ABB REF615C_E HCFFAEAGANB2BAA11E – Feeder Protection & Control Relay for Medium-Voltage Distribution

The ABB REF615C_E is part of the Relion 615 series, purpose-built for protection and control of MV distribution feeders in utility and industrial networks. From my experience, this model typically combines fast and selective overcurrent/earth-fault protection with breaker control, autoreclose, and modern substation communications. You might notice that it’s designed to drop straight into existing panels with minimal wiring changes, which helps a lot during retrofit shutdowns.

Company’s Order Placement Process and Guarantees

• Warranty: 365 days
• Delivery: 1 week if in stock; no more than 1 month at the latest
• Payment: 50% advance payment, full payment before delivery
• Express Options: FedEx, UPS, DHL

Key Features

• Feeder protection functions – Time/instantaneous phase overcurrent (50/51), earth-fault protection (50N/51N), negative-sequence protection, and thermal overload to safeguard radial feeders.
• Breaker control & autoreclose – Integrated CB control, synch-check (variant dependent), and autoreclose functions to shorten outage times on transient faults.
• Advanced logic and programmability – IEC 61131-style logic blocks allow tailoring of schemes without auxiliary relays; handy for interlocks and special trip conditions.
• Event, disturbance and fault records – High-resolution oscillography and SOE logs make fault analysis faster and reduce guesswork after trips.
• Modern communications – Typically supports IEC 61850 (incl. GOOSE); many variants also offer Modbus, DNP3, or IEC 60870-5-103 to fit mixed-protocol substations.
• User-friendly HMI – Clear front-panel display with LED indications and function keys; operators usually pick it up quickly during commissioning.
• Arc-flash mitigation (optional) – Supports light detection inputs in many configurations to trip faster on internal arc conditions.
• Flexible CT/VT inputs – 1 A/5 A current inputs and standard MV voltage inputs; makes replacement in existing switchgear straightforward.
• Quality and environmental robustness – Designed for MV utility conditions with wide temperature range and EMC immunity suitable for harsh substations.

Technical Specifications

Application Fields

The REF615C_E is typically deployed on radial MV feeders in:

• Utilities: primary/secondary substations, ring-main units, overhead line feeders with autoreclose
• Industrial plants: metals, mining, oil & gas, chemicals, cement, and large manufacturing feeders
• Data centers and campuses: main-tie-main and sectionalized MV distribution
• Renewables and IPPs: collector feeders and intertie protection where IEC 61850 integration is desired

A common scenario we hear: a plant upgraded to the REF615 and cut fault-finding time by half thanks to clear disturbance records and meaningful event logs. It seems to be one of those upgrades that saves hours during the first unplanned outage.

Advantages & Value

• Reliability that reduces nuisance trips – Stable algorithms and proper filtering help keep operations smooth during switching and inrush.
• Easy retrofit – Flexible CT/VT inputs and panel cut-out options shorten outage windows for replacements.
• Wide protocol support – IEC 61850 and legacy protocols allow you to keep existing SCADA while planning future upgrades.
• Lifecycle support – Firmware tools, spare modules, and ABB’s service base support long-term asset management.
• Total cost control – Faster commissioning and fewer external aux relays often translate to lower installed cost.

Installation & Maintenance

• Panel/cabinet – Install in a clean, ventilated MV protection cubicle. Maintain adequate front clearance for HMI access and rear clearance for wiring.
• Wiring practices – Use shielded twisted pairs for low‑level signals; segregate CT/VT wiring from Ethernet; verify CT polarity and VT ratios before energization.
• Grounding – Bond the relay and panel grounds at a single point to minimize EMC issues; follow utility grounding practices.
• Commissioning – Secondary injection for 50/51/50N/51N, check CB command outputs, validate scheme logic and interlocks, and confirm SCADA mapping.
• Routine maintenance – Back up settings after each change, review event/fault logs quarterly, clean front panel, and update firmware when ABB releases tested packages.
• Accessories (commonly used) – ABB Combitest test switches (e.g., RTXP 24) for safe secondary injection; front USB cable for configuration; appropriate Ethernet patching for IEC 61850 networks.

Quality & Certifications

• CE marked; designed to meet relevant IEC protection and EMC standards for MV substations
• RoHS compliant manufacturing; ISO 9001 quality systems at factory level
• UL/cUL availability for many 615 variants (confirm against the exact order code)
• Manufacturer’s warranty applies; our supply warranty coverage: 365 days

One thing I appreciate is how the REF615C_E balances modern IEC 61850 features with practical relay engineering. If you share the exact option string requirements (that HCFFAEAGANB2BAA11E code defines I/O and protocol details), we can verify the precise auxiliary supply, I/O counts, and communication profile before shipping.