UR Series Universal Relays Digital I/O Module UR6BH Original new

The UR6BH is a dedicated digital I/O expansion module from GE Multilin‘s Universal Relay (UR) series, designed to augment the native I/O capacity of UR protection relays. The UR6BH provides a configurable mix of optically isolated digital input channels and Form‑A or Form‑C relay output channels, enabling direct connection of field devices such as pushbuttons, limit switches, annunciator panels, and contactor coils. The UR6BH is fully programmable via EnerVista UR software, supports high‑speed logic execution (< 4 ms response), and integrates seamlessly into the UR chassis backplane, making it a flexible and reliable solution for expanding I/O in power protection and industrial control systems.

• Power system protection and control (digital input acquisition, trip / close command distribution)

• Transformer differential protection and generator protection (auxiliary contact monitoring + alarm annunciation)

• Substation automation and interlocking logic (switch status acquisition + relay control)

• Feeder and motor protection relay I/O expansion (start/stop contactor control + feedback reception)

• Industrial process automation (conveyors, pumps, material handling systems)

• Annunciator panel driving and alarm signalling

• Retrofit and upgrade of legacy protection panels using UR series hardware

• Configurable 16‑channel digital I/O: The module can be configured as 8 inputs + 8 outputs, 12 inputs + 4 outputs, or 4 inputs + 12 outputs, providing flexible channel allocation to match diverse application requirements without changing hardware.

• 16 individually isolated channels: Each channel is optically isolated from the backplane and from other channels, blocking conducted EMI and ground loops common in high‑voltage substation environments.

• Dry contact output rating up to 2 A: Form‑A or Form‑C relays directly drive annunciator lamps, contactor coils, solenoid valves, and interposing relays without external interposing hardware.

• Ultra‑fast response (< 4 ms): Digital inputs are acquired and outputs are energised in under 4 ms, meeting stringent timing requirements for protection tripping, breaker failure initiation, and high‑speed interlocking.

• Integrated protection functions: On‑board undervoltage and overvoltage detection plus breaker failure monitoring provide additional security layers; any fault triggers an annunciator alarm and is logged in the relay‘s event recorder.

• Hot‑swappable backplane plug‑in design: Module can be inserted or removed while the UR chassis remains powered, enabling field maintenance, upgrades, and troubleshooting without system shutdown.

• Built‑in per‑channel LED diagnostics: Dedicated LEDs for each input and output channel provide immediate visual confirmation of field signal states and relay energisation, simplifying on‑site commissioning and fault finding.

• FlexLogic™‑compatible output mapping: Output states are fully programmable via GE EnerVista UR software; any internal protection element (50/51, 27/59, 81, 87T, etc.) can directly drive any UR6BH output without external logic wiring.

• Full EnerVista UR integration: I/O configuration, channel diagnostics, fault logging, and real‑time status monitoring are all managed through the same software used for UR protection relays, eliminating separate tools and reducing engineering effort.

• Wide operating temperature range (–40°C to +85°C): Engineered for extreme outdoor substations, turbine enclosures, and unheated industrial control cabinets, with storage capability down to –85°C.

• Low backplane power consumption (5 W typical): Minimal thermal load on the UR relay chassis backplane, allowing multiple I/O modules to be stacked in the same rack without overheating.

• High isolation withstand voltage: ≥ 2000 Vrms isolation between inputs and backplane and between output contacts and logic, ensuring safe separation of field wiring from sensitive controller electronics.

• Comprehensive diagnostic reporting: Continuous self‑diagnostic tests (processor, memory, I/O bus) run at startup and during runtime; any detected fault is reported via the UR CPU fault table, front‑panel LEDs, and SCADA interface.

• Seamless integration into UR rack: Occupies one standard UR chassis slot with passive cooling; no additional power supply required – all operating power drawn directly from the UR backplane.

• Fully compatible with IEC 61850‑9‑2LE sampled value architecture: In advanced UR configurations, the UR6BH can receive GOOSE messages directly from merging units over Ethernet, enabling process‑bus architectures that eliminate conventional CT/VT wiring for digital input status acquisition.

• 0.2% class precision monitoring (advanced variant): Certain UR6BH variants include high‑accuracy voltage/current measurement (256 samples/cycle) with total harmonic distortion analysis — suitable for revenue‑grade monitoring applications in hybrid protection‑metering schemes.

