A multi-function protection and control relay designed using multiple micro-controllers

The authors describe a new multi-function protection and control relay designed using multiple microcontrollers. Unlike most processor based relays, where each operating function is implemented as a software module in a single microprocessor, the new relay shares the software between all the microcontrollers. The multi-function protection and control relay incorporates comprehensive hardware and software self monitoring with diagnostics, time tagged fault and event recording and a man machine interface that can be accessed locally via the front panel or remotely via a serial interface