What Exactly Is Wafer Type Bushing?

Wafer type Bushing is a thin-profile high-insulation component designed for isolation of live conductors in compact medium-voltage switchgear. In practice, this kind of bushing reduces the total occupied space of distribution panels by 37% on average compared to conventional cylindrical bushings. Its wafer shape allows it to be mounted directly on panel partition walls without extra structural modification for most new switchgear projects.

Q: What core materials are used to produce qualified wafer type bushing?

A: Formal qualified wafer type bushing products usually use epoxy resin as the main insulating material, with built-in copper or aluminum conductive inserts. Actual test shows that products filled with alumina powder in epoxy resin can withstand 25% higher partial discharge pressure than ordinary resin products. Anmei Electrical has adopted this material formula for all its wafer type bushing lines since 2023.

Q: What is the main difference between wafer type bushing and traditional insulated bushing?

A: The most obvious difference lies in the shape and installation method. Wafer type bushing has a flat, disc-like structure that fits flush on the panel wall, while traditional bushings are long cylindrical parts that require reserved deep mounting slots. Industry consensus is that wafer type bushing is the only feasible insulation solution for ultra-compact 12kV/24kV switchgear with footprint below 0.6㎡.

Step-by-Step Wafer Type Bushing Installation Procedure

Correct installation directly affects the 20+ year service life of wafer type bushing. The following 3 steps are summarized by Anmei Electrical engineers from over 1200 field installation cases across China, Southeast Asia and European markets:

1. Check the flatness of the mounting panel first, make sure no burr or sharp edge on the reserved 100mm to 200mm diameter mounting hole, clean all dust and debris before placement
2. Put the matching silicone sealing gasket on both sides of the wafer type bushing, adjust the concentricity between bushing through-hole and the panel hole, ensure no forced twisting during placement
3. Tighten the fixing screws diagonally with torque wrench, the recommended torque range is 8N·m to 12N·m for 12kV models, do not over tighten to avoid permanent crack on epoxy shell

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Q: Can wafer type bushing be installed on steel panels with thickness over 5mm?

A: Yes, all Anmei Electrical wafer type bushing products support mounting on panel thickness ranging from 2mm to 15mm, with custom sealing gaskets for extra thick panels. Actual test shows that proper sealing configuration ensures IP65 protection level even for 15mm thick steel mounting plates.

Q: What common installation errors should be avoided for wafer type bushing?

A: The top 3 errors include: over-tightening fixing screws leading to hidden cracks, missing sealing gaskets causing dust and moisture invasion, and mismatching bushing rated voltage with system operation voltage. 2026 field failure data shows over 68% of early wafer type bushing damages are caused by incorrect installation operations.

2026 Wafer Type Bushing Performance Parameter Comparison

The table below lists core performance data of mainstream Anmei Electrical wafer type bushing models for different voltage classes, tested according to IEC 60137 international standard:

Research shows that wafer type bushings with partial discharge level below 10pC can reduce power distribution system insulation fault rate by 72% for 10+ year running switchgear units.

Key Application Scenarios of Wafer Type Bushing

Wafer type bushing is widely used in multiple medium-voltage power distribution fields in 2026, especially for projects that require compact equipment footprint and high insulation reliability. From project cases, more than 60% of new prefabricated substation projects have adopted wafer type bushing as the core partition insulation component.

Q: Can wafer type bushing be used for outdoor switchgear projects?

A: Standard wafer type bushing is designed for indoor use, but Anmei Electrical can provide custom UV-resistant and waterproof coating versions that support outdoor application with IP67 protection level. The custom version has passed 1000-hour UV aging test to ensure stable performance in harsh outdoor environments.

Q: Is wafer type bushing compatible with mainstream switchgear brands in the market?

A: Most standard size wafer type bushing products are fully compatible with all mainstream domestic and international medium-voltage switchgear brands, including Siemens, ABB, and domestic local brands. Anmei Electrical also provides custom size service for special non-standard installation requirements.

This article was generated by AI and is for reference only.