DCF77 Devices:
The DCF77 precision time protocol provides 1 ms resolution and is well-suited to power system applications. Some devices which support DCF77 include:
See also: IRIG-B, GPS Time Sync
- STR-100 Satellite Time Reference
- PowerLogic CM4000 meters
- PowerLogic PM800 meters
- Modicon Quantum PLCs
See also: IRIG-B, GPS Time Sync
DCF77 is a precision time protocol used to synchronize power system devices in time-critical applications. DCF77 was developed by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Braunschweig, Germany, the national institute for science and technology.
DCF77 is both a longwave time signal and a radio station used by the PTB to transmit a precision time signal. DCF77 stands for D=Deutschland, C=long wave signal, F=Frankfurt, and 77= 77.5kHz.
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The DCF77 time synchronization output is a 24Vdc pulse-width modulated signal that provides a complete date/time string once every minute. The signal contains a one-pulse-per-second component that is accurate to 100 microseconds in reference to UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). Each minute, a pulse-string contains a BCD (Binary Coded Decimal) value for minute, hour, day, day of week, month, and year as well as other control parameters such as leap second and Daylight Saving Time (Summer Time).
DCF77 can typically be implemented without dedicated hardware or consuming large processor time, yet offers excellent accuracy. This makes it an attractive solution for synchronizing power system devices. The time frame of DCF77 is one minute, compared with an update every second for IRIG-B. This limits demands on processing without compromising performance.
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