This paper proposes an alternative method for the coordination of overcurrent protection devices by using an adaptive scheme. This scheme is described as well and validated through two co-simulation techniques: the Real Time simulation (RT) and the Hardware-in-the-Loop simulation (HIL). These techniques require the integration of different software and hardware platforms as PSAT <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">®</sup> and LABVIEW <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">®</sup> . The results of the integration are presented applying the methodology to the IEEE 13-Nodes test system. Then, the information delivered by the RT-HIL simulation is compared and validated whit the offline software ETAP <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">®</sup> . The RT-HIL simulation methodology proposed in this paper can be used as a platform for testing and validation of smart grid algorithms.