The Multilin 489 is the generator protection relay of GE's SR family, widely installed in industrial plants and power stations; GE Vernova no longer manufactures it and proposes the 8 Series Multilin 889 as its replacement, with a retrofit kit. The G60 and G30 are the generator relays of the UR family, for medium and large units and for generator-transformer blocks.
What it is and where it is used
The Multilin 489 relay is the generator protection of the SR family from GE, now GE Vernova. For years it was a common reference on generators in industrial plants, sugar mills, small hydro stations and standby sets. Beside it are the Multilin 889, its successor in the 8 Series, and the G60 and G30 of the UR family. To go further: Basler BE1-11 and BE1-951 relays.
For the background, see synchronous generators and their protection and generator protection scheme.
Variants: 489, 889, G60 and G30
| Model | Application | Main difference |
|---|---|---|
| 489 | Small and medium generators | SR family; production discontinued |
| 889 | Generators and their unit transformers | 8 Series, proposed by GE Vernova as the 489 replacement |
| G60 | Medium and large generators | UR family: complete protection, 100% stator ground fault, field ground fault with an additional module |
| G30 | Small and medium generators, generator-transformer block, backup | UR family: generator and transformer in one device |
Main functions
| Function | ANSI | What it provides |
|---|---|---|
| Stator differential | 87G | Internal faults (guide) |
| Stator ground fault | 59N, 27TN | Winding ground faults; 100% in the G60 |
| Loss of excitation | 40 | (guide) |
| Reverse power | 32 | Motoring (guide) |
| Overexcitation | 24 | (guide) |
| Negative sequence | 46 | Rotor heating (guide) |
| Voltage-restrained overcurrent | 51V | Backup (guide) |
| Frequency and voltage | 81, 27, 59 | Abnormal conditions |
| Loss of synchronism (UR) | 78 | (guide) |
According to GE Vernova, the G60 supports field ground (GPM-F) and injection-based stator ground (GPM-S) modules.
Communications and integration
The 489 communicates mainly over serial Modbus and is configured with EnerVista 489 Setup. The 889 belongs to the 8 Series and offers IEC 61850, DNP3, Modbus and IEC 60870-5-104, with the EnerVista 8 Series Setup software. The G60 and G30 use the UR platform, with IEC 61850, synchrophasors, FlexLogic and EnerVista UR Setup. See IEC 61850 and Modbus.
489 order code: how to read the nameplate
The 489 manual (firmware 4.0x, manual part number GEK-106494L) describes the order code as a string of fields. For example, 489-P1-LO-A20-E identifies a relay with 1 A phase inputs, 20 to 60 Vdc or 20 to 48 Vac control voltage, 4 to 20 mA analog outputs and enhanced display:
| Field | Options |
|---|---|
| Phase current | P1 (1 A secondary) or P5 (5 A) |
| Control | LO: 20 to 60 Vdc or 20 to 48 Vac; HI: 90 to 300 Vdc or 70 to 265 Vac |
| Analog outputs | A1 (0 to 1 mA) or A20 (4 to 20 mA) |
| Display | Basic; E (enhanced, larger LCD); T (enhanced with 10Base-T Ethernet) |
| Environment | H: coating for harsh chemical environments |
That nameplate is the quickest way to know which manual, which spare part and which modules apply. On the communications side, the manual lists a front RS232 port, two RS485 ports isolated from each other, RS485 speeds from 300 to 19,200 baud, and Modbus RTU (half duplex) and DNP 3.0 protocols; the T option adds Ethernet. EnerVista 489 Setup is software that GE supplied free of charge with the relay.
What the 489 protects and what sets it apart
The 489 brings the generator’s electrical and thermal protection together in a single device: percentage differential, stator ground fault (including 100%), loss of excitation (by impedance and by reactive power), reverse power and forward low power. It adds negative sequence, overexcitation, inadvertent energization and breaker failure. It is completed with trip coil supervision, voltage fuse failure and a sequential tripping logic. It adds up to twelve RTD inputs for stator, bearing and ambient temperature, and analog inputs for vibration and other variables. This integration of the thermal and mechanical side with the electrical side explains why it has stayed in industrial plants and small power stations. See also generator reverse power (32) trip.
