Abstract: Provided is a system relay-to-relay direct communication system and method in a power system. The relay-to-relay direct communication system includes a first protective relay having a first transmit module where the first transmit module includes a first microcontroller adapted to provide a plurality of data channels. Each of the plurality of data channels is associated with channel data having a variety of bit-lengths. The relay-to-relay direct communication system also includes a second protective relay directly coupled to the first protective relay via a communication link. The second protective relay includes a first receive module where the first receive module including a second microcontroller adapted to provide the plurality of data channels. A speed of receipt of the channel data by the first receive module is adjustable based on an assignment of the channel data to the plurality of data channels of the first transmit module.