Communication Networks
OPTIF for FOX515/512
IEEE C37.94 communication interface
One of the most important applications used by any power
utility is protection of high voltage power lines. Protection
relays, which provide the protection functionality for power
lines, need to exchange information in order to ensure correct
operation. The utility's captive communications network is
normally used to provide reliable communications channels
for protection applications. Such communications channels
demand highest availability and performance figures, espe-
cially for differential protection applications which require
very low and symmetrical end-to-end delay times.
Transmitting protection relay data channels via communication
network instead of direct relay connection using dedicated fibres
has the big advantage of complete supervision of the data chan-
nel and the possibility for redundant channel routing. Beside this
it also saves fibres, which are valuable assets. Supervision of the
data channel and redundant channel routing allow to significantly
increase the availability of protection applications.
The substation environment is usually characterized by a high level
of electromagnetic fields caused by high voltages and currents
in power lines. Specially during fault conditions the same can
rise significantly and disturb communications channels based on
copper wires. So it is recommended to use a complete optical
interconnection from relay to relay via fibre optical multiplex equip-
ment using the IEEE C37.94 protocol.
The IEEE C37.94 standard defines the communication of protec-
tion equipment (protections relays) with communications equip-
ment inside a substation using optical fibers. Accordingly no
additional extern converters are required anymore. This standard
is already implemented by many protection relay manufactur-
ers around the world. ABB’s latest relay series REx670 and the
teleprotection equipment NSD570 support this standard as well.
The OPTIF module (OPtical Teleprotection InterFace) extends the
FOX515/512 platform with IEEE C37.94 interfaces while ensuring
compatibility with the traditional ABB SFC protocol used by legacy
ABB protection relays.
FOX515 multi-service multiplexer

Applications with OPTIF Main features

FOX515 collects all utility specific signals and transmits the
same through Wide Area Networks (WAN) using fibre optical
or copper interfaces. Therefore the FOX515 provides standard
data interfaces and utility specific interfaces such as the
OPTIF module which provides up to four ports for differential
protection signal transmission.
OPTIF architecture
The OPTIF is part of a large complement of interface modules
which can be plugged into a FOX515 shelf. Like all FOX515
modules OPTIF is
– powered from the FOX515 shelf
– configured by UCST and
– supervised by FOXMAN management system
4 optical ports equipped with SFPs on the front allow indi-
vidual configuration to support either
– ANSI/IEEE C37.94 standard or
– ABB’s traditional SFC protocol
Additionally an Ethernet port is provided, compatible with
DATAx and ETER1/LAWA4 module
Symmetric transmission delay
Differential protection relays usually calculate the delay times of the
data channel by a round trip delay measurement. Therefore asym-
metrical delay times can not be detected and lead to the possibility
of wrong trips.
OPTIF solves this problem by ensuring the same data routing
for the transmit and receive paths. In case of redundant channel
configuration, OPTIF ensures symmetrical protection switching for
differential protection data channels. This ensures equal delay
times on transmit and receive paths under all circumstances
and therefore avoids the possibility for false tripping of the
protection relay due to asymmetrical delay times.
– Fully supporting ANSI/IEEE C37.94 (64 – 768 kbit/s pay load)
– 4 ports individually configurable for:
– IEEE C37.94 on 850 nm multi mode fiber
– ABB’s proprietary SFC protocol on 1,310 nm single-mode
fiber
– All 4 optical ports using SFPs, supporting multimode and
single-mode fibers depending on selected type of interface
– 1 Ethernet port configurable as
– electrical port 10/100 BaseT (RJ45), or
– optical port when equipped with SFP
– Transmission delay time:
Fully symmetrical bidirectional communication on normal
operation and also in protected mode (working and protect-
ing path)
– Fully integrated in FOX515/512 platform (1 mechanical slot)
For connections based on ABB’s SFC protocol, SFPs for
single-mode fibers on 1,310 nm are required. This solu-
tion has been successfully implemented for many years in
substations around the world together with ABB’s protection
relays REL316, REL551, REL561 or teleprotection equipment
NSD570 (G1LO-interface).
In addition to these four optical dual-use ports, one additional
port is added on the module operating as an Ethernet port
with optical or electrical interface:
– 10/100 BaseT (RJ45), electrical port or optical port when
equipped with a suitable SFP
Management System
The FOX515 with a variety of services are managed centrally
by UCST/FOXMAN management system. Utilities save cost
and accelerate the circuit provisioning process with only one
element manager for all service types.