G60: what GE Vernova publishes
The G60 brochure presents it for medium and large generators driven by steam, gas or hydro turbines, and also for pumped-storage generators that run as a motor to fill the reservoir. Among its features:
- Protection: stator differential, 100% stator ground fault by third harmonic, 100% stator ground fault by subharmonic injection, field ground fault and loss of excitation. It includes power swing blocking and out-of-step tripping, backup distance, reverse power or forward low power, and overexcitation. It is completed with generator unbalance, CT and VT fuse failure, and breaker failure.
- 100% stator ground fault. The third-harmonic method compares the third-harmonic voltage at the terminals and at the neutral, and GE states that it is insensitive to the absolute value of that harmonic and is set without online measurements. See 100% stator ground fault protection.
- Communications: up to three 100 Mb Ethernet ports (fiber or copper), RS485, RS232, RS422, G.703 and C37.94; protocols IEC 61850, DNP 3.0, serial and TCP Modbus, IEC 60870-5-104 and -103, IEEE 1588, PRP, SNTP, HTTP, TFTP and EGD.
- Process bus: IEC 61850 with up to eight HardFiber modules, with redundant architecture.
- Recording: an event recorder of 1024 events, configurable waveform capture and synchronized phasors from 1 to 120 frames per second.
- Software: EnerVista UR Engineer with a graphical logic designer and monitor.
From the 489 to the 889 and the G60: decision criteria
The decision depends on the scope of each unit. For a small or medium generator that today has a 489, the route the manufacturer proposes is the 889, with a retrofit kit. For large units or those with process bus, synchrophasor or cybersecurity requirements, the UR platform of the G60 is the one that publishes them. In both cases you need to:
- translate the settings, not copy them: the curves, factors and function modes differ;
- review the temperature and vibration inputs, which are integrated in the 489;
- reproduce the sequential tripping and inadvertent energization logic;
- validate communication with the plant or the SCADA and test again, with the generator out of service, each trip to the breaker, the field and the turbine.
More on the context of these protections in generator excitation and AVR and generator synchronization.
Frequently asked technical questions
- Where is the Multilin 489 manual?: the manual depends on the version; the real settings are in the relay.
- 489 software: EnerVista 489 Setup; with recent Windows versions, test the connection before going to site.
- Reverse power or loss of excitation trips: they are usually related to operation (shutdown, leading power factor) rather than to a relay fault.
- 489 spare parts: GE Vernova stated that it would stop offering advance replacements and spare modules; check the current repair status with the manufacturer.
If your equipment is discontinued
For the 489, GE Vernova proposes the 889 and offers a retrofit kit that, according to the manufacturer, allows installation without modifying the panel cutout, rewiring or changing drawings. Even so, the settings must be translated to the 8 Series model, the logic and the communication with the SCADA reviewed, and all functions tested before synchronizing again. We do this with remote configuration, design of the change and testing.
How we can help
At Tiza Group we remotely configure and review Multilin 489, 889, G60 and G30 relays with EnerVista, worldwide, based on the protection study and the approved settings. See remote configuration of GE Vernova Multilin relays. If your generator tripped, we quote a trip analysis. To migrate from the 489 to the 889, we do the design under engineering design and studies. Write to us through the contact page.
Related guides
- Synchronous generators and their protection
- Generator protection scheme
- Generator differential protection 87G
- Loss of excitation protection 40
- Multilin 850 relay
- GE EnerVista UR Setup, 8 Series Setup and Launchpad software
- AVR voltage regulators
- Generator Reverse Power (32) Trip: Causes and Fixes
- Basler BE1-11 and BE1-951 Relays: Feeder and Generator
References
- IEEE C37.2, device function numbers; IEEE C37.102, generator protection.
- IEC 61850 (series).
- GE Vernova, legacy products catalog (Multilin 489), 489 and 889 brochures, technical paper “From SR Family to Advanced Multilin 8 Series”, G60 and UR family brochure.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Multilin 489 still manufactured?
No. GE Vernova states in its legacy products catalog that production of the 489 was discontinued and proposes the Multilin 889 as the alternative. It offers a retrofit kit to install the 889 in the same panel cutout without changing the wiring or the drawings.
Where can I find the Multilin 489 manual?
GE Vernova keeps the 489 documentation on its website, by firmware version. Before any change, download the relay's current settings with EnerVista, because they are the basis of any review or migration.
What is the difference between the G60 and the G30?
GE Vernova presents the G60 for medium and large generators (steam, gas and combined cycle), with stator differential, loss of excitation, overexcitation and 100% stator ground fault protection. The G30 combines generator and transformer protection for small and medium generators or generator-transformer blocks.