Protective Device Numbers

Protective relays are commonly referred to by standard device numbers. For example, a time
overcurrent relay is designated a 51 device, while an instantaneous overcurrent is a 50 device.
Multifunction relays have combinations of device numbers. A 27/59 device, for example, is a
combination under/over voltage relay. Letters can be added to clarify application (87T for transformer
differential, 59G for ground overvoltage).

1 – Master Element

2 – Time Delay Starting or Closing Relay

3 – Checking or Interlocking Relay

4 – Master Contactor

5 – Stopping Device

6 – Starting Circuit Breaker

7 – Rate of Change Relay

8 – Control Power Disconnecting Device

9 – Reversing Device

10 – Unit Sequence Switch

11 – Multi-function Device

12 – Overspeed Device

13 – Synchronous-speed Device

14 – Underspeed Device

15 – Speed – or Frequency, Matching Device

16 – Data Communications Device

17 – Shunting or Discharge Switch

18 – Accelerating or Decelerating Device

19 – Starting to Running Transition Contactor

20 – Electrically Operated Valve

21 – Distance Relay

22 – Equalizer Circuit Breaker

23 – Temperature Control Device

24 – Volts Per Hertz Relay

25 – Synchronizing or Synchronism-Check Device

26 – Apparatus Thermal Device

27 – Under voltage Relay

28 – Flame detector

29 – Isolating Contactor or Switch

30 – Annunciator Relay

31 – Separate Excitation Device

32 – Directional Power Relay

33 – Position Switch

34 – Master Sequence Device

35 – Brush-Operating or Slip-Ring Short-Circuiting Device

36 – Polarity or Polarizing Voltage Devices

37 – Undercurrent or Underpower Relay

38 – Bearing Protective Device

39 – Mechanical Condition Monitor

40 – Field (over/under excitation) Relay

41 – Field Circuit Breaker

42 – Running Circuit Breaker

43 – Manual Transfer or Selector Device

44 – Unit Sequence Starting Relay

45 – Abnormal Atmospheric Condition Monitor

46 – Reverse-phase or Phase-Balance Current Relay

47 – Phase-Sequence or Phase-Balance Voltage Relay

48 – Incomplete Sequence Relay

49 – Machine or Transformer, Thermal Relay

50 – Instantaneous Overcurrent Relay

51 – AC Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay

52 – AC Circuit Breaker

53 – Exciter or DC Generator Relay

54 – Turning Gear Engaging Device

55 – Power Factor Relay

56 – Field Application Relay

57 – Short-Circuiting or Grounding Device

58 – Rectification Failure Relay

59 – Overvoltage Relay

60 – Voltage or Current Balance Relay

61 – Density Switch or Sensor

62 – Time-Delay Stopping or Opening Relay

63 – Pressure Switch

64 – Ground Detector Relay

65 – Governor

66 – Notching or Jogging Device

67 – AC Directional Overcurrent Relay

68 – Blocking or "Out-of-Step" Relay

69 – Permissive Control Device

70 – Rheostat

71 – Liquid Level Switch

72 – DC Circuit Breaker

73 – Load-Resistor Contactor

74 – Alarm Relay

75 – Position Changing Mechanism

76 – DC Overcurrent Relay

77 – Telemetering Device

78 – Phase-Angle Measuring Relay

79 – AC Reclosing Relay

80 – Flow Switch

81 – Frequency Relay

82 – DC Reclosing Relay

83 – Automatic Selective Control or Transfer Relay

84 – Operating Mechanism

85 – Communications,Carrier or Pilot-Wire Relay

86 – Lockout Relay

87 – Differential Protective Relay

88 – Auxiliary Motor or Motor Generator

89 – Line Switch

90 – Regulating Device
91 – Voltage Directional Relay

92 – Voltage and Power Directional Relay

93 – Field Changing Contactor

94 – Tripping or Trip-Free Relay

95 to 99 – For specific applications where other numbers are not suitable

Protective Device Numbers

Protective relays are commonly referred to by standard device numbers. For example, a time overcurrent
relay is designated a 51 device, while an instantaneous overcurrent is a 50 device. Multifunction relays
have combinations of device numbers. A 27/59 device, for example, is a combination under/over voltage
relay. Letters can be added to clarify application (87T for transformer differential, 59G for ground
overvoltage).

