Definition:
Vote to trip is an informal term with two usages.
The first and most common usage describes how a logic solver responds to diagnostic faults or bad data, such as whether one or multiple detected failures will force a trip. There are various actions a logic solver can take on a detected fault (beyond the scope here), which can confuse even experienced practitioners.
The second use is a shorthand for “architecture” which is the configuration and redundancy scheme, represented as MooN. Such as 2oo3.
Because these meanings are related but not equivalent, the intended usage should always be made explicit when used.
Key Points:
- Vote to trip is not a formal IEC-defined term.
- More common usage: how diagnostics, faults, or bad inputs, are processed by the logic solver. Such as notifying or forcing a trip.
- Less common usage: shorthand for voting architecture (e.g., 1oo2, 2oo3).
Example:
A SIF uses three pressure transmitters in a 2oo3 architecture for normal trip demand. The SRS specifies that a single detected diagnostic failure in any transmitter will force a SIF trip/activation. Practitioners may describe this as “voting to trip on diagnostics,” even though the normal demand logic remains 2oo3.
See Also: architecture, diagnostics