A prefabricated compact substation (also called a "box substation" or "kiosk substation") is a self-contained unit that houses all substation equipment — HV switchgear, transformer, and LV distribution — inside a single factory-built enclosure. Unlike traditional substations, which require constructing a dedicated building and installing equipment piece by piece on site, a compact substation arrives fully assembled and tested. This means much faster installation (days instead of weeks), much smaller footprint (up to 60% less space), and lower total project cost. It's essentially a "plug-and-play" power distribution solution.

The right transformer size depends on your total connected load and expected diversity factor. Our YBM series covers 50kVA to 2500kVA, which serves everything from small commercial buildings to large industrial facilities and residential communities. As a rough guide: 50-315kVA for small shops and office buildings, 400-1000kVA for mid-size buildings and small factories, and 1250-2500kVA for large factories, high-rise buildings, and communities. Our engineering team can calculate the optimal sizing based on your load profile and future expansion plans — just share your single-line diagram or load list.

It depends on where the substation will be installed and your fire safety requirements. Oil-immersed transformers (S11/S13 series) are more efficient, less expensive, and better for outdoor use — they're the standard choice for most outdoor prefabricated substations. Dry-type transformers (SCB series, cast resin) are flame-retardant and don't contain oil, making them safer for indoor installations or locations near buildings with high fire risk. Dry-type units are also preferred in environmentally sensitive areas where oil leakage would be a concern. Both options are available in our YBM series.

For outdoor installations, we recommend at least IP44 (protected against objects larger than 1mm and water splashing from any direction). For locations with heavy rain, coastal environments, or dusty industrial areas, IP54 is the better choice — it provides dust-protected ingress and splash protection from all directions. IP33 is typically sufficient for indoor or sheltered installations. All our protection class ratings are tested and certified. We can also recommend additional features like anti-corrosion coatings for coastal or industrial environments.

One of the biggest advantages of prefabricated substations is speed. The unit arrives at your site fully assembled and factory-tested. On-site work typically takes just 2-5 days: you'll need a concrete foundation pad (we provide drawings), HV cable connection, LV cable connections, earthing, and final commissioning testing. Compare this to 4-8 weeks for a traditional brick substation building plus equipment installation. We provide complete installation drawings, foundation specifications, and can offer on-site commissioning support or remote guidance for your electrical team.

Yes, absolutely. Our YBM compact substations are highly customizable. You can specify: HV voltage (10-24kV), LV voltage (380-480V), transformer capacity (50-2500kVA), transformer type (oil or dry), HV switch type (load break, vacuum, SF6), LV breaker configuration, protection class (IP33/IP44/IP54), exterior finish and color, metering options, automation and SCADA integration, and more. We regularly design custom units for solar farms, data centers, mining operations, and other specialized applications. Send us your technical requirements and we'll design a tailored solution.