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The CMC 500: The Innovation That Makes Power System Professionals Smile
September 22, 2025
Protection testing specialists know that efficiency is key – but with growing complexities in grid infrastructure, testing becomes a time-consuming struggle. Now our revolutionary multifunctional test set brings back the smiles to their faces. The CMC 500 is redefining efficiency with its versatility.
Transformation of the Grids
The global electricity demand is surging, with a 4.3% increase in 2024 compared to 2.5% in 2023. To accommodate the rising demand, the distribution grid is evolving from unidirectional to dynamic and intelligent networks. As a result of this rapid expansion as well as the needed modernization, grid operators are facing significant challenges.
With the growing number of new installations, and the shortage of skilled professionals, testing efficiency is critical and increasingly at risk. But how can a multifunctional, future-ready protection test set provide you with the flexibility needed to take control of the increasing scope of testing tasks?
Built to Adapt, Engineered to Perform
For us, versatility across applications means that you have a solution at hand that easily adjusts to the various requirements in the years to come. Thanks to its modular design, diverse accessories and continuous updates, the CMC 500 is future-proof, effortlessly adapting to a wide range of testing scenarios:
Why is the CMC 500 a Game Changer in the Field?
On the one hand, this test set accelerates commissioning with unparalleled efficiency, optimized testing performance, and lower overall costs. On the other hand, it is compact and lightweight, making it easy to transport and set up. Depending on the configuration, the CMC 500 can weigh as little as 12 kg (26.46 lb).
In addition, the intuitive software and control interface reduce the learning curve. Automation and guided workflows enable even less experienced users to perform complex tasks with confidence.
The robust modular and multi-phase hardware platform establishes a solid basis for multifunctional use, including:
- Powerful current and voltage outputs
- Binary and analog inputs and outputs
- An IEC 61850 interface
Efficiency is Key
The CMC 500 streamlines the testing process by reducing the number of manual steps, which saves commissioning teams significant time. Its automated testing procedures, combined with its versatility, set new benchmarks. As a result, testing time can be reduced by up to 80% for a wide range of applications.
“It’s tough to keep the balance between being fast and getting the job done professionally. With automation, you minimize the risk of human errors. Moreover, automated test plans significantly increase the testing quality.”
Fabian Kolb
The Superpower: the Testing Software
While the flexible hardware platform lays the foundation for versatile use, its full potential is unlocked by powerful and comprehensive software. The software concept for controlling the CMC 500 offers a unique combination of a bottom-up and a top-down approach that optimizes the depth and efficiency of the testing.
Test Universe is a powerful software solution for parameter-based testing, covering all generations of protection devices. It lets you integrate application-optimized test modules to build flexible, automated test plans, and offers a wide range of test templates. Beyond that, you can also test energy meters, Power Quality analyzers, electrical measuring transducers and voltage regulators.
RelaySimTest is designed for system-based protection testing and works independent of relay type and manufacturer. You can simulate realistic power system events to validate the correct operation of the entire protection system.
EnerLyzer is a software solution for comprehensive real-time measurement and signal recording. You can use it for troubleshooting during commissioning and after incidents.
CMC CT-Check (available in 2026) is an add-on tool that provides simple and reliable checks for your current transformers through secondary injection. You can quickly verify wiring, polarity and burden, while automatic demagnetization ensures accurate performance.
Why Choose Versatility?
A main advantage of multifunctionality is that protection engineers only need to carry a single test set that enables them to test different assets seamlessly. This eliminates the need for multiple setups and the use of different hardware and software at every step of the process.
One test set, company-wide impact:
- With fewer variations of test sets, training costs drop.
- Maintenance management of test sets gets easier as there are fewer interfaces, processes, and contacts needed.
- Fewer test sets simplify test template management: a versatile test set stores all templates for different assets in one library, enabling one-click use and improved testing efficiency and quality.
- Documentation for testing various assets is generated in a single software, eliminating manual consolidation and formatting, thus saving time.
If a versatile test set satisfies the necessary requirements, purchasing one device can offer lower overall costs.
Ultimately, the CMC 500’s versatility is demonstrated by its ability to deliver accurate and efficient testing of analog, hybrid, and fully digital systems. We are smiling. And you?
Listen to the Experts
If you are interested in how the CMC 500 works in the medium-voltage grids, then click on the link below and listen to episode #106 of our Energy Talks podcast. Gerd Kaufmann, OMICRON expert for the testing of industrial and distribution grid applications, and Fabian Kolb, product manager at OMICRON, explain further why versatility is key for your future testing needs.
