IEC61850 is a standard that defines communication for electrical substations using Ethernet networks and standardized descriptions of data and functions. It replaces traditional hardwired connections with Ethernet and standardized messages like GOOSE. Testing IEC61850 substations requires mapping test inputs and outputs to GOOSE messages rather than physical connections. The same test plans can be used by treating GOOSE messages as virtual inputs and outputs. While offering benefits like easier modifications, IEC61850 also presents new challenges for test engineers who must learn its data modeling approach and networking concepts.

1. Testing Challenges : IEC61850
Jun Verzosa, Nestor Casilla, Jay Gosalia
Doble Engineering Company

2. Presentation topics
Introduction
What is IEC61850
Differences from Traditional sub station
Advantages
Architecture and Data Structure
Testing Simple distribution bus protection
Conclusion
2

3. What is IEC 61850 ?

4. Basic Concept : IEC61850
Inter Operability

5. Core Idea IEC 61850
The core idea is a description language,
that completely describes the data
structure and functionality of a
substation information system in a
standardized manner.
The core idea is a description language,
that completely describes the data
structure and functionality of a
substation information system in a
standardized manner.

6. What Is IEC 61850?
International Standard
More than a Protocol
Substation AutomationBorrowed from
Siemens
HMI

7. Muti Vendor Inter- Operability
Standardized language understood by devices of
different manufacturers: key goal of IEC 61850
IEC 61850
Borrowed from
Siemens

8. Conventional Sub - Station
Control Centre Station HMI
Relay
X1
RTU
Conventional
Switchgear
Conventional
CT / VT's
Relay
X2
Relay
X1
Conventional
Switchgear
Relay
X2
Conventional
CT / VT's
Interlocking
logic
Hardwired with parallel Copper wires

9. IEC 61850 Comm. Architecture
Control Center
Gateway
Relay
X1
Bay
Controller
Intelligent
Switchgear
Non
conventional
CT/VT
Relay
X2
Relay
X1
Bay
Controller
Intelligent
Switchgear
Relay
X2
Non
conventional
CT/VT
Station HMI
Ethernet communication:
Elimination of wires
Access to information
Optimized functionality
Station Ethernet Bus
Process Bus

10. IEC 61850 Comm. Architecture
Control Center
Gateway
Relay
X1
Bay
Controller
Intelligent
Switchgear
Non
conventional
CT/VT
Relay
X2
Relay
X1
Bay
Controller
Intelligent
Switchgear
Relay
X2
Non
conventional
CT/VT
Station HMI
Station Ethernet Bus
Process Bus

11. Changes to IEC61850 sub station
Copper wiring is replaced by
Ethernet cable
Ethernet switches connects
different IEDs
GOOSE messages are equivalent
to interconnect wires
Typically a bit position indicates
the status of IED : 0 = Off, 1= On
11

12. What Is IEC 61850?
IEC 61850 is more than a protocol, it’s an architecture
Process
Level
Bay
Level
Station
Level
HMI
Station Bus
Process
Bus
Borrowed from
Siemens

13. What Is IEC 61850?
Process
LevelBay
Level
Station
Level
HMI
Station Bus
Process Bus
(sampled analog
values)
Borrowed from
Siemens
Conventional CTs and VTs with hard wiring are used today

14. Advantages of IEC61850
No copper interconnection
Reduced set up and configuration
No transducers and SCADA interface
Interoperability
Reduced manual efforts and errors
More capability and flexibility

15. Features of IEC61850
Self describing devices
Standardized devices & Object model
Standardized configuration language
Modern networking technology
Object naming

16. Publisher & Subscriber
16
21
3*V,3*I
52b
CR
Breaker Trip
BFI
50BF
79
ARI
86BF
Trip
Relay
52b
Breaker Close
Bus Breaker
Trip
Relay 21 subscribes to 52b and Carrier Received
Relay 21 publishes Breaker Trip, BFI, ARI
Relay 50BF subscribes BFI from 21
Relay 79 publishes Breaker Close
Relay 79 subscribes to ARI form 21.

