Functional block · DBOB

Digital breaker-command output boundary

Functional block · Substations

An independently authored application reference. The drawing shows the named function or circuit relationship; use the project legend and selected equipment documentation for its drafting form and connections.

Browse this installation focus

In plain English

What this block does

Shows the conversion from a received digital operating request to the assigned physical breaker output.

A simple example

In a digital substation bay, a merging unit digitizes local measurements and a protective relay subscribes to the assigned data stream. The command return path and communication-health indications are drawn separately. For this reference, the drawing identifies “Accepted digital command” at the input and “Physical operating output” at the output. The output circuit still requires its normal supervision.

Accepted digital commandDBOBPhysical operating output
A reading guide. The entry's original illustration and input/output facts describe this application.

What the drawings help you do

Start at the named input: Accepted digital command. Identify its source device or document and the state represented on the drawing. Follow the named output: Physical operating output. Cross-reference its destination and separate the command from confirmation that the equipment responded.

Input
Accepted digital command
Output
Physical operating output
Application reference
An explanation of a named drawing function or circuit relationship; the project documents define the equipment and its connections.

Read the source: Digital secondary systems: Sampled Values

Schematic · DBOBDigital breaker-command output boundary: original educational illustration
Original educational illustrationSee source and graphic notes

What it represents

Shows the conversion from a received digital operating request to the assigned physical breaker output. Digital substation interfaces carry measurements, status and control information between primary equipment and protective devices. Measurement streams, event messages and time synchronization are separate dependencies even when they share an Ethernet network.

In a digital substation bay, a merging unit digitizes local measurements and a protective relay subscribes to the assigned data stream. The command return path and communication-health indications are drawn separately. For this reference, the drawing identifies “Accepted digital command” at the input and “Physical operating output” at the output. The output circuit still requires its normal supervision.

Identify publisher, subscriber, data meaning and quality handling. Protocol labels alone do not establish protection performance, compatibility or network redundancy; these need the selected system configuration and validation. The functional block is an independent explanation of this named application. Equipment-specific ratings, terminal connections and operating conditions must be established in the project documentation.

How to read it

  • Start at the named input: Accepted digital command. Identify its source device or document and the state represented on the drawing.
  • Follow the named output: Physical operating output. Cross-reference its destination and separate the command from confirmation that the equipment responded.
  • The output circuit still requires its normal supervision.
  • Identify publisher, subscriber, data meaning and quality handling. Protocol labels alone do not establish protection performance, compatibility or network redundancy; these need the selected system configuration and validation.

Information to show or reference

  • Label the source and connection reference for accepted digital command.
  • Identify the destination and defined state of physical operating output.
  • Record the equipment or control-document revision supporting this functional block.
  • Check this application limit in the project design: The output circuit still requires its normal supervision.

A distinction that matters

The output circuit still requires its normal supervision. This reference describes the named application; it does not establish a new IEC graphical symbol, an ANSI device-function number or an exact manufacturer connection diagram.

Sources you can follow

These public references support the explanation and provide further detail. Their graphics and downloadable files remain with their publishers.

Digital secondary systems: Sampled Values

Public technical context for digital substation process interfaces. Merging units, sampled measurements, GOOSE, process bus and network redundancy. The application text and educational graphic are independently authored; the publisher does not certify this representation.

SEL · Public reference checked 3 November 2026 · Link only

About this graphic

This illustration was authored independently by Elora Grid to explain the concept. It is not reproduced from a customer drawing, an official standard graphic or a manufacturer CAD file. Its correspondence to an exact IEC or IEEE symbol identifier has not been certified.

SVG and DXF downloads contain this original artwork. Original artwork is available under CC BY 4.0. Third-party references retain their own terms.

Entry JSON · Entry Markdown · Last editorial update: 3 November 2026

Put the reference into a drawing workflow.

Elora Grid helps electrical teams work with drawings, specifications and equipment information. Explore the drafting workflow or join the early-access waitlist.

Explore drafting