A remote patrol instrument of a switch cabinet of a substation comprises a real-time monitoring device, a walking base and a guide rail arranged close to the switch cabinet. The walking base is arranged on the guide rail. The real-time monitoring device is arranged on the walking base through a connection-rod type lifting mechanism, and the walking base is provided with a walking motor and a lifting motor driving the connection-rod type lifting mechanism. The real-time monitoring device comprises an image-forming unit, a light unit, an information collection transmission unit and a main controller. The image-forming unit, the light unit, the information collection transmission unit, the walking motor and the lifting motor are respectively connected with the main controller. The real-time monitoring device is communicated with a monitoring system of a remote monitoring room through the information collection transmission unit. The real-time operation working condition of the switch cabinet can be conveniently and quickly inspected in a long distance by patrolmen, abnormal operation can be timely found out, and threats of electrified equipment to human bodies are reduced. The remote patrol instrument can share a remote transmission device with an existing image monitoring system and greatly reduce construction cost of the device.