Instantaneous overcurrent protection is where a protective relay initiates a breaker trip based on current exceeding a pre-programmed “pickup” value for any length of time. Its defining feature is zero intentional time delay (or minimal delay), with typical operating times of 20–50 ms, complying with IEC 60255-151 (Overcurrent Protection. These protection devices, namely relays, can respond instantly to serious problems, or allow for short recovery time following minor, routine events. The protection operates with a definite time characteristic. Here's a quick summary of four key relay functions every protection engineer should understand: Responds instantly to overcurrent without delay.