The SPAJ 140 C, SPAM 150 C and SPAD 346 C are relays from ABB's SPACOM family, and the REF542plus and REF543/545 are feeder terminals from the generation before Relion. They are still in service in many substations and industrial plants. ABB includes them in its relay replacement program, with targets such as REF615, REM615, REX610 and REX615.
What it is and where it is used
The ABB SPAJ 140 C, SPAJ 144 C, SPAM 150 C and SPAD 346 C relays belong to SPACOM, the ABB relay family that was widespread in medium-voltage switchgear before the Relion relays. Alongside them are the REF542plus and REF543/545 feeder terminals (REF54x family), which added bay control and communications to protection.
They remain in service in distribution substations, process plants, mining and buildings. They work, but every year it is harder to find spares, software and people who know them. For the general context, see protective relays.
Variants: SPAJ, SPAM, SPAD and REF54x
| Model | Application | Main difference |
|---|---|---|
| SPAJ 140 C | Feeders | Combined phase overcurrent and earth fault |
| SPAJ 141 C / 142 C / 144 C | Feeders and backup | Overcurrent and earth variants with different stages and options |
| SPAM 150 C | Motors | Complete motor protection: thermal, start-up, unbalance and earth |
| SPAD 346 C | Transformers | Transformer differential with restricted earth fault |
| REF542plus | Medium-voltage switchgear | Protection and control terminal with bay control |
| REF543 / REF545 | Feeders | REF54x terminals with protection, control, metering and communications |
ABB included the SPAJ 140 C, 141 C, 142 C, SPAM 150 C and SPAU 130 C in its relay replacement program.
How a SPAJ 140 C is built
According to the SPAJ 140 C product guide (document 1MRS750361-MBG, version C, 2006) and the series brochure, the relay is a secondary device. It is connected to the current transformers of the protected object, and its protection module is the SPCJ 4D29 type. It has:
- a three-phase overcurrent unit with a low stage (I>), definite time or inverse (IDMT), and a high stage (I>>), instantaneous or definite time;
- an earth fault unit with the same structure, I0> and I0>>;
- integrated breaker failure protection, two power output relays and four signal relays, and an output matrix that lets you assign the starts and trips of each stage to the desired contact;
- six IDMT curve families: four conforming to BS 142 and IEC 255 (normal, very, extremely and long-time inverse) and two ABB-specific ones, called RI and RXIDG;
- an external binary input that, depending on the position of a selector on the module, is used to block stages, reset a latched output relay or switch between the first and second settings bank;
- self-supervision with self-diagnostics, a numeric display for measured and recorded values, and memory of the fault parameters.
The application ABB indicates is selective short-circuit and earth fault protection of radial feeders with solidly grounded, resistance-grounded or impedance-grounded neutral; also as backup for transformers, motors and generators. The start inputs (with a preset start time of about 40 ms for the high phase stage and 50 ms for the earth stage) allow building busbar blocking schemes with overcurrent relays.
Differences within the 140 C series
ABB’s brochure describes the members of the series as follows. The SPAJ 140 C is the basic non-directional overcurrent and earth solution. The SPAJ 141 C has a very sensitive earth input. The SPAJ 142 C is a version of the 140 C with more sensitive earth protection. The SPAJ 144 C, the most recent in the series, has more protection functions and stages. The declared auxiliary voltage is 18 to 80 Vdc or 80 to 265 Vac/dc, and the case is aluminum with IP54 degree of protection. With so many versions, the prudent course when replacing a module or a relay is to read the full reference on the nameplate.
SPA communication and the SPACOM family
The rear serial interface connects to the SPA optical bus through modules such as the SPA-ZC 17 or SPA-ZC 21; the first has its own power supply and the second is powered from the relay. These relays belong to the SPACOM family, which ABB presents as a pioneer of a substation automation concept with communicating microprocessor-based relays and more than 300,000 units installed. The practical consequence today: many substations keep an SPA bus with converters to Modbus or another protocol, and any replacement must consider what the control system receives, not only the relay.
Product status
ABB’s page for legacy relays indicates that the SPAJ 140 C has not been an active product since 2016. Documentation remains available in the manufacturer’s library, and the replacement program mentioned above covers several models in the series. We did not find spare-parts availability data in the sources consulted; if the substation depends on one of these relays, an inventory of units and a replacement plan are advisable before a failure forces the matter.
Main functions
| Function | ANSI | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| Phase and ground overcurrent | 50/51, 50N/51N | SPAJ, REF54x (guide) |
| Motor thermal model | 49 | SPAM 150 C (guide) |
| Phase unbalance | 46 | SPAM 150 C (guide) |
| Transformer differential | 87T | SPAD 346 C (guide) |
| Restricted earth fault | 87N | SPAD 346 C (guide) |
| Reclosing, directional, voltage | 79, 67, 27/59 | Depends on the REF54x terminal and its configuration |
Communications and integration
The SPACOM relays were born with ABB’s SPA bus, a proprietary serial communication that today usually requires gateways to reach SCADA (ABB has, for example, the SPA-ZC 302 gateway to PROFIBUS). The REF54x added LON and, depending on the module, other protocols. None has native IEC 61850 like the Relion relays. Integrating this equipment into a modern system almost always goes through a gateway or replacement. See integration over Modbus and IEC 61850.
Frequently asked technical questions
- What language is the SPAM 150 C manual in? ABB documents are mainly in English and by version.
- Settings by DIP switches and front-panel menus: the SPACOM relays are set with knobs, switches and codes; reading them correctly is the first step before any change.
- No spares: when a module fails, the decision is usually to replace the relay.
- SCADA integration: the SPA bus does not speak current protocols without a gateway.
If your equipment is no longer manufactured
ABB offers a relay replacement program (Relay Retrofit Program) for the SPACOM relays. According to its guides, the SPAJ 140 C has a REF615 with a defined standard configuration as its target, the SPAM 150 C a REM615, and the REX610 and REX615 are also offered, with adaptation kits and settings migration tools. We help with what the kit does not solve: reading and documenting the current settings, translating them to the new device according to the study, designing the change (wiring, communications, drawings) and testing the relay before energizing.
How we help
At Tiza Group we remotely configure the Relion relay that replaces your SPAJ or SPAM, based on the current settings and the study. See remote configuration of Relion relays. For the replacement project, we do the design under engineering design and studies. If an old relay tripped and it is not clear why, we quote the trip analysis. Write to us through contact.
Related guides
- Relion 615 relays
- Phase and ground overcurrent protection
- Induction motor and its protections
- Protection setting criteria
- What a substation engineering design includes
References
- IEEE C37.2, device numbers.
- ABB, SPAJ 140 C datasheet; product guide and application manual of the Relay Retrofit Program; SPACOM to REX610 and to REX615 guides; SPA-ZC 302 product guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SPAM 150 C?
It is the motor protection relay of ABB's SPACOM family: thermal model, start-up, locked rotor, unbalance and earth fault in one device. In its replacement program, ABB proposes a REM615 with a defined standard configuration, the REX610 or the REX615 as the target.
What relay replaces a SPAJ 140 C?
ABB's replacement program proposes for the SPAJ 140 C a REF615 with a defined standard configuration, the REX610 or the REX615, with mechanical adaptation kits. Which one suits depends on the functions you use today, the communications you need and the coordination study.
Where can I find the SPAJ 140 C or SPAM 150 C manual?
ABB keeps the technical documents of the SPACOM family in its library, mainly in English. Before any change, the most useful step is to read and document the equipment's current settings, because they are the basis of any migration.