether the motor incorporates RTD devices

Motor FLC

= 86.2 x 1 = 0.86 amps.

CT Ratio

conveyor etc.

to monitor winding and bearing temperatures

g

Whether the motor incorporates a speed switch

Motor rating

2.2

100
C.T. ratio thermal overload setting

It is usual to choose a thermal overload setting above

which the relay starts timing out, of 105%. This allows
full utilisation of the output rating of the motor. In this
case, this equates to 1.05 x 0.86 = 0.903. As the C.T.

When applying the Rho 3 relay, individual protection

functions may be enabled as required and are defined

secondary is 1 amp the thermal overload (Iq) should be

set to 0.90.

in detail in the Description of Operation.

Alternatively, if it is known that the rating of the motor is
2

MULTIFUNCTION APPLICATIONS

As a typical example, consider the protection of a 4

pole induction motor with the following parameters:-

well in excess of the requirements of the drive, and the

motor load current is therefore less than the motor rated
current, a setting equal to or less than 1.0 can be
employed. The thermal overload is then being
employed to protect the drive and over protects the

Rated voltage:

6.6KV

Rated output power :

800KW

Power factor:

0.85

Efficiency :

95.5%

Starting:

Direct on line

The Rho 3 relay computes the positive and negative

Controlled by:

Vacuum circuit breakers

sequence components from the three phase input line

Locked rotor current:

5 x full load

currents. These are used to generate an equivalent

Run-up time:

4 secs

motor.
2.3

NPS weighting factors

thermal current Ieq which is calculated from the

equation.

Safe stall times:

Starting (cold):

11 secs

Running (hot):

7 secs

leq =

I 12 + KI 22

Permitted number of
Starts per period:

2 per hour (hot)

Where I1 = Positive phase sequence current

I2 = Negative phase sequence current

Input power =

Output
P.F x efficiency

800
0.85 x 0.955

K = Constant = NPS weighting factor

K is settable on the relay from 0 to 10. If the motor

= 985KVA

supplier or manufacturer provides data giving the

Full load current =

KVA

3 KV

=
985
1.73 X 6.6

= 86.2 amps

machine negative sequence withstand (NPS weighting

factor), this figure should be used. If no figure is
available, it is recommended that K be set to 4. Should
this setting give nuisance tripping in service, the stored

The starting current can be taken to be the same as the

records of the Rho should be studied and the motor

locked rotor current ie, 5 x 86.2 = 431 amps.

manufacturer consulted before decreasing the

weighting factor.

Negative sequence currents give rise to additional rotor

2.6

Cooling time constant,

tc

heating, they produce a substantial rotor current at

approximately twice system frequency. At this

When a motor is switched off the rotor de-cellerates and

frequency, skin effects in rotor bars can cause

eventually stops. During the run-down state and

significant rotor heating. Usual thermal limit curves

standstill state the motor windings will cool down but

supplied by machine manufacturers assume positive

they are likley to have a different time constant for

sequence currents only from a perfectly balanced

cooling than for heating up during running. This is

supply. Rho relays are settable to give complete motor

because during the start-up and running state there is

protection under all supply conditions.

forced cooling experienced by the windings due to the

2.4

Heating time constant,

th

rotor movement.
The cooling time constant of the motor is therefore

The relay heating time constant th is settable from 0.5

always longer than the heating time constant for

to 100 minutes in 0.5 steps, figure 1 shows the family of

running. The factor of tc/th is not specified by the motor

curves. Using the example of the motor parameters

manufacturer very often. Typical factors are 5 to 10 x,

quoted under item 2 above and reading values from

however for large motors which are totally enclosed and

also ones that normally rely heavily on forced cooling

Figure 1:At a locked rotor current of 5 x FLC (which is about the

starting current) and a run-up time of 4 seconds and

due to motion of the rotor, the factor can be as high as

60x.

allowing two consecutive starts ie 8 seconds total run-

The net result of choosing a high value for tc is that it

up time, the th value from figure 1 is just over 3

may not be possible to start the motor immediately after

minutes. As the safe stall time from cold is 11 seconds,

a shut down.