 1 – Master Element
 2 – Time Delay Starting or Closing Relay
 3 – Checking or Interlocking Relay
 4 – Master Contactor
 5 – Stopping Device
 6 – Starting Circuit Breaker
 7 – Rate of Change Relay
 8 – Control Power Disconnecting Device
 9 – Reversing Device
 10 – Unit Sequence Switch
 11 – Multi-function Device
 12 – Overspeed Device
 13 – Synchronous-speed Device
 14 – Underspeed Device
 15 – Speed – or Frequency, Matching Device
 16 – Data Communications Device
 17 – Shunting or Discharge Switch
 18 – Accelerating or Decelerating Device
 19 – Starting to Running Transition Contactor
 20 – Electrically Operated Valve
 21 – Distance Relay
 22 – Equalizer Circuit Breaker
 23 – Temperature Control Device
 24 – Volts Per Hertz Relay
 25 – Synchronizing or Synchronism-Check Device
 26 – Apparatus Thermal Device
 27 – Undervoltage Relay
 28 – Flame detector
 29 – Isolating Contactor or Switch
 30 – Annunciator Relay
 31 – Separate Excitation Device
 32 – Directional Power Relay
 33 – Position Switch
 34 – Master Sequence Device
 35 – Brush-Operating or Slip-Ring Short-Circuiting Device
 36 – Polarity or Polarizing Voltage Devices
 37 – Undercurrent or Underpower Relay
 38 – Bearing Protective Device
 39 – Mechanical Condition Monitor
 40 – Field (over/under excitation) Relay
 41 – Field Circuit Breaker
 42 – Running Circuit Breaker
 43 – Manual Transfer or Selector Device
 44 – Unit Sequence Starting Relay
 45 – Abnormal Atmospheric Condition Monitor
 46 – Reverse-phase or Phase-Balance Current Relay
 47 – Phase-Sequence or Phase-Balance Voltage Relay
 48 – Incomplete Sequence Relay
 49 – Machine or Transformer, Thermal Relay
 50 – Instantaneous Overcurrent Relay
 51 – AC Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay
 52 – AC Circuit Breaker
 53 – Exciter or DC Generator Relay
 54 – Turning Gear Engaging Device
 55 – Power Factor Relay
 56 – Field Application Relay
 57 – Short-Circuiting or Grounding Device
 58 – Rectification Failure Relay
 59 – Overvoltage Relay
 60 – Voltage or Current Balance Relay
 61 – Density Switch or Sensor
 62 – Time-Delay Stopping or Opening Relay
 63 – Pressure Switch
 64 – Ground Detector Relay
 65 – Governor
 66 – Notching or Jogging Device
 67 – AC Directional Overcurrent Relay
 68 – Blocking or "Out-of-Step" Relay
 69 – Permissive Control Device
 70 – Rheostat
 71 – Liquid Level Switch
 72 – DC Circuit Breaker
 73 – Load-Resistor Contactor
 74 – Alarm Relay
 75 – Position Changing Mechanism
 76 – DC Overcurrent Relay
 77 – Telemetering Device
 78 – Phase-Angle Measuring Relay
 79 – AC Reclosing Relay
 80 – Flow Switch
 81 – Frequency Relay
  82 – DC Reclosing Relay
 83 – Automatic Selective Control or Transfer Relay
 84 – Operating Mechanism
 85 – Communications,Carrier or Pilot-Wire Relay
 86 – Lockout Relay
 87 – Differential Protective Relay
 88 – Auxiliary Motor or Motor Generator
 89 – Line Switch
 90 – Regulating Device
 91 – Voltage Directional Relay
 92 – Voltage and Power Directional Relay
 93 – Field Changing Contactor
 94 – Tripping or Trip-Free Relay
 95 to 99 – For specific applications where other numbers are not suitable
* for a full definition of each function, please refer to the ANSI/IEEE C37.2 standard

Prefixes and Suffixes

Letters and numbers may be used as prefixes or suffixes to device function numbers to provide a more
specific definition of the function. Prefixes and suffixes should, however, be used only when they
accomplish a useful purpose.

