ANSI device numbers

In the design of electrical power systems, the ANSI stan- • 16 – Data Communications Device
dard device numbers (ANSI /IEEE Standard C37.2
Standard for Electrical Power System Device Function • 17 – Shunting or Discharge Switch
Numbers, Acronyms, and Contact Designations ) identi- • 18 – Accelerating or Decelerating Device
fies the features of a protective device such as a relay or
circuit breaker. These types of devices protect electrical • 19 – Starting to Running Transition Contractor
systems and components from damage when an unwanted
• 20 – Electrically Operated Valve
event occurs, such as an electrical fault. Device numbers
are used to identify the functions of devices shown on a • 21 – Distance Relay
schematic diagram. Function descriptions are given in
the standard. • 22 – Equalizer Circuit Breaker
One physical device may correspond to one function • 23 – Temperature Control Device
number, for example “29 Isolating Switch”, or a single
physical device may have many function numbers associ- • 24 – Volts Per Hertz Relay
ated with it, such as a numerical protective relay. Suffix • 25 – Synchronizing or Synchronize-Check Device
and prefix letters may be added to further specify the pur-
pose and function of a device. • 26 – Apparatus Thermal Device
ANSI/IEEE C37.2-2008 is one of a continuing series of • 27 – Undervoltage Relay
revisions of the standard, which originated in 1928.
• 27s - DC under voltage Relay
• 28 – Flame detector
1 List of device numbers and
• 29 – Isolating Contactor or Switch
acronyms
• 30 – Annunciator Relay
• 1 – Master Element
• 31 – Separate Excitation
• 2 – Time delay Starting or Closing Relay • 32 – Directional Power Relay or Reverse Power Re-
• 3 – Checking or Interlocking Relay lay

• 4 – Master Contactor • 33 – Position Switch

• 34 – Master Sequence Device
• 5 – Stopping
• 35 – Brush-Operating or Slip-Ring Short-Circuiting
• 6 – Starting Circuit Breaker
Device
• 7 – Rate of Change Relay
• 36 – Polarity or Polarizing Voltage Devices
• 8 – Control Power Disconnecting Device • 37 – Undercurrent or Underpower Relay
• 9 – Reversing Device • 38 – Bearing Protective Device
• 10 – Unit Sequence Switch • 39 – Mechanical Condition Monitor
• 11 – Multi-function Device • 40 – Field (over/under excitation) Relay
• 12 – Overspeed Device • 41 – Field Circuit Breaker
• 13 – Synchronous-speed Device • 42 – Running Circuit Breaker
• 14 – Underspeed Device • 43 – Manual Transfer or Selector Device
• 15 – Speed – or Frequency, Matching Device • 44 – Unit Sequence Starting Relay

1
2 1 LIST OF DEVICE NUMBERS AND ACRONYMS

• 45 – DC over voltage Relay • 67 – AC Directional Overcurrent Relay

• 46 – Reverse-phase or Phase-Balance Current Relay • 68 – Blocking Relay

• 47 – Phase-Sequence or Phase-Balance Voltage Re- • 69 – Permissive Control Device

lay
• 70 – Rheostat
• 48 – Incomplete Sequence Relay
• 71 – Liquid Level Switch
• 49 – Machine or Transformer, Thermal Relay-OLR
• 72 – DC Circuit Breaker
• 50 – Instantaneous Overcurrent Relay
• 73 – Load-Resistor Contactor
• 50G - Instantaneous Earth Over Current Relay
(Neutral CT Method) • 74 – Alarm Relay

• 50N - Instantaneous Earth Over Current Relay • 75 – Position Changing Mechanism

