Some of Our Relay Training Reviews

The information in this course was very well presented. The practice sheets make the concepts more easily understood. I would recommend this course to anyone who is involved with electrical power systems.

Most of the 'relay' problems I have faced were actually human errors instead of equipment errors. Most relay tests would not catch these errors. Examples: Wrong CT/PT ratios, wrong polarity.

This course helped show how testing a relay can also catch human errors in the installation of equipment or wiring and the programming.

This course is unlike any I have ever seen. I have paid ten times the cost to attend training in person, and the training usually covers mostly theory and standards. This course actually shows you how to do real-world relay testing.

Excellent course, We are only as good as the persons who have taught us in the past. But you have laid out a great start to finish on EM relays. I have been testing relays for years and luckily had a decent amount of EM relay testing in my past. This was a great review and learned a few things i had not been aware of. Never too old to learn a thing or two. As time goes on we see less and less EM relays in the field. We have many techs who have only learned and continue to work on micro-processor relays. I’m afraid this is becoming a lost art. Thanks again for a great course!!

This course helped me understand what true relay testing is, Dynamic testing is truly fun to learn & not so boring as you would just button pushing.

You wont regret it.

I think this is a great avenue for training.

I think this will help me a lot in future applications. I saved the provided excel sheet for future use.

I have been in electrical testing for the past 15 years and have worked for NETA shops and utilities. The booklet is excellent for a beginner as well as a seasoned test technician. I purchased this for a look at another’s perspective on end-to-end relay testing. Included are test plans, connections, procedures and testing philosophies. The user will find an overview of nearly all of the popular protection strategies as well as a very helpful overview chart.

I have been so impressed with the booklet that I will purchase the expansive relay manual.

Bravo Mr. Werstiuk, (author), you have accomplished in a few pages the equivalent of a semester of test school.

Well worth the money and best training I've had.

I have already recommended the program to employees at my previous job. This is the most compressive relay training program I have ever seen.

Boost your knowledge and confidence to analyze protection schemes and creating thorough relay test plans & reports.

The course shared options of testing multiple outputs when tripping the 86 lockouts by placing the outputs in series. Instead of checking just one of the lockout outputs assigned to that element.

This class was a very good mix of the theory behind relay testing and hands-on application. I would recommend this course to anyone who is interested in learning about relay testing or anyone who is looking for a refresher course in the basics.

Chris is an excellent instructor that was able to teach at everyone’s level from beginner to advance. Chris didn’t move on until he felt everyone had a grasp of what he was teaching, so nobody got left behind. I like the fact that Chris taught from his experience and not from a book written by some else. I look forward to taking other classes with Chris.

One should take this course whether they know everything about relays or know nothing about them at all. Anyone could walk into this course and learn something. For those who have low experience with testing relays, this class will start you off on the right path to becoming a great relay tester.

Take it, there is a wealth of information and a lot to be learned about electromechanical relay testing and digital relay testing

This is a great class; even if you have little to no experience with relays. Chris can really break things down to the most basic level. Great instruction. Great class.

A different perspective on relay testing, especially since most testing companies use automated testing. It helps better understand the operation of the relays and how the results were obtained. Not just button pushing……..

What would you tell someone who was thinking about a purchase?

I scribble phasor diagrams everyday while explaining systems, simulations, or theory. It behooves every NETA technician level 2 and up to be able to understand the relationship between the generator, the sine wave, and the phasor diagram.

Chris does a great job ! It is very obvious he has a lot of knowledge, backed up by experience. His patience, and dynamic personality, made for a comfortable learning environment.

I would definitely recommend his classes.

Do not hesitate not even for a second if you want to learn the right way to test and commission a protection relay just go ahead and take this course

Worth the time and money, a great class to utilize now and down the road.

Just beginning my path with relay testing, and course was filled with plenty of good thoughts and info.

It’s a lot of good and clear information

Don't focus solely on Enoserv testing, instead try to understand what the relay is intended to do and how you can test it as a whole.

