ABB REF615 HBFFAEAGNDA1ABA11G｜Feeder Protection and Control｜

The REF615 was designed to fully utilize the capabilities of the IEC 61850 communication standard, enabling seamless integration with modern substation automation systems.

Supported communication protocols include:

IEC 61850
IEC 60870-5-103
Modbus®
DNP3

These protocols provide access to:

Protection status information
Measurements
Control commands
Event records
Configuration parameters
IEC 61850 Features
Monitoring and Control

The IEC 61850 implementation supports:

Complete monitoring functions
Control operations
Parameter management
Disturbance recording access
Fault record retrieval

Disturbance recordings can be transferred through Ethernet-based applications using the standard:

COMTRADE file format
GOOSE Horizontal Communication

REF615 supports IEC 61850-8-1 GOOSE (Generic Object Oriented Substation Event) messaging for high-speed peer-to-peer communication between IEDs.

GOOSE enables:

Direct IED-to-IED communication
Fast trip signal exchange
Interlocking functions
Protection coordination
Substation automation logic

The IED supports:

Binary signal transmission and reception
Analog value exchange through GOOSE messaging

For high-speed protection applications, REF615 supports the highest IEC 61850 GOOSE performance class with:

Total transmission time: 3 ms

This performance meets IEC 61850 requirements for distribution substation tripping applications.

Station Bus Communication Capacity

REF615 can simultaneously transmit event reports to:

Five different station bus clients

The IED supports up to:

Five simultaneous client connections

When ABB PCM600 engineering software reserves one client connection:

Four additional client connections remain available for protocols such as:
IEC 61850
Modbus
Communication Interfaces

All communication interfaces, except the front-panel service port, are installed through optional integrated communication modules.

Supported interfaces include:

Ethernet Communication
Copper Ethernet
Connector type: RJ-45
Standard: 100Base-TX
Fiber Ethernet
Connector type: LC fiber optic
Standard: 100Base-FX

Fiber communication provides:

Improved electromagnetic immunity
Longer communication distance
Reliable operation in high-noise environments
Serial Communication

Optional serial interfaces are available:

RS-232
RS-485

These interfaces support integration with legacy substation automation systems.

Ethernet Redundant Loop Topology

REF615 can be integrated into Ethernet-based redundant loop networks when equipped with appropriate communication modules.

RSTP Requirement

For proper operation of redundant Ethernet loop topology:

External Ethernet switches must support RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol)
RSTP must be enabled in the switches

Important:

REF615 itself does not support RSTP
REF615 does not provide link-down detection

The ring recovery mechanism relies on:

MAC address aging
Link-up/link-down events

Temporary communication interruptions may occur during network recovery.

Recommended Self-Healing Ring Configuration

For improved Ethernet ring recovery performance:

Configure the external switch furthest from the REF615 IED loop as the root switch
Set the root switch bridge priority to:

Bridge Priority = 0

Increase bridge priority values progressively toward the IED loop

The Ethernet loop end connections can be configured as:

Both ends connected to the same external switch
Each end connected to two adjacent external switches
Communication Module Requirements for Ethernet Ring

A self-healing Ethernet ring requires:

A communication module with a minimum of two Ethernet interfaces
All IEDs in the ring must support dual Ethernet connections

This architecture enables:

Network redundancy
Improved communication availability
Fault recovery capability
Higher substation automation reliability
Engineering and Procurement Summary
Feature Benefit
Dedicated feeder IED Optimized for MV feeder protection applications
Compact withdrawable design Simplifies maintenance and replacement
Supports multiple grounding systems Flexible deployment across distribution networks
IEC 61850 native architecture Future-ready substation automation integration
GOOSE messaging Ultra-fast peer-to-peer protection communication
3 ms GOOSE performance Suitable for high-speed trip applications
COMTRADE disturbance records Simplifies fault analysis
Five simultaneous clients Supports complex station communication architectures
Ethernet and fiber options Flexible communication infrastructure
RS-232/RS-485 support Compatibility with legacy systems
Dual Ethernet module support Enables redundant network topologies