(Residual Method)
• 76 – DC Overcurrent Relay
• 50BF - Breaker failure
• 77 – Telemetering Device
• 51 – AC Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay
• 78 – Phase-Angle Measuring Relay or “Out-of-
• 51G - AC Inverse Time Earth Overcurrent Relay Step” Relay
(Neutral CT Method)
• 79 – AC Reclosing Relay (Auto Reclosing)
• 51N - AC Inverse Time Earth Overcurrent Relay
• 80 – Flow Switch
(Residual Method)
• 81 – Frequency Relay
• 52 – AC Circuit Breaker
• 82 – DC Reclosing Relay
• 52a - AC Circuit Breaker Position (Contact Open
when Breaker Open) • 83 – Automatic Selective Control or Transfer Relay
• 52b - AC Circuit Breaker Position (Contact Closed • 84 – Operating Mechanism
when Breaker Open)
• 85 – Communications,Carrier or Pilot-Wire Relay
• 53 – Exciter or DC Generator Relay
• 86 – Lockout Relay/Master Trip
• 54 – Turning Gear Engaging Device
• 87 – Differential Protective Relay
• 55 – Power Factor Relay
• 88 – Auxiliary Motor or Motor Generator
• 56 – Field Application Relay
• 89 – Line Switch
• 57 – Short-Circuiting or Grounding Device
• 90 – Regulating Device
• 58 – Rectification Failure Relay
• 91 – Voltage Directional Relay
• 59 – Overvoltage Relay
• 92 – Voltage and Power Directional Relay
• 60 – Voltage or Current Balance Relay.
• 93 – Field Changing Contactor
• 61 – Density Switch or Sensor
• 94 – Tripping or Trip-Free Relay( trip circuit super-
• 62 – Time-Delay Stopping or Opening Relay vision Relay)
• 63 – Pressure Switch • 95 – For specific applications where other numbers
• 64 – Ground Detector Relay are not suitable

• 64R - Restricted earth fault • 96 – Busbar Trip Lockout relay

• 64S - Stator earth fault • 97 – For specific applications where other numbers
are not suitable
• 65 – Governor
• 98 – For specific applications where other numbers
• 66 – Notching or Jogging Device are not suitable
1.2 References 3

• 99 – For specific applications where other numbers For device 16, the suffix letters further define the device:
are not suitable the first suffix letter is 'S' for serial or 'E' for Ethernet.
The subsequent letters are: 'C' security processing func-
• 150 – Earth Fault Indicator tion (e.g. VPN, encryption), 'F' firewall or message filter,
• AFD – Arc Flash Detector 'M' network managed function, 'R' rotor, 'S' switch and 'T'
telephone component. Thus a managed Ethernet switch
• CLK – Clock or Timing Source would be 16ESM.

• DDR – Dynamic Disturbance Recorder

1.2 References
• DFR – Digital Fault Recorder
[1] Applied Protective Relaying 1979 by Westinghouse Elec-
• DME – Disturbance Monitor Equipment
tric Corporation, 2nd Printing, “Appendix II, Electri-
• ENV – Environmental Data cal Power System Device Numbers and Functions” as
adopted by IEEE standard and incorporated in American
• HIZ – High Impedance Fault Detector Standard C37.2-1970.

• HMI – Human Machine Interface

• HST – Historian

• LGC – Scheme Logic

• MET – Substation Metering

• PDC – Phasor Data Concentrator

• PMU – Phasor Measurement Unit

• PQM – Power Quality Monitor

• RIO – Remote Input/Output Device

• RTU – Remote Terminal Unit/Data Concentrator

• SER – Sequence of Events Recorder

• TCM – Trip Circuit Monitor

• LRSS - LOCAL/REMOTE SELECTOR SWITCH

• SOTF - Switch On To Fault

1.1 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 can denote a “ground”, hence a “51G” is
a time overcurrent ground relay. The “G” suffix can also
mean “generator”, hence an “87G” is a Generator Differ-
ential Protective Relay while an “87T” is a Transformer
Differential Protective Relay. “F” can denote “field” on a
generator or “fuse”, as in the protective fuse for a pickup
transformer. Suffix numbers are used to distinguish mul-
tiple “same” devices in the same equipment such as 51-1,
51–2.[1]
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.[1]
4 2 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

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2.1 Text
• ANSI device numbers Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANSI_device_numbers?oldid=721214791 Contributors: Lommer, Wtshy-
manski, Mindmatrix, Gaius Cornelius, Voidxor, Tony1, Gleask, Bluebot, CmdrObot, Thijs!bot, Dugwiki, Truthanado, JL-Bot, Sfan00
IMG, Kubek15, Dthomsen8, Addbot, Jim1138, Пика Пика, Jwscott01, Materialscientist, Crimsonmargarine, Mecamex, GWS EE, K6ka,
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