REF542plus's available communication protocols

Communication to upper level(i.e. DCS, SCADA) are much requested nowadays as people prefer to do monitoring, control, and parameterization remotely rather than in front of the switchgear panel.

REF542plus provides the below communication protocols to suit most(if not all), applications that require its services:

• SPA
• ABB LON
• Modbus RTU
• Modbus TCP
• IEC 60870-5-103

and the much sought after

• IEC 61850-8-1

Besides these IEC and industrial approved communication solutions, there is also one often untapped jewel of the REF542plus - its WEBREF interface.

Located at the Mainboard of the device(which means no extra communication module is needed), this web interface provides monitoring and even control functionalities to the REF542plus. By simply hooking up all the REF542plus in a substation to a switch and a simple PC with a web browser, you can easily navigate through all the ready-made functions(again, no SCADA engineering required, thus saving you money) effortlessly.

Maybe more about WEBREF in future posts.

What is Feeder Terminal REF542plus?

REF542plus is a medium-voltage protection relay from ABB which combines the functionalities of:

• Measurement
• Monitoring
• Protection
• Control
• Communication
• Self diagnostics

into a single package.

Although parked under the Medium Voltage Power Products division of ABB, this device is actually also suitable to be used for high-voltage, low-voltage, and in some special cases, specifically just as a logic controller or a communication to SCADA device because of its exceptional flexibility and functionalities.