Protection and control
Protection and control panels
Panels that house the relays, control devices, metering and marshalling for a substation or switchboard, built against the scheme drawings.
At a glance
- Built to
- the scheme drawingsthe drawings are the specification
- Contents
- relays, control, metering, marshalling
- Low voltage assembly standard
- IEC 61439 serieswhere the panel is a low voltage assembly
- Testing
- factory tests against the schemewitnessed where the specification requires
A protection and control panel is defined by its drawings. The schematic, the wiring diagrams and the equipment list are the specification, and a quotation is only as good as the drawings it is priced against.
The panels usually sit in a substation control room or beside the switchgear, and they connect the relays to the instrument transformers and breakers, to the station supply and to the control system. Factory testing against the scheme, before the panel ships, is where most errors are cheapest to find.
What gets specified
| Parameter | Typical options | What decides it |
|---|---|---|
| Scheme drawings | Schematics, wiring diagrams, equipment list | The designer |
| Devices | Relays, meters, control switches, indicators | The scheme |
| Enclosure | Dimensions, IP rating, access front or rear | The room and the owner's standard |
| Auxiliary supply | DC and AC distribution within the panel | The station supply |
| Marshalling | Terminal arrangement and cable entry | The site cabling |
| Testing | Factory tests and witnessing | The specification |
Typical options are the ones buyers most often specify. They are not a list of what is available, which is confirmed per enquiry.
Applicable standards
| Standard | What it covers |
|---|---|
| IEC 61439-1 and IEC 61439-2 | Low voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies |
| IEC 60255-1 | Measuring relays and protection equipment, for the relays within |
| IEC 60529 | Degrees of protection provided by enclosures |
The standard that applies is set by the specification and the destination market. Editions change, so the edition cited in a specification is confirmed in the quotation.
Documents normally requested
| Document | What it evidences |
|---|---|
| Technical datasheet | Ratings, functions and the variant offered |
| Type test report or certificate | The design has passed the tests of its standard |
| Dimensional drawing | Mounting, cut out and connection positions |
| Wiring or connection diagram | Terminals, auxiliary supply and communication |
| Settings and configuration files | Where a device is supplied preconfigured |
| Manual | Installation, commissioning and operation |
Where a device replaces an existing one, the nameplate, model and firmware of the existing device are the most useful documents to send.
What we need to quote accurately
| 01 | Scheme drawings, or the single line diagram and a description of the functions |
| 02 | Equipment list, or the relay and device preferences |
| 03 | Enclosure dimensions, IP rating and access arrangement |
| 04 | Auxiliary supply voltages |
| 05 | Testing and witnessing requirements |
| 06 | Quantity, destination and required delivery date |
Delivery and logistics
Devices are lighter to move than transformers and switchboards, but compatibility is the harder part of the delivery. A replacement breaker has to fit the existing panel, a relay has to fit the cut out and the scheme, and a firmware or communication mismatch can make a correct device unusable on the day.
Delivery dates are stated in each quotation for the specific item offered. We do not publish a general lead time.
Related
Request a quote for this equipment
Send the rating, the voltage and the destination, or submit the specification, drawing or nameplate. Anything missing is raised before it reaches a supplier.