What would you advise students who are interested in this course?

Review any of Chris's YouTube videos that relate to the relays you will be going over, and if possible purchase the Relay seminar video and review the modules that pertain to "Dynamic testing", it will be the best investment of time and money you could make as a Relay Tech.

This course is a must for relay testing engineers who struggle with the testing of more advanced relay functions such as line distance and transformer differential. Instruction on the background and theory of the functions is followed by hands-on testing of these functions on relays that are commonly encountered in the field.

Valence Electrical Training Services instructors break every generator protection element down into manageable sections. The small classroom sizes make for a good learning environment.

Chris is extremely knowledgeable and experienced. He has seen almost every mistake that can be made in the protection and control game. This course will provide you with a great step-by-step guide to testing. Not only will you have a good guide, but you will understand WHY you are doing that step.

All I've had to work with so far was Enoserve/RTS, virtually no training for microprocessor relay tested and just dated electromechanical training. I couldn't tell you if what I did was correct or not beyond green dots for test passed. Now I have a much better understanding of relay testing and a whole lot more insight on how to use my test set WITHOUT reprogramming the relay.

I found this course to be very useful in understanding the fundamentals of three-phase power systems. It was extremely easy to follow along. Very clear, cadenced rhythm with the video narration allowed me to understand without having to backtrack.

The course material would be suitable for technicians or students looking to get a grasp on three-phase power systems and converting between cycles and seconds; a must have for any relay technician.

I appreciated the real world examples and exercises, which will help me when I come across these specific problems in the microprocessor based world of protection relays.

Overall I highly recommend this course!

you will get a lot of knowledge out of the course that will save you time in the long run

I've done enough coursework in my life in various disciplines and trade crafts to have forgotten some of them. In all of my studies, I have rarely met an instructor who knew their material better, delivered it more clearly and effectively, or who obviously enjoyed teaching their subject more. His class helped me understand relay testing at a level far above what I knew before I took it. It would be difficult to overstate the value of his classes.

Great way of increasing your electrical knowledge

If you're new to digital relays and want to feel confident when approaching them in the field, definitely get started with this course.

Chris was an excellent instructor. For an inexperienced tester like myself, he made it easy to follow and understand. I was never bored once in the 3 days. I had never used the Doble or its software before, and now I’m confident I have a great base to continue my learning.

Would have saved me a lot of learning curve if I had had this course when I started testing distance and differential relays a couple years ago. Even with a couple years of experience, it filled in some gaps.

I have just bought your protection relay testing set of books about a few weeks ago and I just wanted to say that I’m very impressed with it.

I have been commissioning power systems for a few years and I wish I had found your books a while ago.

Wonderful course that really digs into generation protection while keeping it interesting and informative. The hands-on approach really aids in the retaining of knowledge!

Definitely worth the effort, you will learn not only techniques of relay testing, but exemplary professionalism as well. The courses prepare one to be a good relay tester instead of “Button Pusher” or a mediocre one. Better yet, you might’ve found yourself a field support.

Get hold of “The Relay Testing Handbook” by Chris Werstiuk, very good review on related power system theories and excellent guide line for the training course.

How did you feel about testing relays before the course?
My greatest frustration was understanding the purpose and function of some of the digital elements without an understanding of their physical ancestors.

How did the course help you?
Having less field experience than many of my classmates, I came into the course expecting to be left behind rather quickly. However, Chris has a knack for effectively teaching everyone sitting in front of him no matter what their experience.

How do you feel about relay testing now?
I'm far more interested in pursuing excellence in testing methods.

