In North America protective relays are generally referred to by standard device numbers. Letters
are sometimes added to specify the application (IEEE Standard C37.2-2008).
Following the ANSI/IEEE Standard Device Numbers (the more commonly used ones are in bold)
1 - Master Element
2 - Time Delay Starting or Closing Relay
3 - Checking or Interlocking Relay
4 - Master Contactor
5 - Stopping Device
6 - Starting Circuit Breaker
7 – Rate of Change Relay
8 - Control Power Disconnecting Device
9 - Reversing Device
10 - Unit Sequence Switch
11 – Multifunction Device
12 - Overspeed Device
13 - Synchronous-speed Device
14 - Underspeed Device
15 - Speed or Frequency-Matching Device
16 – Data Communications Device
20 - Elect. operated valve (solenoid valve)
21 - Distance Relay
23 - Temperature Control Device
24 – Volts per Hertz Relay
25 - Synchronizing or Synchronism-Check Device
26 - Apparatus Thermal Device
27 - Undervoltage Relay
30 - Annunciator Relay
32 - Directional Power Relay
36 - Polarity or Polarizing Voltage Devices
37 - Undercurrent or Underpower Relay
38 - Bearing Protective Device
39 - Mechanical Conduction Monitor
40 –Field (over/under excitation) Relay
41 - Field Circuit Breaker
42 - Running Circuit Breaker
43 - Manual Transfer or Selector Device
46 – Rev. phase or Phase-Bal. Current Relay
47 - Phase-Seq. or Phase-Bal. Voltage Relay
48 - Incomplete-Sequence Relay
49 - Machine or Transformer Thermal Relay
50 - Instantaneous Overcurrent
51 - AC Time Overcurrent Relay
52 - AC Circuit Breaker
53 – Field Excitation Relay
55 - Power Factor Relay
56 - Field Application Relay
59 - Overvoltage Relay
60 - Voltage or Current Balance Relay
62 - Time-Delay Stopping or Opening Relay
63 - Pressure Switch
64 - Ground Detector Relay
65 - Governor
66 – Notching or jogging device
67 - AC Directional Overcurrent Relay
68 - Blocking or “out of step” Relay
69 - Permissive Control Device
74 - Alarm Relay
75 - Position Changing Mechanism
76 - DC Overcurrent Relay
78 - Phase-Angle Measuring Relay
79 - AC-Reclosing Relay
81 - Frequency Relay
83 - Automatic Selective Control or Transfer Relay
84 - Operating Mechanism
85 – Pliot Communications, Carrier or Pilot-Wire Relay
86 - Lockout Relay
87 - Differential Protective Relay
89 - Line Switch
90 - Regulating Device
91 - Voltage Directional Relay
92 - Voltage and Power Directional Relay
94 - Tripping or Trip-Free Relay
B – Bus
F - Field
G – Ground or generator
N – Neutral
T – Transformer
