From the game to the real world

SEL feeder & transformer relays (SEL-751 / SEL-787)

The relays behind our SEL emulation. SEL publishes complete instruction manuals free — front-panel drawings, wiring diagrams, settings sheets and the full ASCII command reference (the same ACC/2AC/MET/SHO/SET/TAR/EVE you use in the Terminal tab).

• Find the real front-panel drawing in the manual's 'Front- and Rear-Panel Diagrams' section and compare with the game panel.
• The SEL-751 manual's 'Settings' appendix is the real version of our SHO listing.

ABB Relion 615 series (REF615)

ABB's library hosts the REF615 product guide, application manual and the IEC 61850 parameter lists — the real PHLPTOC1/DPHLPDOC1/PHPTUV1 function blocks our settings tree mimics, with start values in ×In exactly as in the game.

Siemens SIPROTEC 5 (7SJ82)

Siemens Industry Online Support (SIOS) carries the 7SJ82 device manual with the DIGSI 5 parameter addresses (_:2311:3 style), the function chart and LED assignment tables — the source of our Siemens vocabulary.

Real test sets (OMICRON, Doble, Megger)

Our Test set tab models the secondary-injection workflow of an OMICRON CMC or Doble F-series: ramp searches, timing shots, direction pairs. The manufacturers' application notes are the best free education on relay testing there is.

ANSI/IEEE C37.2 device numbers (50, 51, 67, 87…)

The numbers on every relay nameplate come from IEEE C37.2. 50 = instantaneous overcurrent, 51 = time overcurrent, 67 = directional, 27/59 = under/overvoltage, 81 = frequency, 46 = negative sequence, 49 = thermal, 50BF = breaker failure, 79 = reclosing, 87 = differential.

The NPAG — the free 'bible' of protection

The Network Protection & Automation Guide (the classic Areva/Alstom 'black book', now GE) covers every function in this game with real characteristics, CT/VT requirements and scheme drawings — and GE distributes it free. If you read one reference alongside this game, read this.

• Ch. 9 covers overcurrent & directional (our 50/51/67).
• Ch. 16 transformer differential (our 87), Ch. 14 autoreclosing (79).

IEC 60255 / IEEE C37.112 inverse-time curves

The curve equations behind our 51 elements and the Studies TCC plot. IEC 60255-151 defines SI/VI/EI/LTI; IEEE C37.112 defines MI/VI/EI — the same U1–U4/C1–C4 selectors as on the SEL-751.

Insulation testing — Megger's 'A Stitch in Time'

The free classic on insulation-resistance testing: test voltages per insulation class, the dielectric-absorption curve, DAR and PI — exactly what the Megger stage of each chapter simulates (IEEE 43 is the formal standard for rotating machines).

• Our wet-insulation retest case is the real 'low absorption ratio' finding.
• Compare the chart in the game with the curves in the booklet.

CT ratio, polarity and excitation testing

Real commissioning checks every CT: ratio by primary injection (our 120 A / 600:5 quiz), polarity by flick test or in-phase waveform comparison, and the excitation (knee-point) curve that decides whether the CT saturates during faults.

Commissioning practice & relay conference papers

The Texas A&M and Georgia Tech protective relaying conferences publish decades of free papers written by working engineers — real fault investigations, commissioning war stories, setting philosophies. The closest thing to sitting beside a senior engineer.

Real busbar arrangements (single, double, breaker-and-a-half…)

Every scheme in the Schemes step exists in the field. Free references with proper one-line drawings: the NPAG, IEEE/CIGRE papers, and well-illustrated engineering portals.

• Compare our H-scheme chapter with real 132 kV industrial intake drawings.
• Breaker-and-a-half is the standard EHV pattern worldwide — easy to find in utility standards.

Reading real single-line diagrams (and feeding them to the Schemes reader)

Utility SLDs use IEC 60617 / IEEE 315 symbols: the square breaker, the two-circle transformer, CT dots for polarity. Export any CAD SLD you have rights to as DXF and drop it into the Schemes page — the reader classifies INCOMER/FEEDER/TR/52 annotations into protection bays.

Where to get real photos you're allowed to use

Manufacturer product photos are copyrighted — link to them (as this guide does) rather than copying them into the app. For images you can actually import into your library below, use openly licensed sources and your own site photos.

• Wikimedia Commons: thousands of CC-licensed substation, switchgear and relay photos — check each image's license and keep the attribution in your caption.
• Your own phone photos from site visits, training centers and labs (with permission to photograph).
• Employer-licensed manuals and drawings — fine for your private library here, since images never leave your browser.
• Flickr (filter by Creative Commons license) and Unsplash/Pexels for generic grid/substation shots.