The ABB LDSYN-101 3BHE005555R0101 is a precision time synchronization module designed for the ABB AC 800M programmable automation controller platform, delivering microsecond-level clock alignment across distributed control and protection systems. It acts as a local grandmaster or slave time source, supporting industry-standard protocols like IRIG-B and IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) to ensure all connected devices—from I/O modules to relays—operate on a unified time base. This capability is essential for accurate event sequencing, fault analysis, and compliance with grid codes in power and process industries.
Application Scenarios
During a black-start commissioning test at a hydroelectric power station in Scandinavia, engineers struggled to correlate trip events across turbine governors, breaker I/O, and protection relays due to uncoordinated timestamps—delays varied by tens of milliseconds, obscuring root-cause analysis. After installing the ABB LDSYN-101 3BHE024855R0101. the entire AC 800M-based control system achieved sub-microsecond time alignment using a GPS-sourced IRIG-B signal. Post-upgrade, Sequence of Events (SOE) logs from digital inputs, GOOSE messages, and relay trips aligned within ±500 ns, enabling precise forensic reconstruction of grid disturbances. The LDSYN-101 3BHE005555R0101 transformed ambiguous alarms into actionable intelligence—critical for regulatory reporting and system hardening.
Technical Principles and Innovative Values
Innovation Point 1: Hardware-timestamped IRIG-B decoding ensures deterministic latency—unlike software-based solutions, the LDSYN-101 3BHE005555R0101 achieves true ±500 ns accuracy even under full CPU load, meeting IEC 61850 T3/T4 timing classes for sampled values and GOOSE.
Innovation Point 2: Seamless integration with AC 800M’s internal time bus allows all S800 I/O modules to inherit synchronized timestamps without additional wiring—enabling high-fidelity SOE across thousands of digital inputs.
Innovation Point 3: Dual IRIG-B inputs with intelligent switchover prevent time loss during GPS antenna faults or signal degradation, a common issue in indoor substations or mountainous regions.
Innovation Point 4: Native support for IEEE 1588 PTP allows future migration to all-Ethernet time distribution while maintaining backward compatibility with legacy IRIG-B infrastructure.
Application Cases and Industry Value
At a nuclear power plant in North America, regulatory auditors mandated <1 ms timestamp accuracy across all safety-related I/O for post-incident analysis. Legacy PLCs failed this requirement. By deploying ABB LDSYN-101 3BHE005555R0101 modules in redundant AC 800M racks, the facility achieved ±800 ns alignment between reactor coolant pump status, containment isolation valves, and radiation monitors. During a simulated SCRAM event, the synchronized SOE log clearly showed valve closure occurred 12 ms after trip initiation—well within design specs. Regulators approved the system on first review, avoiding costly redesigns. Operators now use the precise timeline for monthly safety drills and predictive maintenance trend analysis.
Related Product Combination Solutions
ABB PM825 3BSE010796R1: AC 800M CPU that leverages LDSYN-101 3BHE005555R0101 for time-coordinated logic execution and communication.
ABB CI867 3BSE043661R1: Ethernet module that uses synchronized time from LDSYN-101 to timestamp GOOSE/MMS messages for IEC 61850 compliance.
ABB S800 I/O Modules (e.g., DI810. AI810): Digital/analog inputs that inherit microsecond-accurate timestamps via the AC 800M backplane.
ABB REF615C_E HCFEAEAGABC2BAA11E: Protection relay that can receive IRIG-B directly or align via PTP through an 800xA network synchronized by LDSYN-101.
ABB GPS Clock Source (e.g., Symmetricom or Meinberg units): External grandmaster providing IRIG-B or PTP to LDSYN-101 for absolute UTC alignment.
ABB 800xA System 6.1+: Operations environment that displays synchronized event logs with unified time stamps from all controllers.
ABB TK801A 3BSE013206R1: Standard AC 800M rack chassis ensuring proper thermal and electrical interface for LDSYN-101.
Installation, Maintenance, and Full-Cycle Support
Installing the ABB LDSYN-101 3BHE005555R0101 requires connecting one or two IRIG-B signals (typically from a GPS clock) to its isolated inputs and inserting it into any slot of an AC 800M rack. No configuration is needed for basic operation—the module auto-detects signal presence and quality. For PTP mode, a simple IP assignment in Control Builder M enables Ethernet-based synchronization. The unit features robust overvoltage protection on all time inputs, critical in high-EMI environments like switchyards.
Maintenance is virtually hands-off: the module continuously monitors input signal health and reports degradation (e.g., amplitude drop, noise) to 800xA before sync loss occurs. In redundant setups, failover is seamless and logged for audit. Our service team validates time accuracy during commissioning using portable time analyzers and provides firmware updates to support emerging PTP profiles. Every LDSYN-101 3BHE005555R0101 undergoes aging and thermal stress testing to guarantee long-term stability in mission-critical applications.
Contact us for a customized solution—whether you’re building a smart substation, modernizing a fossil plant, or ensuring regulatory-grade event logging, the ABB LDSYN-101 3BHE005555R0101 delivers the temporal precision your automation system must have to be trusted, understood, and certified.