Auxiliary devices Main device

 C - Closing relay/contactor  A - Alarm/auxiliary power
 CL - Auxiliary relay, closed  AC - Alternating current
 CS - Control switch  AN - Anode
 D - "Down" position switch relay  B - Battery, blower, bus
 L- Lowering relay  BK - Brake
 O - Opening relay/contactor  BL - Block (valve)
 OP - Auxiliary relay, open  BP - Bypass
 PB - Push button  BT - Bus tie
 R - Raising relay  C - Capacitor, condenser, compensator,
 U - "UP" position switch relay carrier current, case, compressor
 X - Auxiliary relay  CA - Cathode
 Y - Auxiliary relay  CH - Check (valve)
 Z - Auxiliary relay  D - Discharge (valve)
 DC - Direct current
 E - Exciter
Actuating quantities  F - Feeder, field, filament, filter, fan
 A -Air/amperes/alternating  G - Generator/ground
 C - Current  H - Heater/housing
 D - Direct/discharge  L - Line, logic
 E - Electrolyte  M - Motor, metering
 F - Frequency/flow/fault  MOC - Mechanism operated contact
 GP - Gas pressure  N - Network, neutral
 H - Explosive/harmonics  P - Pump, phase comparison
 I0 - Zero sequence current  R - Reactor, rectifier, room
 I-, I2 - Negative sequence current  S - Synchronizing, secondary, strainer,
 I+, I1 - Positive sequence current sump ,suction (valve)
 J - Differential  T -Transformer, thyratron
  L - Level/liquid  TH - Transformer (high-voltage side)
 P - Power/pressure  TL - Transformer (low-voltage side)
 PF - Power factor  TM - Telemeter
 Q - Oil  TOC - Truck-operated contacts
 S - Speed/suction/smoke  TT - Transformer (tertiary-voltage side)
 T - Temperature  U - Unit
 V - Voltage/volts/vacuum
 VAR -Reactive power
 VB - Vibration Main device parts
 W - ater/watts  BK - Brake
 C - Coil, condenser, capacitor
 CC - Closing coil, closing contactor
Other suffix letters  HC - Holding coil
 A - Accelerating, automatic  M - Operating motor
 B - Blocking, backup  MF - Fly-ball motor
 BF - Breaker failure  ML - Load-limit motor
 C - Close, cold  MS - Speed adjusting or synchronizing
 D - Decelerating, detonate, down, motor
disengaged  OC - Opening contactor
 E - Emergency, engaged  S - Solenoid
 F - Failure, forward  SI - Seal-in
 GP - General purpose  T - Target
 H - Hot, high  TC Trip coil
 HIZ - High impedance fault  V - Valve
 HR - Hand reset
 HS - High speed
 L - Left, local, low, lower, leading Reference positions of devices
 M - Manual  Adjusting means - Low or down position
 O - Open, over  Clutch - Disengaged position
 OFF - Off  Contactor - De-energized position
 ON - On  Contactor (latched-in type) - Main
 P - Polarizing contacts open
 R - Right, raise, reclosing, receiving,  Density switch - Standard reference
remote, reverse  Disconnecting switch - Main contacts
 S - Sending, swing open
 SHS - Semi-high speed  Flow detector - Lowest flow
 T - Test, trip, trailing  Gate - Closed position
 TDC - Time-delay closing contact  Level detector - Lowest level
 TDDO - Time delayed relay coil drop-out  Load-break switch - Main contacts
 TDO - Time-delay opening contact open
 TDPU - Time delayed relay coil pickup  Power circuit breaker - Main contacts
 THD - Total harmonic distortion open
 U - Up, under  Power electrodes - Maximum gap
position
 Pressure switch - Lowest pressure
 Reclosure - Main contactor open
 Relay - De-energized position
 Relay (latched-in type)
 Rheostat - Maximum resistance
position
 Speed switch - Lowest speed
  Tap changer - Center tap
 Temperature relay - Lowest
temperature
 Turning gear - Disengaged position
 Vacuum switch - Lowest pressure that
is highest vacuum
 Valve - Closed position
 Vibration detector - Minimum vibration

ANSI IEC Comparison

ANSI IEC 60617 Description
21FL FLOC Fault locator
21G Z< Underimpedance
24 U/f> Overexcitation
25 SYNC Synchronisation check
27 U< Undervoltage
32 P→ Directional power relay
32P, P→, - active power
32Q, Q→ - reactive powerpower
37 I< Non-directional undercurrent
40 X< Underexcitation
46 I2> Negative-phase sequence
47 U2> Phase-sequence voltage protection
48, 14, 66 Is²t,n< Start-up supervision for motors
49F Ith> Thermal protection for cables
49M/49G/49T Three-phase thermal protection for machines
M - motor, G - generators, T - transformer

50N/51N I0> Non-directional earth-fault

51 I> Non-directional overcurrent
51C, I> - shunt capacitors
51V, I(U)> - voltage dependant
59 U> Overvoltage
59N, U0> - residual overvoltage
67 I>→ Directional overcurrent
67N, I0>→ - directional earth-fault
68 I2> Transformer/motor inrush current
79 0→1 Auto-reclosure
81 f Frequency relay
81N, f< - underfrquency
81O, f> - overfrequency
87 ΔI> Differential protection
87G, ΔI> - generator
87M, ΔI> - motor
87T, ΔI> - transformer
87N, ΔI0> - restricted earth fault
Notes:
1. for high set and instantaneous tripping, '>' can be replaced with '>>' or '>>'
2. '3' can be placed before designations to indicate three phase, i.e. 3I<