1/22/2020 Zone Selective Interlocking (ZSI) Basic Principles

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Zone Selective Interlocking Follow TestGuy

(ZSI) Basic Principles

By testguy April 5, 2018 0 Comments

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Zone selective
Always check the arc
interlocking is a flash rating sticker
communication scheme Not a test question -
used with circuit breakers Transformer ester oil
question
and protective relays to
Fluke Leads with alligator
improve the level of This guide provides a basic overview clips
of zone selective interlocking principles
protection in a power Best meter to keep on
and test procedures. Photo: TestGuy
distribution system. Also hand?

called zone restraint or

ZSI, the main purpose of this scheme is to reduce the
stress on electrical distribution equipment during short- Industria
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circuit or ground-fault conditions. Texcan
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Downloa
In a coordinated system, longer delays and higher Monitor 2

pickups are selected on upstream devices to allow Ad TARGIT

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Circuit B
downstream devices to trip first. This results in longer Curves a
tripping times because the circuit breakers wait for the testguy.net

O cial G
selected delay time before tripping, which can expose the
system to large amounts of fault stress.
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Ohm's La
Downstream branch devices should operate very fast, Cheat Sh

with no intentional delay, and main devices should delay testguy.net

operation so that the downstream devices have time to Electrica

Diagram
clear the fault. ZSI works to limit fault stress on
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equipment by reducing the time it takes to clear the fault
Protectiv
while maintaining system coordination between and Main

overcurrent and ground-fault protective devices. testguy.net

Circuit B
Schemat

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Applying
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Ground F
Systems
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Microlog
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Example of protective device coordination during a feeder fault and bus fault. Troubles
Photo: EATON. testguy.net

Circuit B
Accesso
In a coordinated system, only the device nearest to the
fault will trip unless the coordinated protection levels are testguy.net

Circuit br
exceeded. Zone interlocking works in parallel with the and indic
explained
coordinated protection of a power distribution system,
testguy.net
meaning the nominal protection levels are not
compromised.

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ZSI System Operation Sharpen your skills

with our collection of
quizzes on electrical
Zone Interlocks communicate fault conditions across safety, maintenance &
zones. A zone is a section of the power distribution system testing of electrical
equipment and
that is connected at a common point and classified by its
industry standards.
location downstream of the main circuit protective device.

Tech Quiz
If a major fault occurs on
the system, the device Study Guide
closest to the fault will
be given the opportunity
to clear the condition
Electrical Testing References
without disrupting
service to other areas of Power Triangle Calculator

the facility. The preset Test Equipment 101: The Basics of

Electrical Testing
time delay on the
Circuit Breaker Control Schematic
overcurrent device is Explained
deactivated and the
Example of protection zones in an Protective Relay Protection Element
device will clear the fault electrical power distribution system.
Tests

with no intentional delay. Photo: EATON. Capacitive Reactance - How to

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When a downstream
Explained
fault exceeds the ground fault and/or short-time pickup on
Switchboard Ratings
both the Main and Feeder, each device will detect the
Transformer Insulation Classes
fault. The Feeder sends a restraint signal upstream to
Three-Phase Transformer Winding
the Main, activating the preset time delay, giving the feeder Connections
a chance to clear the fault. Peak vs. Average vs. RMS Voltage

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Learn more

The feeder does not receive a restraint signal and opens

BIG WINTER
to clear the fault with no intentional delay. Since the Main's
SAVINGS
preset time delay is activated, proper selectivity and
coordination is maintained while still providing backup
protection for the Feeder and other downstream devices.

Because zone selective interlocking works in

parallel with a coordinated protection of a power
Save on ights within Canad
distribution system, the use of ZSI will not cause and to the U.S. Book by Jan.

circuit breakers that are not coordinated (due to

improper settings) to coordinate.
*On select base fares.

Self-Interlocking
If preferred, the restraint signal can be defeated by
feeding the output signal to the input. This can be
accomplished simply by placing a jumper between the
output and input signals on the device.

When a system disturbance occurs, the signal output will

be fed into the input and thus defeating an instantaneous
response. This may be applicable to breakers that serve

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loads which should not be interrupted unless the

coordinated protection limits are exceeded.

Example zone-selective interlocking wiring diagram. Consult manufacturers

literature to locate ZSI terminals for your specific protective device. Photo:
Square D.

Performance Testing
The ZI signal will need to be defeated when performance
testing circuit breakers and relays in order to properly
verify the time delay function of a protective device. If
zone interlocking is not defeated while testing, the
protective device will trip instantaneously regardless of
the time delay setting being used.

Verify zone interlock operation by performing a short time

and/or ground fault time delay test. Conduct two separate
tests, with and without a self-interlocking jumper to
observe both instantaneous and time delay trips. The
recorded time delay should fall within the coordinated time
current curve.

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Effects of Transformer Inrush

Current on ZSI
Applying zone interlocking on the primary side of a
transformer may cause unwanted tripping due to high
inrush currents that may be greater than 12X the FLA
rating of the transformer with the secondary open.

In order to prevent the breaker on the primary side from

tripping in a nuisance condition, a self-interlocking jumper
should be installed during the energizing of the
transformer, which can last from 10 cycles to several
minutes.

Overview

1. When a device equipped with ZSI senses a

short circuit or ground fault, it sends a restraint
signal to the ZSI device just upstream from it.
This activates the preset time delay on the
upstream device.

2. When a device equipped with ZSI senses a

short circuit or ground fault and does not
receive a restraint signal, its preset time delay
will not be activated and it will trip with no
intentional delay.

3. Without ZSI, a coordinated system results in the

circuit breaker closest to the fault clearing the

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fault, but usually with an intentional delay. With

ZSI, the device closest to the fault will ignore its
preset short-time and/or ground-fault delays and
clear the fault with no intentional delay.

References

Zone Selective Interlocking (ZSI) Systems and Energy

Reduction Maintenance Setting (ERMS) Switches in
Electrical Distribution Systems - SQUARE D

Zone Selective Interlocking (ZSI) Application and

Testing Guide - SIEMENS

Zone Interlocking Application Note - EATON

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