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Pick-up Current, Plug Setting Topics

Multiplier (PSM) and Time Setting Power System

Multiplier (TSM)
Power System Protection
Electrical Machines
DC Machine
Measurement and
Instrumentation

Plug Setting Multiplier and Time Setting Multiplier are used AC Circuit

only for Electromechanical Relays. These terms or Digital Electronics

parameters are not so used in Numerical Relays but they are Electrical Drives

conceptually used and incorporated in Numerical Relays too Power Electronics

but the way of their implementation is quite different than EM Theory

that of Electromechanical Relays. In this post we will focus

on the concept and implementation of Plug Setting
Multiplier and Time Setting Multiplier for Electromechanical
Relays.

As we know that an Electromechanical Relay has a coil

which when energized, operates the Relay to have contact
changeover. But there shall be some minimum current which
when flows through the Relay coil, produces enough
magnetic force to pull the lever to make contact change
over. Isn’t it? Yes, if you ever get a chance to see Recent Posts
electromechanical relay, you will observe that there is a
Single Phase Half Wave
flapper kind of thing which is attached with the lever. The
Controlled Rectifier
lever in turn is attached with contacts. Thus when a
Phase Control of SCR –
specified current flows through the relay coil, then only it will
Definition, Explanation and
produce enough magnetic pull to attract the flapper and
Advantage
lever to operate the Relay. A simple picture of relay
Firing Angle of SCR Explained
demonstrating its construction and operation is shown in
figure below.
 Natural or Line Commutation-
Principle with Circuit Diagram
Best Book for Power
Electronics

This minimum current in the Relay coil at which Relay starts

to operate is called Pick-up Current. If the current through
the Relay coil is less than the pick-up value then Relay won’t Subscribe to our mailing list
operate. On contrary, if the current through the Relay coil is and get interesting stuff
more than the Pick-up current, Relay will operate. In and updates to your email
industries, we normally perform Relay Pick-up and Drop-off inbox.
Test to check the healthiness of relays.

Hope your concept of Pick-up current of Relay is clear now. Your Email Please

Now we will move on to Current Setting of

electromechanical relays. I consent to my
submitted data being
Current Setting of Electromechanical Relays: Current collected via this form*
Setting of relay is nothing but adjusting its pick-up value.
Suppose we are using a CT of ratio 1000/1 A and the pick-
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up current needs to be set at 1.2 A. Then we will simply put
the plug provided on relay coil to 120% or 1.2. Thus we can
we respect your privacy and
say that
take protecting it seriously

 
Pick-up current = Plug Position x Rated CT Secondary
Current.
The plug or tapping is provided on the Relay Coil so that
changing the position of Plug changes the number of turns
of the relay coil as shown in figure below.

 
 As shown in figure above, the plug is kept at 5. This means
that pick-up current of relay will be 5 times of rated CT
Secondary current. Likewise, if we put the plug at 8.75 then
pick-up current of relay will be 8.75 times of the rated CT
Secondary current.
 

Plug Setting Multiplier (PSM): Plug Setting Multiplier (PSM)

is defined as the ratio of fault current to the pick-up current
of the relay. Thus,

PSM = Fault Current / Pick-up Current

         = Fault Current / (Plug Position x Rated CT Secondary

Current)

Suppose we are using CT of 100/1 A, a fault current of, say

5000 A is flowing through the network protected by the
relay.

Fault current in CT secondary = (5000×1) / 100 = 50 A

Assume that Current Setting or the position of plug is at 5

then

PSM = 50 / (1×5) =10

It shall be noted here that we shall not bother about PSM for
instantaneous relay rather we shall consider PSM for relays
having characteristics of Inverse Time, Very Inverse Time
etc.

For Detail on Relay Characteristics read  Over Current Relay

and Its Characteristics

Time Setting Multiplier (TSM): Again it is worthwhile to

mention that we shall not bother about TSM for
instantaneous relay rather we shall consider TSM for relays
having characteristics of Inverse Time, Very InverseTime
etc.

A Relay is generally provided with control to adjust the time

of operation of the Relay. This adjustment is known as Time
Setting Multiplier or TSM. Normally a Time Setting Dial is
provided which is calibrated from 0 to 1 s in step of 0.05 s.
For practical exposure, let us consider a relay as shown in
figure below. Please Zoom the image to clearly view every
part of the Relay for better understanding.

As can be seen from the figure, there is a Time Setting Dial

which is rotated to set the time of operation of the relay.
Lets say we want to set the time on Time Setting Dial to 0.5
s, then we need to rotate the dial till 0.5 s on the dial
matches with the fixed mark provided. So in this case, our
TSM is 0.5.

How to find the time of operation of Relay?

