Power Logic P3 - Request for Guidance on IEC 104 Implementation - -Mauritius Island CEB Grid PV Network

[Keshav_Coondiah]

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Subject: Request for Guidance on IEC 104 Implementation 

Dear Expert,

I hope this message finds you well. We are currently facing several technical and strategic challenges in Mauritius related to IEC 104 protocol implementation. Kindly find below a summary of the issues and our request for support:

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📍 Project Context

• We are required to implement IEC 104 protocol for the Central Electricity Board (CEB), the national public utility.
• The government is prioritizing photovoltaic (PV) grid integration, increasing the urgency of reliable communication protocols.

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📍 Technical Challenges

• ABB REX615 is widely adopted and offers modular expansion for Digital Inputs (DI) and Digital Outputs (DO), giving it a competitive edge.
• Our current solution, P3U30, lacks similar modular capabilities, limiting our flexibility.
• There is no clear documentation or programming guide available for IEC 104 implementation, making development difficult.

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📍 Request for Support

• Kindly provide step-by-step guidance on implementing IEC 104 protocol.
• We would also appreciate instructions on how to expand ABB REX615 using external DI/DO modules to match project requirements.

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Thank you in advance for your assistance and expertise.

PS @Juha 

Best regards,

Keshav Coondiah
Phoenix, Mauritius

[Juha]

Sorry @Keshav_Coondiah , I guess I can't really help you. I try to re-direct your question to someone.

Anyway, I'd like to share some comment.

We do not have DI/DO extension modules for P3U30 available. When more DI/DO is needed, please consider use of P3F30 unit.

Regarding IEC104....
IEC 103 is used to communication between individual IED's and the substation gateway. The gateway is the filtering messages before sending to the scada by using IEC 101. Ok, that's the old way. IEC 101 is serial communication protocol.

Now, IEC 104 is more or less like IEC 101 but over Ethernet. Your request sounds like there is a plan to connect individual IED's directly to scada by using IEC 104. I know this has been made and used. 
Not being expert of the topic, I can see some risk here. If large amount of IED's are connected directly to scada by use of IEC 104 there can be risk for overloading as the the substation gateway is not in use.

BR

-juha-

[Keshav_Coondiah]

Dear @Juha,

Thank you for your prompt response.

I would appreciate it if you could kindly direct me to someone who can provide step-by-step guidance for implementing the IEC 104 protocol solution.

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    DI/DO Expansion Considerations

• I acknowledge that P3U30 does not support DI/DO extensibility.
• We are considering P3F30 as an alternative. Could you please confirm:
  • The maximum number of DI and DO available on P3F30?
  • Our client requires 36 DI and 7 DO, so we need to ensure compatibility.

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    IEC 104 Protocol Implementation

• I agree that IEC 104 is similar to IEC 101, with the key difference being Ethernet TCP/IP support.
• The data exchange will be read-only, as per CEB’s specifications.
• Substation gateway overload is being monitored and managed by CEB.

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    Request for Documentation

• Could you please share the IEC 104 mapping protocol files?
• Is there a manual available for configuring IEC 104 in the P3F30 relay?

[Juha]

Hi @Keshav_Coondiah , The P3F30 with 1 G-card plus 3 I-cards does have 36 DI, 5 heavy duty DO and 4 light duty DO. This is the maximum number of DI's available.

For IEC 104, please see attached file. 


BR

-juha-

[Keshav_Coondiah]

Hello @Juha ,

Thank you for providing the Excel sheet for IEC 104.

Please confirm which cortec P3F30 wil provide us the scenario = 36 DI, 5 heavy duty DO and 4 light duty DO

Thank you.

[Juha]

@Keshav_Coondiah , the following:

P3F30_xGIII-xxxxx-xxxxx

x-letters define some other features. The string of GIII defines the following:
G - 6DI+4DO
I - 10DI
I - 10DI
I - 10DI

The power supply card (the fist card slot) does have 5 heavy duty outputs, one light duty output and self-supervision output.

BR

-juha-

[Keshav_Coondiah]

Hello @Juha ,

Thank you for providing the Corte P3F30_GIII-xxxxx-xxxxx

Can you please adise which letter represents the power supply card (First card slot) that have already 5 heavy duty Outputs and one light duty and self-supervision output.

Thank you.

[Juha]

@Keshav_Coondiah , option C or D. Please download the user manual from SE website.

BR

-juha-

[Keshav_Coondiah]

Thank you @Juha  Option C or D i taken note.

[Keshav_Coondiah]

I think this is the best option right now for the Mauritius application for IEC 104 with 36 DI and 9 DO available and i have chosen Option D @Juha 

Thank you.