Testing Devices with IEC 61850 Standard: GOOSE, Sampled Value, and Client-Server

The Digital Communication Revolution in the Power Sector

The IEC 61850 standard represents one of the greatest technological transformations ever seen in power system automation. By proposing a robust and flexible standardization for data exchange between equipment, the standard establishes a new communication paradigm based on digital messages over Ethernet networks, eliminating the need for conventional physical wiring between automation devices.

This new communication model, structured with GOOSE (Generic Object Oriented Substation Event) messages, Sampled Value (SV), and Client-Server (MMS), enables a digital infrastructure capable of improving response speed, equipment interoperability, and operational efficiency in modern substations.

From Rigid Wiring to Network Traffic

Before IEC 61850, analog and digital signals were transmitted through point-to-point wiring, making installation, maintenance, and system expansion expensive and limited. With standardized messages, current, voltage, status, and command signals are now digitally represented and transmitted over local networks (LANs) with specific protocols.

Client-Server Messages (MMS): used for reading and writing data in IEDs (Intelligent Electronic Devices), essential for communication between equipment and SCADA systems.
GOOSE Messages: designed for high-priority events such as protection operations, allowing low-latency communication between devices.
Sampled Value Messages: transport sampled current and voltage values in real time, replacing analog signals from instrument transformers.

New Challenges: Testing and Commissioning with IEC 61850

Migration to a digital architecture imposes a new approach for testing and validating protection, control, and measurement systems. Unlike traditional systems that focused on physical signals, IEC 61850 environments require verification of the integrity, latency, and response of digital messages in real time.

Thus, it is essential to use testing tools compatible with IEC 61850, capable of simulating, monitoring, and analyzing IED behavior with GOOSE, SV, and MMS messages.

Conprove Solution: IEC 61850 Universal Testers

Attentive to sector changes and aligned with market demands, Conprove developed a line of universal testers fully compatible with IEC 61850. Equipped with intuitive software and user-friendly graphical interfaces, Conprove testers enable complete and reliable testing of digital devices.

Equipment Features:

GOOSE, SV, and MMS message generation: event simulation, sampling, and Client-Server communication as per the standard.
Message reception and analysis: real-time monitoring with graphical display and detailed diagnostics.
Automated testing: creation of test routines for commissioning and predictive maintenance of IEDs and automation systems.
Compatibility with multiple IED manufacturers: ensuring interoperability and operational flexibility.

Benefits of the Conprove Solution

Reduced time and cost in commissioning digital substations;
Compliance assurance with IEC 61850 normative requirements;
Increased test reliability and traceability;
Improved operational safety through more accurate testing;
Ease of use through user-friendly graphical tools;
Technical training with specialized support and courses.

Typical Applications

Commissioning protection and control systems in digital substations;
Verifying interoperability between IEDs from different manufacturers;
Latency and performance analysis of GOOSE and SV messages;
Integration tests between IEDs and SCADA systems via MMS;
Event and contingency simulation.

Conprove: National Technology with International Excellence

With solutions widely used by utilities, industries, and research centers, Conprove reaffirms its position as a leading provider of automation and testing tools for electrical systems. Our products are developed with innovation, quality, and international standard compliance in mind, offering our clients safety, agility, and high performance.

Learn more about Conprove’s IEC 61850 testers:
🔗 https://conprove.com/