17. IEC61850 : Device Definition
17
CB1
IED1
PTOC
RREC
XCBR
XSWI
MMXU
MMTR Metering
CSWI
CSWI
Measurement Unit
Disconnect Switch
Indication & Control
Circuit Breaker
Indication & Control
Auto Reclosing
Time Over Current

18. Accessing Data : Windows Explorer
PTOC (Time Over Current LN )
RREC (Autorecloser LN )
XCBR (Switchgear – Circuit Breaker)
CSWI (Control - Circuit Breaker)
XSWI (Switchgear – Disconnect)
CSWI (Control - Disconnect)
MMXU (Measurement Unit)
MMTR (Metering)
+
+
+
+
+
+
IED1 IED1
+
+
Borrowed from
Siemens
IED1/XCBR

19. Accessing Data : Tree view
Mode (Mode)
Beh (Behavior )
Health (Health)
Name (Name plate)
Loc (Local operation)
EEHealth (External equipment)
EEName (External equipment name plate)
OperCnt (Operation counter)
Pos (Switch position)
BlkOpen (Block opening)
BlkClos (Block closing)
ChMotEna (Charger motor enabled)
CBOpCap (Circuit breaker operating capability)
POWCap (Point On Wave switching capability)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
XCBR
PTOC
RREC
+
+
-
IED1/XCBRIED1
Borrowed from
Siemens
IED1/XCBR.Pos

20. Accessing Data : Tree view
Mode (Mode)
Beh (Behavior )
Health (Health)
Name (Name plate)
Loc (Local operation)
EEHealth (External equipment)
EEName (External equipment name plate)
OperCnt (Operation counter)
Pos (Switch position)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-
XCBR
PTOC
RREC
+
+
-
ctlVal
stVal
pulseConfig
operTim
q
…more
intermediate-state (0)
off (1)
on (2)
bad-state (3)
IED1/XCBR.PosIED1
Borrowed from
Siemens
IED1/XCBR.Pos.stVal

21. IEC61850 Data Communication
DNP3.0
(toEMS/SCADA
IED 1 Data
“67 TOC Pick-up”
“CB1 is Closed”
“I Phase A is 200A”
“V Phase A is 26.3kV”
IED1/PTOC.Start.general
IED1/XCBR.Pos.stVal
IED1/MMXU.A.phsA.mag
IED1/MMXU.V.phsA.mag
61850 Messages
HMI Linkage
CB pos = IED1/XCBR.Pos.stVal
67 TOC PU = IED1/PTOC.Start.general
Ia = IED1/MMXU.A.phsA.mag
Va = IED1/MMXU.V.phsA.mag
CB1
IED1
Borrowed from
Siemens

22. • L System LN (2)
• P Protection (28)
• R Protection related (10)
• C Control (5)
• G Generic (3)
• I Interfacing and archiving (4)
• A Automatic control (4)
• M Metering and measurement (8)
• S Sensor and monitoring (4)
• X Switchgear (2)
• T Instrument transformers (2)
• Y Power transformers (4)
• Z Further power system
equipment (15)
• Examples: Logical node classes
• PTOC: Time overcurrent prot.
• PDIF: Differential protection
• RBRF: Breaker failure
• XCBR: Circuit breaker
• GGIO: Generic logical node
• CSWI: Switch controller
• MMXU: Measurement unit
• YPTR: Power transformer
Logical node groups

23. Logical Nodes
23

24. BayA1/Q0XCBR1.Pos.ctlVal
LocalDeviceName(free)
LogicalNodeName Prefix(free)
DataObjectName(fixed)
AttributeName(fixed)
LogicalNodeClass(fixed)
LogicalNodeName Suffix(free)
Addressing a Data item

25. Simple Bus Protection
25
Feeder A Feeder B Feeder C
Incomer X
Block Trip
PTOC PU
Trip
Trip

26. Simple Bus Protection
26
Feeder A Feeder B Feeder C
Incomer X
Block Trip
PTOC PU
Trip
Trip

27. Simple Bus Protection
27
Feeder A Feeder B Feeder C
Incomer X
Block Trip
PTOC PU
Trip
Trip

28. Testing : Traditional Way
• Test individual relay and its performance
• Test overall scheme
• Test operating time, scheme logic etc.
• Monitor inputs & outputs during testing
• Relay output : To test instrument’s input
to record relay response
• Test instruments outputs : To Relay input
to simulate system events
28

