GridTime 3000 GNSS Time Server

Product Information

Precise and Secure Timing for Power Utility Substations

Microchip’s GridTime™ 3000 GNSS time server is a software-enabled solution that provides enhanced levels of redundant, secure, and resilient timing for power utility substations. It generates precise time and frequency signals to synchronise analogue and digital communication systems within the substation.

The GridTime 3000 GNSS time server generates precise time and frequency signals to synchronise analogue and digital communication systems within the substation.

GridTime 3000 GNSS Time Server v1.0 Product Highlights

• Substation hardened with IEC 61850-3 compliance
• Isolated single- or dual-power supply options
• Support for IEEE 1588v2 PTP, Network Time Protocol (NTP), Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP), IRIG-B, PPS, T1/E1/J1 and serial time strings

Flexible to meet Changing Substation Design

There are major changes to substation design philosophies underway, and utilities are looking toward the future to determine what substation architecture will look like in years to come.  To fill the needs of a changing environment, the GridTime 3000 GNSS time server has flexible licensing options to enable utilities to only enable the features they need, when they need them,

Electrical Protection

When power surges are present in a substation network, it is critical that all devices continue to operate.  All ports on the GridTime 3000 GNSS time server are electrically isolated to ensure continued operation if an unexpected surge or transient occurs.

Redundancy

We have engineered the GridTime 3000 GNSS time server to keep the network going with redundant power supplies, multiple timing oscillators, firmware upgrade, downgrade verification and Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP) support.

Resilience

Although issues within any type of network are guaranteed to happen, the ability to ride out and recover from these issues is important.

Resilient timing is critical in any modern substation.  The GridTime 3000 GNSS time server consists of multiple safeguards to ensure it can withstand unpredictable and adverse conditions.

Mitigation techniques include malicious software checking, hardened components, advanced holdover options and compliance to IEC 61850-3 environmental standards.

The GridTime™ 3000 server, with a licensed feature model, provides greater flexibility than earlier technology, allowing clients to upgrade system technology as needed. Developed with input from customers, the GridTime™ 3000 server offers ten 1000BASE-T Ethernet (1 Gbps) ports for high-speed synchronisation using Precision Time Protocol (PTP) and Network Time Protocol (NTP).

This technology complements Microchip’s other timing and synchronisation solutions including the TimePictra^® Synchronisation Management System providing status and configuration support, BlueSky™ GNSS Firewall for protecting GNSS systems against threats from jamming and spoofing, and interoperability with the TimeProvider^® 4100 timing server family.

The GridTime™ 3000 server utilises numerous Microchip technologies including integrated circuits and oscillators to offer customers a comprehensive and reliable solution. In addition to precise GNSS-based systems and other industry-leading time and frequency solutions, Microchip’s product portfolio includes in-house fabrication and total system solutions that span power, connectivity, storage, security and memory technology.