{"schemaVersion":1,"slug":"disturbance-recorder","name":"Disturbance recorder","kind":"symbol","abbreviation":"DFR","aliases":["digital fault recorder","fault recorder","transient recorder"],"category":"measurement-protection","drawingTypes":["SLD","Schematic"],"referenceFamilies":["IEC","IEEE / ANSI","Manufacturer"],"summary":"Recorder that captures analogue waveforms and binary signals before and after a trigger for fault analysis.","description":["A disturbance recorder captures sampled current and voltage waveforms together with breaker and protection contact states when a trigger occurs. Pre-fault and post-fault data let engineers check how protection performed, so the recorder is drawn with its analogue inputs from CTs and VTs and its binary inputs from trip and position contacts.","Many protection relays now include this function, so a separate recorder symbol usually indicates a dedicated substation-wide unit. The symbol does not show trigger conditions, sample rate or record length, and records are commonly exchanged in a standard file format that should be named in the specification."],"readingNotes":["Trace analogue inputs to their CTs and VTs.","List binary inputs and their sources."],"drawingChecklist":["List analogue channels","List binary channels","State trigger and record length"],"distinction":"A disturbance recorder stores high-rate waveforms around an event; a sequence-of-events recorder stores timestamped contact changes only.","facts":[{"label":"Inputs","value":"Analogue currents and voltages plus binary signals"},{"label":"Record","value":"Pre- and post-trigger waveforms"},{"label":"Preview","value":"Functional illustration of the device role; not a product footprint or certified standard graphic"}],"references":[{"sourceId":"abb-functions","relevance":"Public relay function list including disturbance recording within protection IEDs."},{"sourceId":"public-power-quality-meter","relevance":"Public meter manual describing measurement, logging and recording features of a revenue and power-quality meter."}],"related":["sequence-of-events-recorder","numerical-protection-relay","oscilloscope"],"artwork":"s28-disturbance-recorder","publishedOn":"2026-10-28","updatedOn":"2026-10-28","provenance":"independent-public-research","plainEnglish":{"title":"What does Disturbance recorder mean?","introduction":"A disturbance recorder captures sampled current and voltage waveforms together with breaker and protection contact states when a trigger occurs. Pre-fault and post-fault data let engineers check how protection performed, so the recorder is drawn with its analogue inputs from CTs and VTs and its binary inputs from trip and position contacts.","example":"Many protection relays now include this function, so a separate recorder symbol usually indicates a dedicated substation-wide unit. The symbol does not show trigger conditions, sample rate or record length, and records are commonly exchanged in a standard file format that should be named in the specification.","drawings":"Trace analogue inputs to their CTs and VTs. List binary inputs and their sources. A disturbance recorder stores high-rate waveforms around an event; a sequence-of-events recorder stores timestamped contact changes only.","terms":[{"name":"Normally open / normally closed","meaning":"The contact state in the normal condition defined for the drawing."},{"name":"Coil","meaning":"A wound conductor that can produce a magnetic field when energised."},{"name":"Signal","meaning":"Electrical information passed between devices, rather than necessarily the main power supply."}],"diagram":"flow","steps":["Identify the device and form","Read the connections and state","Check the equipment reference"],"caption":"A guide to reading this reference. The original symbol illustration and its drawing notes appear below; these boxes are not a wiring diagram.","sources":[{"label":"Relion 620: functions, codes and symbols","url":"https://techdoc.relays.protection-control.abb/r/620-series-IEC-60870-5-103-Point-List-Manual/2.0-FP1-IEC/en-US/Functions-codes-and-symbols"},{"label":"PowerLogic ION9000 user manual","url":"https://www.se.com/us/en/download/document/26719674/"}],"detail":"Recorder that captures analogue waveforms and binary signals before and after a trigger for fault analysis. A disturbance recorder stores high-rate waveforms around an event; a sequence-of-events recorder stores timestamped contact changes only.","profileId":"reviewed-symbol-20261028"},"url":"https://eloragrid.ai/symbols/disturbance-recorder","illustration":{"url":"https://eloragrid.ai/tools/electrical-library/illustrations/disturbance-recorder.svg","scope":"Original educational concept; not an official standard graphic or product footprint","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"sources":[{"id":"abb-functions","title":"Relion 620: functions, codes and symbols","publisher":"ABB","url":"https://techdoc.relays.protection-control.abb/r/620-series-IEC-60870-5-103-Point-List-Manual/2.0-FP1-IEC/en-US/Functions-codes-and-symbols","type":"manufacturer","scope":"Published product mappings between function names, IEC 61850 identifiers, IEC mnemonics and ANSI designations. These are product examples, not universal equivalences.","checkedOn":"2026-10-13","reuse":"link-only","relevance":"Public relay function list including disturbance recording within protection IEDs."},{"id":"public-power-quality-meter","title":"PowerLogic ION9000 user manual","publisher":"Schneider Electric","url":"https://www.se.com/us/en/download/document/26719674/","type":"manufacturer","scope":"Public manufacturer documentation for the installation, operation and configuration of an advanced energy and power-quality meter. Exact functions and terminals depend on the selected model.","checkedOn":"2026-10-13","reuse":"link-only","relevance":"Public meter manual describing measurement, logging and recording features of a revenue and power-quality meter."}]}