• Dual redundant Ethernet and fiber optic ports (advanced variant): Expands to two independent 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet ports with fiber optic uplinks — supports PRP (Parallel Redundancy Protocol) and HSR for zero‑switchover‑time network failover, ensuring continuous I/O data exchange even during network disruptions.

• Built‑in cybersecurity (advanced variant): Role‑based access control (RBAC), TLS 1.3 encryption, secure boot, and Syslog event logging — compliant with NERC CIP standards for critical infrastructure protection when the UR6BH is deployed in CyberSentry™ UR configurations.

• Expands the host UR relay‘s field I/O capacity by adding up to 16 configurable digital I/O channels to the chassis backplane – each channel fully addressable and independently programmable via EnerVista UR software.

• Digitises field contact closure signals (breaker auxiliary contacts, limit switches, pushbuttons, selector positions) and makes the digital status available to the UR CPU for use in protection logic, event recording, and SCADA reporting.

• Executes FlexLogic™‑generated trip and control commands by energising or de‑energising the designated Form‑A or Form‑C output channels, directly driving external devices such as annunciator panels, interposing relays, solenoid valves, and contactor coils.

• Electrically isolates external field wiring from the relay‘s internal low‑voltage logic circuits via optical isolation and galvanic barriers, preventing ground potential differences and surge transients from damaging sensitive processing electronics.

• Reports diagnostic conditions (open circuit, stuck relay, channel fault) back to the UR CPU over the backplane – any detected anomaly triggers an annunciator alarm and is logged in the relay‘s event recorder for forensic analysis.

• Provides deterministic output activation with microsecond‑level response when initiated by high‑speed protection elements (e.g., instantaneous overcurrent), ensuring timely fault clearing without processing latency.

• Stores configuration data (input/output assignments, output default states, channel mapping, debounce filters) in non‑volatile memory – settings persist through power cycles and are retained even when the module is removed and reinstalled.

• Supports hot‑swap replacement: when a UR6BH is removed, the UR CPU detects its absence and continues normal operation of all other chassis modules; upon reinsertion, the CPU reloads the stored configuration and resumes I/O scanning without a system restart.

• Allows external SCADA systems to read input statuses and force output states via standard industrial protocols (IEC 61850 GOOSE, Modbus TCP/RTU, DNP3) – the UR6BH bridges field I/O to the relay‘s communication stack.

• In advanced UR6BH variants: supports process‑bus architectures by receiving GOOSE messages from merging units over Ethernet (IEC 61850‑9‑2LE), eliminating conventional CT/VT wiring for digital input status acquisition in modern digital substations.

• In advanced UR6BH variants: provides 0.2% class precision metering with 256 samples/cycle A/D conversion and THD analysis, enabling revenue‑grade power quality monitoring directly from the I/O expansion card without separate metering hardware.

• In advanced UR6BH variants: implements dual redundant Ethernet with PRP/HSR failover (< 0 ms recovery) and full NERC CIP‑compliant cybersecurity suite (RBAC, TLS 1.3, secure boot, Syslog), ensuring continuous I/O data exchange and protection against cyber threats in critical infrastructure environments.

Q1: What is the primary function of the UR6BH module?
A1: The UR6BH is a digital I/O expansion module that adds up to 16 configurable digital input and output channels to GE Multilin UR series protection relays, extending field connectivity for annunciation, interlocking, and actuator control.

Q2: How many I/O channels does the UR6BH provide?
A2: The UR6BH provides a total of 16 configurable digital I/O channels. The user can allocate these as 8 inputs + 8 outputs, 12 inputs + 4 outputs, or 4 inputs + 12 outputs, depending on application requirements.

Q3: What type of outputs does the UR6BH have?
A3: The UR6BH outputs are dry contact Form‑A (normally open) or Form‑C (changeover) relay contacts, each rated for up to 2 A continuous current at 250 V AC or 30 V DC, allowing direct driving of contactor coils, annunciators, and interposing relays.

Q4: Is the UR6BH hot‑swappable?
A4: Yes, the UR6BH supports hot‑swap installation. It can be inserted or removed while the UR relay chassis remains powered, allowing field maintenance and upgrades without system interruption.

Q5: What software is used to configure the UR6BH?
A5: The UR6BH is configured using GE‘s EnerVista UR Setup software, which provides graphical I/O mapping, FlexLogic™ programming, real‑time status display, and diagnostic access through a single interface.

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