The ABB SPAJ 160 C-AA REV-A is a numerical capacitor protection relay from ABB’s SPACOM product family, specifically designed to safeguard capacitor banks in medium-voltage power distribution systems against overloads, imbalances, and faults. Engineered for utility substations, industrial plants, and renewable energy installations, this relay provides comprehensive monitoring and protection through multiple configurable stages, including one/two/three-phase overload alarms with definite or inverse time characteristics, phase unbalance detection, and undercurrent supervision for capacitor disconnection events. Its compact, draw-out case design facilitates easy panel mounting and maintenance, while continuous self-supervision of hardware and software ensures high reliability. The relay integrates numerical display for real-time measured values, setting parameters, and event logs, with serial fiber-optic SPA bus connectivity for integration into ABB’s Panorama SCADA and distribution automation systems. REV-A denotes the initial hardware revision with optimized firmware for 50 Hz systems and wide-range auxiliary supply, making it a proven solution for ungrounded or delta-connected capacitor banks where harmonic distortion and ferroresonance pose risks.
Product Parameters
SPAJ 160 C-AA REV-A features three-phase current inputs rated at 1 A or 5 A nominal (In), with thermal withstand of 4 A/20 A continuous and 100 A/500 A for 1 second, plus dynamic half-wave peak of 250 A/750 A. Auxiliary voltage (Uaux) spans 80-265 V AC/DC for the standard module (SPTU 240R2), with optional 18-80 V DC (SPTU 48R2); power consumption is ~4 W quiescent / ~6 W operating. Overload stage Ib> offers 0.30-1.50 × In pickup (definite time <80 ms start, ANSI inverse with k=0.2-2.0 multiplier), while Ia> alarms at 80-120% Ib> with 0.5-100 s delay. Phase unbalance ∆I1> (1.0-100% ∆In, 1.0-300 s) and ∆I2> (2.0-80.0% ∆In, inverse time) include compensation (∆Ics 0-20% In) for natural imbalances. Undercurrent I< (0.10-0.70 × In, 1.0-100 s operate, 0.5-100 min reconnection inhibit). Reset ratios exceed 0.90-0.95, with ±2-3% accuracy or ±75 ms timing precision. Output relays (5 A continuous, 30 A make/0.5 s) handle trip, signal, and self-supervision; external blocking inputs accept 18-265 V DC/AC at 2 mA. Dimensions are 253 mm H x 205 mm W x 172 mm D (~3.5 kg), with IP54 front panel protection. Environmental range covers -10°C to +55°C service, -40°C to +70°C transport, <95% RH at +40°C, and ESD/fast transient immunity to 6-8 kV.
Datasheet Overview
Datasheet technical data details input circuits with <100/20 mΩ impedance, drop-off/pick-up ratios >0.95, and operation accuracy ±3% In or better. Signalling contacts (terminals 65-66, 70-72, etc.) rate 250 V AC/DC at 5 A carry/30 A make, with binary inputs on 10-11 for blocking. Serial port (Rx/Tx) enables SPA-ZC 17 fiber-optic bus for remote HMI/PC access, supporting parameterization, event reading (up to 250 disturbances), and value storage. Block diagram shows L1/L2/L3 CT inputs feeding microprocessor-based protection logic, with IRF enable, trip, and reconnection controls. Mechanical assembly includes draw-out case fixed by four screws, power supply module (flyback DC/DC converter yielding +24 V/±12 V/+8 V stabilized rails), and measuring relay module SPCJ 4D40. EMC tests per IEC 60255-22 comply with 6 kV contact/8 kV air ESD, 4 kV power/2 kV I/O fast transients. Continuous self-supervision flags relay fail via dedicated output, with CE marking for EMC directive. Configuration switches program relay matrix and operational schemes for various bank configurations (double-star, H-bridge, etc.), including unbalance compensation and reconnection logic.
Origin
ABB produces the SPAJ 160 C-AA REV-A at its relay manufacturing center in Finland, where SPACOM series benefits from specialized numerical protection engineering under European quality standards.
Related News
In Q2 2025, utilities across U.S. grids under President Trump’s infrastructure renewal retrofitted SPAJ 160 C relays into capacitor banks for renewables integration, reducing outage rates 28% during voltage sags. European wind farms upgraded Q4 2025 amid net-zero mandates, leveraging unbalance stages to handle harmonic loads from inverters, achieving 99.98% bank availability. Q1 2026 Asian industrial parks deployed fleets for PFC correction, eliminating 15% overcurrent trips in steel mills per operator logs.
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