29. Test Relay Feeder A
29
Communication
Current
Trip
Output
Gen.
Start

30. Test Feeder A
30

31. Test Relay Incomer
31
Communication
Current
Trip output
Block
Trip

32. Test Incomer : Feeder Fault
32

33. Incomer Test : Timers &Outputs
33

34. Incomer Test : Bus Fault
34

35. IEC61850 Testing
35
List the publishing and subscription
messages ≡ Input and outputs
Assign publishing messages to
inputs of F6150 : GN1..GN99
Assign subscription messages to
output of F6150 : GP1..GP99
Use the same test plan as if
testing the traditional way

36. GOOSE Message
36

37. GOOSE
37

38. GOOSE Messages
38

39. GOOSE Mapping : Inputs
39

40. Final Step : Save and Send
40

41. Testing : IEC61850
Same test plan can be used : GN instead of LN
Map inputs & outputs to GOOSE
Inputs & Outputs : GOOSE msg. on Ethernet
GOOSE acts as traditional inputs and outputs
41

42. Protection Testing Feeder A
42
Feeder A Feeder B Feeder C
Incomer X
Trip
Trip
BCU
BCU
• Apply current to feeder A and test set starts the timer
• PTOC will starts and sends GOOSE message to Incomer to block trip.
• When PTOC element trips, it will send GOOSE message & BCU will trip Feeder A
• Test set stops the timer when GOOSE message from PTOC trip is received

43. Protection Testing Incomer X
43
Feeder A Feeder B Feeder C
Incomer X
Trip
Trip
BCU
BCU
• Apply current to Incomer X protection and test set starts the timer
• PTOC will starts and wait for the GOOSE message from one of the feeder
• After a short time delay if GOOSE message from the feeder is not received,
Incomer X protection will send a GOOSE trip message to trip breaker
• Test set stops the timer to time the overall trip time

44. Protection Suite : IEC61850
44
Messages
• Define GOOSE messages
• Discover, import SCL
Dataset
• Select dataset item for testing
• Assign to F6 Inputs and outputs
Configure
• Download data items and I/O
mapping to F6150

45. Protection Suite : IEC61850
45
Select GOOSE messages &
Dataset items
Discover Messages or Import
SCL or enter manually in GSE

46. GOOSE Testing : GN and GP
46

47. Testing IEC61850 IEDs using F6150
Step 1. “Discover” or “Import” GOOSE Messages,
select data items for use as inputs and outputs; or
Open the relevant Saved CFG file
Feeder A Feeder B Feeder C
Incomer X
Trip
Trip
BCU
BCU

48. Testing IEC61850 IEDs using F6150
Step 2. Connect F6150 (if not yet connected)
Step 3. Configure F6150 for GOOSE I/O messages of Download CFG
Step 4. Perform Tests
Feeder A Feeder B Feeder C
Incomer X
Trip
Trip
BCU
BCU

49. Testing Comparisons
Traditional testing
Protection response is recorded
via its contacts connected to test
instruments LN1..LN8
Test instrument’s programmable
outputs simulates the event :via
LP1..LP8
IEC61850 Testing
Test instruments Senses input by
published GOOSE messages via
GN1..GN99
Test instruments can simulate
output by publishing GOOSE
message via GP1..GP99
Existing test plan can be used
with change in sense conditions
Like LN1 to GN1

50. IEC61850 : Troubleshooting
Connect the laptop to the network, start the software
& monitor just about anything & everything
Safer then trouble shooting live circuit with meter
and probes
Can be done remotely
Wiring change done by programming change
Change configuration by programming change
50

51. Challenges : IEC61850
Modifications
Documentation
Relay functions
Network knowledge
Learning Curve
•Done by its CID file
•Need to reload new CID file
•Use the correct CID file
•Archive the modified CID file
•Retest after modification
•As we do it after a wiring mod
•Understanding of the network
•Not needed for tradition testing
•Trouble shooting is restricted if one cannot
log on
•Understanding new ways of testing
51

52. Summary
IEC61850 brings advantages and challenges
Continuous supervision of the system
Economical installations : no copper wires
Easier modifications : changes via PC
Remote monitoring : Complex but powerful
Test engineer need to learn new way of testing
PC familiarity is a must
52

53. Any Questions?
53