HV power line

FOX515 with OPTIF module FOX515 with OPTIF module

Utility communication
e.g. STM-1 or STM-4

4x 4x
Voice Voice

IEEE Data Data IEEE

RED
RED C37.94 C37.94 RED

Substation "A" Substation "B"

All-optical interconnection

2 | OPTIF for FOX515/512

Technical data
General
Designed for
Number of ports
Optical ports
Operation mode
Module width
Environmental conditions
Configuration tool
Maintenance
Typical 1+1 switchover
time
Standard compliance
MTTF
Interfaces
Interface type
Max port number
Type of port (Connector)
Framing complying to
Data transmission
Transmission bit rate
Signal bit rate
Optical line coding
SFP transceivers
The optical parameters are subject to the selected SFP transceiver module. The following table shows the characteristics of the SFP
transceiver modules approved for these applications:
Optical parameters
Application example
Wavelength
Fiber type
Optical output power (Tx)
Max allowed optical input power
Optical power budget, min
Receiver sensitivity
Maximum distance
(depending on total link attenuation)
FOX515/512, P-BUS access
Maximum 4 ports per OPTIF
module
All optical ports require SFP for:
– 850 nm (multimode) or
– 1,310 nm (single-mode)
IEEE C37.94 or ABB TPE
1 mechanical slot in FOX515
According to FOX515 specification
UCST release R8B SP02 or higher
– Local and remote test loops
available
– Performance monitoring
≤ 25 ms
IEEE C37.94
> 60 years
IEEE C37.94 ABB type Ethernet
4 4 1
Optical SFP (LC-PC) Optical SFP (LC-PC) Electrical RJ45 or optical SFP
ANSI/IEEE C37.94 ABB SFC protocol 10/100 BaseT or 100 Base-FX
N x 64 kbit/s (N = 1 ... 12)
N x 64 kbit/s (N = 1 ... 3) N x 64 kbit/s (N = 1 ... 30)
64 kbits/s – 768 kbit/s or
[Ch1, Ch2, RemAlm] or 2,048 kbit/s
2,048 kbit/s transparent
2,048 kbit/s optical 4,096 kbit/s optical ---
2,048 kbit/s (electrical) 2,048 kbit/s (electrical) ---
NRZ MCMI ---
IEEE C37.94 compliant ABB SFC protocol
RED670 REL316, REL551, REL561
NSD570/G1LOa NSD570/G1LO
850 nm 1,310 nm
Multimode Single-mode
-19 - 11 dBm (62.5μm)
-15 ... -8 dBm
-23 - 9 dBm (50μm)
-3 dBm -3 dBm
13 dBm (62.5μm)
19 dB
11 dBm (50μm)
-32 dBm -34 dBm
2 km 30 ... 50 km
OPTIF for FOX515/512 | 3
OPTIF ordering information

Type Despription Order number

OPTIF Optical Teleprotection Interface 1KHW001797R0001
SFP SFP Transceiver 850 nm, multimode 1KHW001871R0005

© ABB Switzerland Ltd. May 2015 The right to modifications or deviations due to technical progress is reserved.
SFP SFP Transceiver 1310 nm, single-mode 1KHW001872R0001*
Optical cables: multimode
V9YE Duplex LC to ST, outside cabinet, 10 m 1KHW027541R0100
V9YF Duplex LC to LC cable, outside cabinet, 10 m 1KHW027542R0100
V9YG Duplex LC to LC cable, inside cabinet, 2 m 1KHW027543R0020
Optical cable: single-mode
V9KZ Duplex LC - FC/PC cable, outside cabinet, 10 m 1KHW027499R0100
V9KX Duplex LC - LC cable, outside cabinet, 10 m 1KHW027497R0100
V9KW Duplex LC - FC/PC cable, inside cabinet, 2 m 1KHW027496R0020
V9KU Duplex LC - LC cable, inside cabinet, 2 m 1KHW027494R0020
Electric cables: ethernet

1KHA - 001 122 - SEN 1000 - 03.15 - Printed in Switzerland

LAN_1.005 Ethernet 1:1 cable, 3 m 1KHW027456R0030
LAN_X.006 Ethernet crossover cable, 3 m 1KHW027457R0030
* SFP Transceiver modules are also suited for 100 Base-FX Ethernet applications.
Other lengths available on request.

3rd party Fiber pair Max. 4 ports

RED 670 (up to 2 km)

ABB SFC IEEE C37.94

Optical
connector SFP with
SDH network
NSD570 LC-connector

REL316 Patch
REL551 panel
REL561 Optical
connector
OPTIF FOX515
FOX6Plus

Relay cabinet Telecom cabinet

Substation
Substation relay & telecom cabinet

For more information please contact: List of abbreviations

MCMI Modified Code Mark Inversion

ABB Switzerland Ltd.
Power Systems NRZ Non Return to Zero
Bruggerstrasse 72 SFC Secure Frame Concept
5400 Baden, Switzerland SFP Small Form Pluggable
Phone: +41 58 585 77 44
UCST Configuration Toll for
Fax: +41 58 585 55 77
FOX515/512
E-Mail: communication.networks@ch.abb.com

www.abb.com/communicationnetworks