the th value could be set to 5. he stall time from hot, ie

7 secs gives a th value of 3. If this lower value of 3 is
chosen, there is the possibility of nuisance tripping after
the motor has been in service for some time with longer
run-up times and higher currents. It would be better to
select the value of 5 which allows two starts in quick
succession. Of course, if the actual th heating time

In this example, the cooling time constant has not been

specified either as a time constant or as a multiple of its
heating time constant. We will therefore choose 10 x,
which is the default.
2.7

Hot/cold curve ratio

(hot spot weighting)

constant of the motor is given by the manufacturer, then

The Rho 3 relay allows adjustment of the Hot/Cold curve

this figure could be set on the relay.

2.5

Starting time constant,

ts

When a motor is running at full design speed, the

airflow and ventilation is designed to give optimum
cooling. On starting, the current is nearly the stall value
but the ventilation is reduced. If this time constant is
known, it can be set on the relay. If not, then set the
time constant (settable 0.5 to 1.5 of the heating time
constant th) to 1.0, ie the same as th.
The time constant switches from th to ts as current
levels above the set value of ISTART. When ts is set
below 1.0 x Iq, this feature assists in ensuring that a
stall on start up does not exceed the motor withstand
time. However where the stall withstand time (e.g from
hot) is less than the run-up time it is still necessary to
provide a tachometric speed switch on the rotor shaft

operating time ratio. This allows a weighting factor for

motor winding hot spots to be applied. Motors with
onerous hot spots are overdesigned for normal load and
by selecting a high value of H/C it allows advantage to
be taken of the overdesign for overload, ie longer
operating time. Selecting the Hot/Cold ratio (H/C) to
100% (ie a high weighting factor) results in the relay
indicating 100% thermal capacity being available when
the motor has been running at full load for a sufficiently
long time to reach steady after a motor-switch on. The
hot and cold operating time curves are the same.
A low weighting factor would be 5%. Switching H/C to
off is equivalent to H/C = 0. In this case, when
operating at full load, the relay would indicate little
thermal capacity available, eg 100% used. The hot
operating time curve is then much faster than the cold.

as described previously. The time constant switches

An indication of the motor hot spot characteristic is the

from th to ts at current levels above the set valve of

ratio of hot stall withstand to the cold withstand, th/tc.

ISTART

With no hot spots (eg a cable) this ratio would be = 1.

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RHO MANUAL
Application guide
In our example th/tc = 7/11 = 0.64. The H/C setting to

2.8

Thermal capacity alarm setting

be applied to the relay is then established from the

This setting is expressed as a percentage of the

following:

thermal capacity set as above. It is settable 50 to 100%

th/tc = (1 - H/C).

of the set capacity and gives an instantaneous alarm

Therefore H/C = 1 - th/tc = 0.36 (eg say 35%)

output if its setting is exceeded. Typically this would be

set to 95%.

10000.00

1000.00

th = 100

100.00

Time (secs)

th = 50
th = 30
th = 20
th = 15
th = 10

10.00

th = 5
th = 3
th = 2
th = 1

1.00

th = 0.5

0.10
10.0

1.0
Overload (*Iq)

Figure 1 - Thermal overload (cold) characteristics

2.9

Load increase alarm setting ts1

The time ts1 should be set to be longer than the run-up

time and less than the safe stall time, in the example a

This alarm is available to provide warning of a sudden

time setting of 5 seconds should be chosen.

increase of load. The alarm level is set as a multiple of

the thermal overload setting (see 2.2). The range is 0.5
to 1.0 x Iq and a sudden step increase above the set
value will initiate the alarm if set.

