ABB REF615 Modules | REF615 Feeder Protection Relay

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

ABB REF615 Series: Comprehensive Module Range and Technical Overview

The ABB REF615 is a dedicated feeder protection and control relay within ABB's Relion® 615 series, engineered for medium-voltage distribution networks in heavy industrial environments including chemical plants, nuclear facilities, oil refineries, and utility substations. Deployed globally across tens of thousands of installations, the REF615 provides overcurrent, earth fault, and arc flash protection with integrated control and measurement functions on a single hardware platform. Its IEC 61850 Edition 1 and Edition 2 compliance makes it a standard reference in modern digital substation architectures. The REF615 is available in multiple configuration variants (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H) to match specific protection scheme requirements, CT/VT input counts, and communication interface needs.

The Evolution of REF615 Architecture

The REF615 belongs to ABB's second-generation Relion® platform, succeeding the earlier SPAJ 140 C and SPAJ 141 C feeder protection relays from the SPACOM and SPAM series. The Relion® 615 series was introduced in the mid-2000s with a unified hardware architecture based on a 19-inch rack-mountable chassis, replacing discrete analog relay logic with a fully digital signal processing core.

Generation 1 (2006–2010): Initial REF615 variants supported ANSI protection functions 50/51, 50N/51N, 67, 67N with MODBUS RTU and IEC 60870-5-103 communication. Hardware was based on a single-board CPU with limited I/O expansion.

Generation 2 (2010–2016): Introduction of IEC 61850 Ed.1 GOOSE messaging, expanded binary I/O, and optional arc flash detection (ARFM) module. Firmware version 3.x introduced disturbance recorder and power quality measurement functions.

Generation 3 / Current (2016–present): IEC 61850 Ed.2 support, FMEA-compliant self-supervision, enhanced cybersecurity (role-based access control), and compatibility with ABB Ability™ MicroSCADA Pro and PCM600 protection and control management tool. Current production variants carry firmware 5.x.

Compatibility note: REF615 variants with firmware below 3.0 are not directly interchangeable with Ed.2 IEC 61850 systems without firmware upgrade or gateway mediation. Older SPACOM-series relays are not hardware-compatible with REF615 chassis.

REF615 Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

The following SKUs represent the principal REF615 configuration variants and associated accessories. Each variant is defined by its protection function set, I/O count, and communication interface.

REF615 A: Basic overcurrent and earth fault protection; 4BI/5BO; MODBUS RTU only. Entry-level feeder protection for simple radial networks.

REF615 B: Overcurrent, earth fault, and directional protection (ANSI 67/67N); 6BI/6BO; IEC 60870-5-103 + MODBUS RTU. Standard variant for looped MV networks.

REF615 C: Full protection suite including thermal overload (ANSI 49), negative sequence (46), and voltage protection (27/59); 8BI/8BO; IEC 61850 Ed.1. Widely deployed in industrial feeder applications.

REF615 D: Extended I/O variant; 12BI/9BO; IEC 61850 Ed.1 + MODBUS TCP. Designed for complex switching sequences and interlocking schemes.

REF615 E: Arc flash detection variant; integrates ARFM arc flash sensor inputs; IEC 61850 Ed.2. Mandatory in many European utility specifications post-2015.

REF615 F: High-impedance differential protection configuration; 8BI/8BO; dual Ethernet ports (HSR/PRP ring redundancy). Used in busbar and reactor protection schemes.

REF615 G: Autoreclosure (ANSI 79) enabled variant; 10BI/8BO; IEC 61850 Ed.2 + DNP3. Standard for overhead line feeders requiring automatic fault clearance.

REF615 H: Full-function variant with power quality measurement (harmonics up to 40th order), synchrophasor (PMU) output, and dual redundant power supply inputs. Utility-grade specification.

REF615 HCFNDANF1BNN1X: Specific order code for REF615 H with 100–240 V AC/DC auxiliary supply, fiber optic LC IEC 61850 port, and ANSI function set. Common in North American utility projects.

REF615 HCFNDANF1BNN1XA: Variant of above with additional analog output module (4–20 mA) for SCADA integration without protocol conversion.

REF615 HCFNDANF2BNN1X: Dual-redundant Ethernet (HSR) version of the H variant; used in IEC 61850 process bus architectures.

REF615 C ANSI: ANSI-standard function set (50/51/50N/51N/67/67N/46/49/27/59/81); UL/CSA listed. Primary variant for North American industrial and utility markets.

REF615 LHCFNDANF1BNN1X: Low-power analog input (LPAI) variant compatible with Rogowski coil and low-power voltage divider sensors. Eliminates conventional CT/VT requirements.

REF615 LHCFNDANF2BNN1X: LPAI + dual HSR Ethernet; designed for GIS (gas-insulated switchgear) installations with integrated sensor technology.

1MRS756379: REF615 technical manual (IEC version) — primary engineering reference document for protection setting calculations and IEC 61850 configuration.

1MRS757166: REF615 engineering manual for PCM600 — defines parameter import/export structure for ABB's protection configuration tool.

REF610: Predecessor single-function overcurrent relay; not compatible with REF615 chassis but frequently found alongside REF615 in mixed-generation switchgear panels.

REF620: Successor feeder protection relay in the Relion® 620 series; higher I/O density and native IEC 61850-9-2 process bus support. Recommended replacement for REF615 in new projects.

Sourcing Hard-to-Find & Obsolete REF615 Parts

The REF615 series entered its mature lifecycle phase approximately 2020–2022, with ABB progressively transitioning new project specifications toward the Relion® 620 and 650 series. However, the installed base of REF615 units in active service remains substantial, with typical relay service life of 15–25 years meaning many installations will require spare units and replacement modules through 2035 and beyond.

DriveKNMS maintains a dedicated inventory program for REF615 variants, including configuration codes that have been discontinued from ABB's standard production schedule. Our sourcing network covers:

• New-old-stock (NOS) REF615 units in original ABB packaging with full traceability documentation
• Tested and certified refurbished REF615 relays with firmware verification and calibration records
• Specific I/O expansion modules and communication interface cards for REF615 chassis
• Replacement HMI display panels and keypad assemblies for field-damaged units
• Firmware upgrade support from legacy versions (2.x, 3.x) to current 5.x where hardware permits

For end-of-life REF615 installations where direct replacement is not feasible, DriveKNMS provides cross-reference analysis to identify compatible Relion® 620 or third-party equivalents with equivalent ANSI/IEC function sets and identical terminal wiring configurations.

Quality Control for the REF615 Range

REF615 units processed through DriveKNMS undergo a structured verification protocol specific to the Relion® 615 hardware platform:

• Firmware version verification: Each unit is connected to ABB PCM600 or REF615 local HMI to confirm firmware version, configuration integrity, and absence of corrupted parameter sets.
• Protection function injection testing: Primary protection functions (50/51, 50N/51N, 67/67N) are tested using a three-phase relay test set (Omicron CMC or equivalent) to verify pickup values, time-delay curves, and reset characteristics against factory specifications.
• Binary I/O verification: All binary inputs and output relay contacts are individually exercised and verified for correct mapping to the internal logic matrix.
• Communication interface test: IEC 61850 GOOSE publishing and subscribing, MODBUS register map, and DNP3 data point mapping are verified using protocol analyzer tools.
• Backplane and power supply inspection: Internal visual inspection for capacitor aging, corrosion on backplane connectors, and power supply output voltage stability under load.
• Self-supervision output check: Watchdog relay and internal fault LED behavior verified against ABB technical manual specifications.

All test results are documented and supplied with each unit as a test certificate traceable to the specific serial number.