Experiment no.

5 Power system

Experiment no. 5
Overcurrent and undercurrent Relay
Objective:
To understand the Overcurrent and undercurrent Relay
Apparatus:
 3 Phase Power Suppply
 Overcurrent and undercurrent Relay
 Ampere Meter
 Line Model
 Variable R,L &C Load
Theory:
Over Current Relay:
In an over current relay or o/c relay the actuating quantity is only current. There is
only one current operated element in the relay, no voltage coil etc. are required to construct
this protective relay.
Under current Relay:
A relay designed to operate when its coil current falls below a predetermined value.
Working Principle:
In an over current relay, there would be essentially a current coil. When normal
current flows through this coil, the magnetic effect generated by the coil is not sufficient to
move the moving element of the relay, as in this condition the restraining force is greater than
deflecting force. But when the current through the coil increased, the magnetic effect
increases, and after certain level of current, the deflecting force generated by the magnetic
effect of the coil, crosses the restraining force, as a result, the moving element starts moving
to change the contact position in the relay.
Although there are different types of over current relays but basic working principle of
over current relay is more or less same for all.
Types of Over Current Relay:
Depending upon time of operation, there are various types of Over Current relays, such as,
1. Instantaneous over current relay.
2. Definite time over current relay.
3. Inverse time over current relay.
Instantaneous Over Current Relay:
Construction and working principle of instantaneous over current relay quite simple. ere
generally a magnetic core is wound by current coil. A piece of iron is so fitted by hinge
support and restraining spring in the relay, that when there is not sufficient current in the coil,
the NO contacts remain open. When current in the coil crosses a present value, the attractive
force becomes sufficient to pull the iron piece towards the magnetic core and consequently
the no contacts are closed.
The preset value of current in the relay coil is referred as pick up setting current. This relay is
referred as instantaneous over current relay, as ideally, the relay operates as soon as the
current in the coil gets higher than pick up setting current. There is no intentional time delay
applied. But there is always an inherent time delay which can not be avoided practically. In
practice the operating time of an instantaneous relay is of the order of a few milliseconds.
Definite Time Over Current Relay:
This relay is created by applying intentional time delay after crossing pick up value of the
current. A definite time over current relay can be adjusted to issue a trip output at definite

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Experiment no. 5 Power system

amount of time after it picks up. Thus, it has a time setting adjustment and pick up
adjustment.
Inverse Time Over Current Relay:
Inverse time is a natural character of any
induction type rotating device. This means the
speed of rotation of rotating art of the device is
faster if input current is increased. In other
words, time of operation inversely varies with
input current. This natural characteristic of
electromechanical induction disc relay in very
suitable for over current protection. This is
because, in this relay, if fault is more severe, it
would be cleared more faster. Although time
inverse characteristic is inherent to
electromechanical induction disc relay, but the
same characteristic can be achieved in
microprocessor based relay also by proper
programming.
Figure 5.1: Overcurrent /undercurrent Relay

Procedure:

 I connected the circuit according to the circuit diagram.

 Then I turned on the power supply.
 I adjust for the over current then I increased the load & observed the relay.
 I repeat again and again for different settings of relay for different adjustment factors.
 Then I adjusted the relay for under current I repeat the same procedure.

Figure 5.2: Circuit Diagram of Overcurrent /undercurrent Relay

Observation table 5.1:

Sr.no Operation Adjustment factor Observed Tripping Calculated Tripping

current(A) current(A)
1 Overcurrent 20% 0.81 0.5
2 Overcurrent 50% 1.4 1.25

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3 Undercurrent 20% 1.12 0.5

4 Undercurrent 50% 1.83 1.25
Conclusion:
There must be some situation when the circuit breaker should not trip even a faulty current
passes through its power constants. To overcome this situation we use relay with tripping
circuit so that circuit breaker can easily trip during tripping the current is either maximum or
minimum which is adjust by relay.
Questions:
Q#1: Differentiate between inverse time over current relay and definite time for
overcurrent Relay?
Ans: The difference between inverse time, definite time, and instantaneous relays:

The time-current characteristic curve is different for inverse time, definite time, and
instantaneous relays. You can use combinations of curve types to achieve the design
requirements. I commonly use inverse-time, definite-time, and instantaneous elements, all on
the same relay.

 Inverse time overcurrent relays: Slow to trip

at low currents. Faster to trip at high fault
currents. Used to co-ordinate over load
protection, which may have a high starting
current. Generally the most sensitive (lowest
amps pickup), and slowest to operate.
 Definite time relays: used to co-ordinate over
other definite time, or instantaneous protection.
Generally less sensitive (higher pickup) to
prevent operating for load inrush. Generally
faster operating time.
 Instantaneous relays: Used when co-
ordination is not required. Usually the least
sensitive of all relays, as the relay must not
operate for any kind of inrush, or operate before
any downstream relay.

Q#2:Describe the phenomena of inrush current and its impact on the setting of
overcurrent relay?
Ans: Inrush current, input surge current, or switch-on surge is the maximal instantaneous
input current drawn by an electrical device when first turned on. Alternating-current electric
motors and transformers may draw several times their normal full-load current when first
energized, for a few cycles of the input waveform. Power converters also often have inrush
currents much higher than their steady-state currents, due to the charging current of the
input capacitance. The selection of overcurrent-protection devices such as fuses and circuit
breakers is made more complicated when high inrush currents must be tolerated. The

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overcurrent protection must react quickly to overload or short-circuit faults but must not
interrupt the circuit when the (usually harmless) inrush current flows.
Q#3: Describe the different factor that effect the in rush current of the motor?
Ans: inrush current has a peak current value, the term “Inrush Current” is commonly used
to describe the current that is required to energize an AC powered device or product when
first applying voltage and power to it.  This is especially true for inductive loads such as
transformers, Inductors and electric motors. It also applies to AC/DC power supplies that
use a simple rectifier/capacitor input stage.  These initial currents can surge and be quite a
bit higher than the normal operating current or what is called “steady state” current. An
example of an electric motor inrush current is shown in Figure 1.  It shows the peak
current for the first half cycle as being close to 30 amps and then decaying over
subsequent half cycles
as the motor
spools up.

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