If the motor starting time is equal to or exceeds the stall

withstand time, it is necessary to have a tachometric
zero speed switch mounted on the rotor shaft. A
voltage signal must be connected via this switch to a

2.10

Thermal restart inhibit setting

status input which is programmed to the No Accel

function in the status configuration menu. This

This feature is included to help prevent tripping of the

motor during start if there is insufficient thermal
capacity to satisfactorily complete the start operation.
The calculation of this value is complex and requires
motor parameter details not usually available. The
practical setting recommended is to initially set this

effectively brings the timer ts2 into service. The switch is

closed with a stalled motor and if the current exceeds
the starting current set (ISTART) then the timer ts2 will
time out and will give a trip signal after its set time lag.
On a healthy start, the switch will open thus stopping
the timer.

feature to 50%. During commissioning, before starting

the protected motor, check the thermal state at the
motor by accessing the Thermal Capacity Used
display and note the value. The motor should then be

In this configuration, ts1, can be used to provide

protection against excessive start time.
2.14

started with its normal load and, when up to speed the

Circuit breaker fail protection

(time delays 1 and 2)

Thermal Capacity Used display again checked. The

difference between these two values indicates the

The relay incorporates a two stage circuit breaker fail

magnitude of thermal capacity used to start. This

feature. If a designated trip relay operates and the

amount must always be available before a restart is

circuit breaker fails to open, the protection algorithm

permitted. For safety, this figure should be multiplied by

continues to run for as long as current continues to

1.25. For example, if 20% of capacity is used during

flow. This combination of conditions is programmed to

starting, then 20% x 1.25 = 25%, and the Thermal

start a definite time lag feature designated CB Fail 1.

Restart Inhibit Setting should be 75%.

This function can be programmed to energise an output

relay when the C.B. fail time delay is completed. The

2.11

Motor start current (ISTART)

The motor starting current is usually taken to be the

same as the locked rotor current but the setting of
ISTART should be less than this value. For the example
given in 2.0, the value of 4 should be chosen.

contacts of this are wired to carry out a repeat trip or to

trip another circuit breaker typically an incoming
breaker. At the same time operation of this timer starts
a second time lag feature designated CB Fail 2 and if
the trip outputs already initiated do not stop the current
flow through the relay, another relay can be

2.12

Motor stop current

programmed through the output matrix to trip a further

breaker eg. a bus section circuit breaker. The timers

This current is the value at or below which the motor is

considered to be stopped. It is usually set at 10%.
2.13

should be set to operate in 50mSecs plus the longest

C.B. tripping time. The circuit breaker fail feature can

Stall and locked rotor protection

also be used to implement a multi-stage tripping

(ts1 and ts2 settings)

scheme.

The fundamentals of this protection feature are

PROTECTION

explained in the Description of Operation, 2.2. In the

example being considered, the run-up time is 4
seconds and the safe stall time is 11 seconds.

OVER/UNDER CURRENT

These protection settings relate to major faults, eg short

circuits and motor drive shaft failures.

In this case the thermal characteristic gives sufficient

protection for normal starting and a stalled motor
condition can be detected by current/time grading.

3.1

Phase fault alarm setting (IHA) and

time delay (tHA)

If it is necessary to monitor the instantaneous current of

the motor, this feature can be employed to effectively

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RHO MANUAL
Application guide
act as a contact making ammeter. The time lag feature

3.5

Earth fault inhibit setting (IEI)

can be used to prevent operation for current surges.

This feature is included to block operation of the earth
3.2

Phase fault trip setting (IHS) and

fault device if the fault current is greater than the

time delay (tHS)

breaking capacity of a controlling contactor. If this is

used, then the earth fault alarm contact can be used to

This protection feature is supplied to detect and protect

issue a back-trip signal to an upstream circuit breaker.

against phase faults occurring on the circuit between

the controlling device and the motor, for example a fault

3.6

Undercurrent protection

in the terminal box. Note that if the motor controlling

device (contactor or circuit breaker) is not rated to
interrupt fault current, this feature should be turned off.
Alternatively, this feature can be mapped to a separate
output relay with contacts connected to trip a suitably
rated upstream device.

