scope:

This standard specifies ratings and service conditions, environmental performance, and testing requirements for devices with communications functions used with electric power apparatus. Environmental and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) immunity levels and type-tests simulating environments associated with electric apparatus are described. Acceptance criteria for evaluating device functionality are provided.

For devices used with electric power apparatus and with communications ports (optical fiber port, copper wired port [e.g., Ethernet, power over Ethernet, serial, carrier current communications interface], antenna port, etc.), where the device does not perform protection or control functions, testing of the communications functions is covered by IEEE Std 1613. Where the device performs protection or control functions and has communications ports, tests for all communications functions are covered by the IEEE C37.90 family of standards.

Purpose

The purpose of this standard is to define the environmental and EMC conditions required to establish a common and reproducible basis for designing and evaluating devices with communications functions used with electric power apparatus¹. This standard applies only to finished equipment or fully-assembled equipment in its intended use.

¹ For example, if Inter-Range Instrumentation Group timecode B (IRIG-B), powerline carrier, audio tone, Generic Object Oriented System Event (GOOSE), IEEE Std C37.94, Mirrored Bits, etc. are only being used to support a protection function, then the communication ports used by that supported functionality are covered by the IEEE Std C37.90 series. If these same protocols are only supporting non-protection functions, then the associated communication ports are covered by IEEE Std 1613 and not by C37.90. If these same protocols are being used to support both over the same communication port, that is why IEEE Std 1613 and the IEEE Std C37.90 series are being harmonized (same or similar).