Well, assume that plug is set at 5 and TSM at 0.5 s. For

finding the actual time of operation of relay, we need to refer
the Graph between the Operating Time and PSM. This graph
is generally provided on the Relay cover itself. Let us
consider a graph between Operating Time and PSM as
shown below.

For our case, PSM = 10 (Please see the calculation and case
considered above in our discussion of PSM) and TSM = 0.5
s.

From the Graph, the time of operation of Relay for PSM = 10

is 3 s.

Therefore,

Actual Time of Operation of Relay = 3s x TSM

                                                       = 3 x0.5 s =1.5 s

Thus we can say that actual time of operation of Relay is

equal to the time obtained from the PSM & Operating Time
Graph multiplied by TSM.

Hope your concept of Pick-up current, PSM and TSM is

clear. I tried to show you by my practical experience. If still
you have any doubt feel free to write in comment box. Thank
you!

 November 20, 2016  admin  Power System Protection  17 Comments

«Why Number of Stator and Rotor

Poles must be Equal for Production
of Electromagnetic Torque?

Why DC Series Motor has High Starting Torque?»

17 Thoughts On “Pick-Up Current, Plug

Setting Multiplier (PSM) And Time Setting
Multiplier (TSM)”

— christian erick

says:
December 14, 2016 at 8:37 pm

in manual computation, how to find the pick up current?

 Reply

— Suryakant

says:
September 8, 2018 at 12:52 am

Suppose ct ratio is 2000/5 and current setting is 1,and current

injected in relay is 6 amps then what is psm if range of current
setting given is 0.75 to 2 amp
  Reply

1. — admin

says:
September 8, 2018 at 9:21 am

Since Plug Setting Multiplier is ratio of Fault Current

to relay setting, therefore the PSM will be equal to
(6/1) i.e. 6. Here I am assuming fault current in
terms of CT secondary to be 6 A i.e. 2400 A in terms
of primary and relay setting equal to 1 A in terms of
secondary i.e. 2000 A in terms of primary.

— Peter

says:
September 11, 2018 at 3:07 pm

for a CT: 400/5A, CDG relay or IDMT relay with plug setting of 5A.
what can be my time setting multiplier? please show calculations.

 Reply

1. — admin

says:
September 11, 2018 at 7:46 pm

The TMS setting basically depends on the relay

coordination. In case of CDG relay, you can keep
TMS setting anywhere in between 0 to 1 sec
depending upon how fast you want relay to operate.
In case, you keep TMS equal to 0.5 sec, then relay
operating time will be as per the PSM Versus
Operating time Graph. Hope it help. If you still need
any help, please revert. Thank you!

— Mudasir

says:
October 23, 2018 at 9:53 pm

great explanation

 Reply

— raj

says:
October 26, 2018 at 12:23 pm

fault current may not be same for all the times right.so how can u
change the setting immediately

 Reply

1. — admin

says:
October 26, 2018 at 1:21 pm

You are correct, fault current may not be same all

the time. But we don’t need to change the setting.
We adopt one IDMT curve as per IEC and based on
the curve the relay operating time will be governed
on the basis of PSM. Did you get it or shall I further
clarify?

2. — raj

says:
October 26, 2018 at 2:04 pm

yeah please explain briefly

— raj

says:
November 16, 2018 at 3:30 pm

if ct ratio is not mentioned but maximum and minimum fault current

at the bus is mentioned also plug setting is mentioned .then how to
compute to compute psm
  Reply

— Rejoe koshy

says:
December 1, 2018 at 2:01 pm

Such a lucid and good explanation.Thank you so much for the

information!!!

 Reply

— Shanmugapriyan

says:
December 16, 2018 at 2:02 pm

Sir,
I have one doubt,which one first operate Tsm or Psm ..as per u r
explanation Tsm is first operate then what is need of Psm…?

 Reply

1. — admin

says:
December 16, 2018 at 2:47 pm

TSM is time setting multiplier which comes into role

only when pick-up value is reached. Practically PSM
tell us about the magnitude of fault. The more the
value of fault current, the more will be the PSM and
hence the relay should clear the fault more quickly.
Thus the time of operation of relay should be
dependent on PSM. Actually, there is a curve
between PSM and TSM which determines the relay
actuation time. Did you get it? Please revert if you
need further clarification.

— Shiva
 says:
December 17, 2018 at 11:53 am

Any mathematical relation to find actual repay operating time with

known parameters TMS and PSM

 Reply

1. — admin

says:
December 17, 2018 at 1:44 pm

Yes, the formula can be found at Over Current Relay

and Its Characteristics

— MUNEER

says:
January 21, 2019 at 12:21 am

I think the PSM in case of 250A fault current with CTR 100/5 should
be 2.5 not 10. Because plug setting of 5 means 100‰

 Reply

1. — admin

says:
January 23, 2019 at 8:40 am

It is plug setting not setting in ampere.

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