An undercurrent element protects against the no-load

condition by measuring the RMS current in each phase.
Alarm and trip outputs are provided. To prevent
spurious trip operations when the relay is first
energised or when a motor is disconnected, the
undercurrent protection does not operate for currents

If this feature is selected, the current setting should be

below the motor stopped threshold ISTOP.

greater than motor starting current. To prevent

operation for very short high value starting surges such
as may occur in charging the cable between the
switching device and the motor, or when power factor
correction capacitors are installed, a time delay can be
inserted. The delay should be fine tuned to the
application such that it operates to isolate faults with a
minimum time delay but rides through operational
disturbances.

This protection is typically applied if the protected

motor drives a pump cooled by the liquid it pumps.
In this case, loss of load may cause pump overheating.
If the motor loading should never fall below 0.75 full
load current, in the example given in 2.0, the
undercurrent trip should be set at 0.7flc = 0.7 x 0.86 =
0.60 and the alarm set at 0.75 flc = 0.75 x 0.86 = 0.65.
Time delays should be set to as low a value as possible
- typically 1 sec.

3.3

Earth fault alarm setting IEA and

time delay (tEA)

These settings can be selected if required as in 3.1.

An undercurrent alarm is given if current falls below the

undercurrent alarm setting IUA in any phase (but not
below ISTOP) for longer than the definite time delay tUA.
The undercurrent feature can be disabled.

3.4

Earth fault trip setting (IEF) and

time delay (tEF)

The various threshold setting ranges overlap. The user

is responsible for ensuring that the motor stopped

This feature protects against earth (ground) faults

threshold is set below the alarm and trip levels,

occurring on the protected circuits. Ideally, the earth

otherwise this protection feature will not operate.

fault input should be energised from a core balance

C.T. In this case the time delay can be set to zero
without risk of mal-trip at motor switch on. If the earth

To ensure correct discrimination between the motor

stopped and loss of load conditions, the undercurrent
protection has a minimum operate time of 200ms.

fault input is energised by the residually connected line

C.Ts a time delay must be introduced to overcome the

4.0

PHASE UNBALANCE PROTECTION

transient neutral current that often occurs on motor

starting. The actual time setting depends on the current

Fluctuations of current unbalance levels are typically

sensitivity selected, the motor starting time and the C.T.

caused by variations in the phase supply voltages.

characteristics. Typical times are about 0.3 sec but the

Note that a 1% voltage unbalance typically translates

value should be set as low as possible consistent with

into a 6% current unbalance. In order to prevent

reliability and avoidance of nuisance tripping.

nuisance trips, the pick-up level should not be set too

Alternatively, it may be possible to use a stabilising

low but, as current unbalance can cause serious rotor

resistor to ensure stable, instantaneous tripping.

overheating the motor manufacturers recommendation

Refer to our Application Guide for selection of

as to the maximum allowable unbalance or negative

stabilising resistor when employing residually

sequence should be set. As short term unbalances

connected earth fault input (technical report 681/TIR/1)

occur, a reasonable time delay should be selected.

Separate protection is available for the conditions of

6.0

OPTIONAL TEMPERATURE INPUTS

phase unbalance, loss of phase and reverse phase

sequence. This feature can be programmed to operate
either as phase difference protection or as negative
phase sequence overcurrent protection. It can also be
disabled altogether. The Alternatives of Phase
Difference and Negative Sequence Overcurrent
Protection are given in section 2.5 of the Description of
Operation.
5.0

NUMBER OF STARTS PROTECTION

An optional version of the Rho 3 incorporates 8

temperature inputs to allow direct temperature
monitoring of parts of the motor. The inputs are user
programmable to accommodate resistance temperature
detectors (RTDs) and thermistors. Different types of
inputs cannot be mixed.
Each input may be independently programmed to
provide alarm and trip thresholds giving instantaneous
outputs. These can all be de-activated by programming

This feature permits a limit to be set on the number of

the settings to OFF.

times which the motor may be started within a specified

Temperature inputs are usually incorporated in the

time interval. Settings are provided to allow the user to

motor by the manufacturer and the types and

select the maximum permissible number of starts and

characteristics should be obtained from the supplier.

the time interval within which these starts may occur.

