Mitsubishi MELPRO-D, Hyundai HiMAP and LS GIPAM Relays

Short answer

MELPRO-D is the Mitsubishi Electric series of digital protection relays for medium- and high-voltage feeders, motors and transformers, with IEC 61850 or Modbus communication. The Hyundai Electric HiMAP and LS ELECTRIC GIPAM relays are Korean protection and metering devices that usually arrive built into switchgear and panels of those brands, in industrial plants and projects of Asian origin.

What it is and where it is used

The Mitsubishi MELPRO-D relay is the Mitsubishi Electric series of digital protection relays for feeders, motors and transformers. Alongside it are the Hyundai HiMAP relays (for example, HiMAP-F and HiMAP-T) and the LS ELECTRIC GIPAM, which arrive built into switchgear and panels of those brands. They appear mostly in industrial plants and in projects with switchgear or panels of Japanese or Korean origin.

They are bay relays: they measure currents and, depending on the model, voltages, and trip a breaker. For the general picture, see protective relays and radial feeder protection scheme.

Variants: MELPRO-D, HiMAP-F, HiMAP-T and GIPAM

Model	Application	Main difference
MELPRO-D feeder	MV and HV feeders	Overcurrent, voltage and feeder control
MELPRO-D motor	MV motors	Motor protection
MELPRO-D differential	Transformers	Percentage transformer differential
MELPRO-D generator and system interconnection	Generators and grid connection	Generator and system interconnection modules
Hyundai HiMAP (HiMAP-F, HiMAP-T…)	Hyundai switchgear and panels	Multifunction protection, metering and control relay
LS ELECTRIC GIPAM (GIPAM10…)	LS switchgear and panels	Protection and metering

The HiMAP and GIPAM functions change by model and version; the applicable manual is the one for the full reference on the nameplate.

Main functions

Function	ANSI	Comment
Phase and ground overcurrent	50/51, 50N/51N	Main feeder protection (guide)
Transformer differential	87T	MELPRO-D differential (guide)
Motor protection	49, 46, 50/51	Depending on the model: thermal overload, unbalance and starting (guide)
Over and undervoltage	59/27	Voltage modules (59 guide)
Generator and system interconnection protection	32, 81, 27/59	Depending on the module; generation in parallel with the grid (32 guide)

On the MELPRO-D, Mitsubishi highlights two setting groups, up to five fault records, PLC-type programmable logic and an optional two-out-of-three relay configuration to keep the protection in service if one fails.

Communications and integration

The MELPRO-D communicates by IEC 61850 over Ethernet or Modbus over RS-485, with HSR or PRP on two optical ports. HiMAP and GIPAM are usually integrated by Modbus into the panel’s system; the IEC 61850 option depends on the model. Each brand has its own configuration software. See IEC 61850 overview, Modbus RTU and TCP and PRP and HSR.

What Mitsubishi publishes about the series

The Mitsubishi Electric product pages describe the MELPRO-D as compact multifunction digital relays for high- and medium-voltage distribution, with overcurrent, voltage, feeder, percentage transformer differential, motor, system interconnection and generator relays. There is also a more recent line, the ND series, whose page lists:

remote communication by IEC 61850 over Ethernet or by Modbus over RS-485;
selectable HSR/PRP redundancy on two optical ports;
continuous relay self-diagnosis;
compliance with the IEC 60255 series.

There is also an old MELPRO-D catalog of about sixty-four pages that circulates on third-party portals. Some regional pages for the series mention CC-Link communication, a Japanese industrial bus, instead of IEC 61850. In other words, two MELPRO-D units from different eras can speak different protocols; what counts is the full reference on the nameplate. Mitsubishi also warns that some products are sold only in certain regions, so the site for your country is the first place to look for the current catalog.

How to integrate an Asian-origin relay in a local plant

Identify the full reference. The nameplate carries the model, auxiliary voltage, rated currents and sometimes the communication code. With that you order the right manual.
Current and voltage inputs. Before applying settings from a study, confirm the rated current of the current transformers (1 A or 5 A) and the configured ratios; an error there invalidates all the pickups. See current transformer terminals and secondaries.
Time curves. The IEC 60255 series defines inverse-time overcurrent curves (IEC 60255-151); if the relay uses the manufacturer’s own curves, they must be equivalent to those of the coordination study or be recalculated.
SCADA communication. Check which protocol your variant has before designing the link. If it goes to Modbus or IEC 61850, see Modbus RTU and TCP and SCL files.
Spares and service life. For equipment that is no longer sold, allow for spare part lead times and define the replacement in advance.

HiMAP and GIPAM: what to ask for with the panel

HiMAP (Hyundai Electric) and GIPAM (LS ELECTRIC) relays almost always arrive inside switchgear and panels of those brands, and the technical information depends on the panel supplier. To avoid problems years later, require at delivery:

the manual for the exact reference and its firmware version, in a language the maintenance team can read;
configuration software with its license or terms of use, and the communication cable;
the factory settings file and a list of inputs and outputs with their function;
the Modbus point map, or that of the other protocol used to integrate it into SCADA;
technical support contact details and the spares policy.

With those documents, an Asian-origin relay is operated and maintained like any other; without them, simply reading events can turn into weeks of chasing. The general criterion for what to document and keep for client and quality audits is the same as for the rest of the plant’s equipment.

Frequently asked technical questions

Where is the MELPRO series manual? Mitsubishi publishes the series by region; some products are only sold in certain countries, so the manual may be on the regional site.
Software and communication cables: without the brand’s software and the right cable you cannot read settings or events; on imported panels, order them with the equipment.
Settings in another language or with proprietary curves: before changing anything, the current settings have to be translated into standard curves and functions for the coordination study.

How we help

At Tiza Group we configure and review protection relays remotely, including relays from brands less common in the region: we read the settings, bring them to standard curves, apply those of the approved study and leave a backup. See remote relay configuration. If the relay tripped and the reason is unclear, send us the event for a trip analysis. If you will replace it with another brand, we design the change in secondary engineering. Write to us through the contact page.

References

IEC 60255 series, measuring relays and protection equipment; IEC 61850; IEC 62439-3 (PRP and HSR).
Mitsubishi Electric, Protection Relays MELPRO-D Series product pages (global, Vietnam, Thailand and India).
Hyundai Electric, panel catalogs with the HiMAP relay; LS ELECTRIC, GIPAM10 data sheet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Mitsubishi MELPRO-D relay?

It is a series of compact multifunction digital relays from Mitsubishi Electric for protecting high- and medium-voltage distribution equipment. The series includes feeder relays, motor relays and percentage transformer differential relays, with overcurrent, voltage, generator and system interconnection modules. It complies with the IEC 60255 series.

What communication does the MELPRO-D have?

For the MELPRO-D series Mitsubishi lists IEC 61850 communication over Ethernet or Modbus over RS-485, with selectable HSR or PRP redundancy on two optical ports. Some pages for earlier versions mention CC-Link. The exact option depends on the reference ordered.

What are the Hyundai HiMAP and LS GIPAM relays?

HiMAP is the line of multifunction digital protection, metering and control relays from Hyundai Electric, which the brand fits in its switchgear and panels; the final letters (F, T...) distinguish applications. GIPAM is the protection and metering line from LS ELECTRIC. Their manuals and software are requested from the manufacturer or the panel supplier.