Why should someone take this course?
I was a beginner when I took the Protective Relay Testing Fundamentals Course--very green in the discipline--and I took the class with people who had a range of experience. Some had decades in this specific field while others (like myself) had only a year or so, with several somewhere in between. Because the class is structured as a hands-on test experience of an individual relay element in both its electro-mechanical and digital forms, everyone gets to follow along under instructor guidance. Everyone learned something, and the delivery was as inviting, enjoyable, and enriching as any class I've ever taken in any subject or discipline. Relay testing can be an intimidating subject, but this class demystified some of its thornier aspects and Chris taught it in such a way as to make relay testing an inviting and deeply interesting endeavor.

I picked your courses because they looked interesting and they were inexpensive.

I was not disappointed, I found them very informative and quite easy to follow.

I would recommend these courses to anyone needing continuing education or just wanting to learn more about relays.

I learned a lot and look forward to taking more classes from Valence.

You really get a sense of why relay testing is so important before a system goes into service. You also get hands-on training testing the more complicated relays in use today. The instructor is knowledgeable and has a great deal of experience in the field.

This course should be mandatory to anyone entering into relay testing! I feel that they should have a little experience under their belt with the basics of talking to the relay, changing settings, using a test set to test elements, etc, but certainly a must in my book!

Chris has an incredible amount of knowledge and experience which he shares as he teaches the theory and practical methods of relay testing. These experiences are so valuable whether you are new or an experienced veteran of relay testing. You get theory and then the opportunity to set up different testing situations to apply and prove the lessons. You can experiment with the circuits and test until you are proficient. Regardless of the brand of test-set, Chris is there to assist and offer advice until you are comfortable with the testing circuit and the test-set's available functions. Excellent opportunity to learn the strengths and weaknesses of different brands of relay test-sets. Chris has a natural talent for teaching!

A good start or refresher for anyone who is eager to learn.

This is a great beginner course to 3-phase power for relay testers that are thrown in to relay testing through programs rather than having the electrical theory to back up troubleshooting and expected results.

How did you feel about testing relays before the course?
I am a bit apprehensive with the New Test Equipment for Digital Relays

How did the course help you?
Made me more aware of how easy it is to operate and test Digital Relays

How do you feel about relay testing now?
Not got an issue now

Why should someone take this course?
Massive benefits. The Tutor is so advanced in his techniques. Also he has shown the correct way in testing.

What would you tell someone who was thinking about a purchase?
I think the cost of this training was the best money I ever spent for continuing education training. The information passed on was exactly the knowledge I needed to refresh and expand. This training captured my full attention. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

How did you feel about testing relays before your purchase?
I tested relays manually (mechanical and microprocessor) for a number of years before I got any automated equipment so I feel like I have a solid understanding of what is being simulated during testing. Once we got into using automated testing software I could not stand how button-pushers were being sent out to "test relays" and never prove any logic or even determine if the relay will actually trip. But in our industry market time is money so get out there and test as many relays as humanly possible as quickly as possible. I typically take the time needed to prove the important components so I am confident the relay will perform as intended.

How did the material help you?
I am very interested in the dynamic test methods and will be implementing them soon to our test methods. I also saw some test setup methods that apply specifically to my test set that will also help me out in the future.

How do you feel about relay testing now?
I have been reinvigorated! I'm ready to regroup and teach our junior techs some better quality relay testing.

This course will help you sort out which brands use which system to depict phase angles. That is super handy in the field.

This course was probably hands down the best relay training course I have ever taken in my 13 years of relay testing. It is obvious the instructor knows what he talking about and is very enthusiastic about relay testing. His approach makes it easy for someone to understand what the relay elements are trying to accomplish and how to properly test that element. This class should be on every relay technician’s list as not only part of their certification but also as a refresher. Well done!

If you are having trouble understanding basic fundamentals of relays , this class is taught by an experienced engineer who can succesfully explain what is going on and how to understand it.

I was really impressed with the instructor's knowledge of both the test equipment and the relays which we tested. I have been to several advanced relay training courses and this was by far the best yet. It is great that it is given by a tester, for testers. I highly recommend this course to anyone who tests relays no matter what their skill set is.

this course is good whether you don't know phasors or need a refresher