Once the maximum permissible number of starts have

6.1

RTD inputs

occurred within the defined period then starting is

inhibited for the duration of the start inhibit delay
setting.

RTD inputs may be selected from a number of types,

namely 100 Platinum (standard type DIN 43760),
100 Nickel, 120 Nickel, 10 Copper or other.

Typically, two or three consecutive starts are permitted

for a large motor which means that the motor and
driven machine have to slow down to a stop before a
start is attempted. The coasting down time may be
many minutes and the time interval should reflect this.

The named types have reasonably linear, known

characteristics and the measured resistances are
converted into temperatures between -50C and
+250C and displayed. Alarm and trip settings are also
programmed in terms of temperature. If the other type

The motor manufacturer should be consulted, and if the

is selected then measurements and settings are

start duty is severe then the manufacturer may impose

displayed as resistances up to 350

a deliberate waiting time between starts, this must be

set on the relay.
A start is detected by the relay when the current rises
from zero to exceed the start current setting ISTART
already described in the section on stall and locked
rotor protection. A restart is inhibited by the same
output contact used for the thermal restart inhibit
feature. The restart inhibit output is only energised after
the motor has stopped (ie current falls below ISTOP) so
that the start sequence in progress is not interrupted.

6.2

Thermistor inputs

Thermistor inputs may be selected as either positive or

negative temperature coefficient types (PTC or NTC).
Thermistors are available with a wide range of generally
non-linear characteristics and so settings and displays
are given in terms of resistance. Values between 100
and 30k are accommodated. For PTC type devices,
the protection operates when resistance is measured
above the applied setting. For NTC type devices, the

A further setting is provided to determine the minimum

protection operates when resistance is measured below

permissible time between two consecutive starts.

the applied setting.

A Start Protection Reset command is available in the

Maintenance Menu which allows the user to reset both
the number of starts and the minimum time between
starts features.

6.3

Detector failure protection

Each active temperature input can be monitored for

short circuit and open circuit failure. A temperature

This feature, if set, will prevent the operator from

input fail alarm output is generated by a failure

jogging the motor. Jogging is defined as multiple starts

condition and the failed input is identified in the

and stops that are performed in quick succession.

Instruments Menu. No trip or alarm output is given by a

failed input. This feature can be disabled.

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RHO MANUAL
Application guide
6.4

Detector gating

current is passed through the entire trip circuit to

monitor the trip coil, its auxiliary switch, the CB

Further security is provided by allowing each

secondary isolating contacts and the relevant wiring.

temperature input to be AND gated with any other

input. If this feature is selected then no trip will be
issued unless both gated inputs detect temperature (or
resistance) above the trip setting. The temperature
input alarm outputs are not subject to gating.

If monitoring current flow ceases, the energised status

input drops off and if it is user programmed to operate
one of the output relays, this relay gives a contact
output to signal trip circuit fail. In addition, the LCD
display on the Rho relay and any PC connected via the
fibre optic communication port and running Reydisp

OTHER FEATURES

software can be programmed to indicate Trip CCT

Fail.

7.1

Trip circuit supervision

To avoid giving spurious alarm messages while the

circuit breaker is operating, the status input should be

Based on the Electricity Association standard schemes

programmed to have a 500mSec drop-off delay.

referenced H6, a status input on the Argus relay can be

used to supervise the trip circuit with the associated

The schemes are shown in figure 1.

circuit breaker open or closed. A low value of d.c.

Figure 1 - Rho 3 - Trip circuit supervision

Rho 3 trip
relay contacts

Circuit breaker
auxiliary contacts

+VE

Trip coil

-VE

For 110/125Vdc
2k7 ohms

Note: If the trip circuit is

not healthy, Rho 3 relays
TRIP CCT FAIL message

Rho 3 Status
Input 50v

ELECTRICITY ASSOCIATION H6 SCHEME