Download
One Excel workbook, two sheets: an NEC panelboard schedule (loads in VA per phase) and an AS/NZS distribution board schedule (loads in amps per phase), each with drop-down lists, phase totals and an imbalance check. No sign-up and no email required.
XLSX · 4 sheets (How to use, NEC Panel Schedule, AS-NZS DB Schedule, hidden Lists) · 42 and 36 circuit rows · free to use and adapt
What is a panel schedule?
A panel schedule is the table that describes every circuit in a panelboard or distribution board: what each circuit feeds, the protective device that protects it, the conductor or cable that carries it, and how much load it puts on each phase. It sits alongside the single-line diagram and the cable schedule, and it is usually printed and fixed inside the board door, so electricians and maintainers rely on it long after construction.
A good schedule lets an installer wire the board without guessing, lets an engineer see at a glance whether the phases are balanced and the board has spare capacity, and gives the next person to modify the board an accurate record to work from.
Two versions: NEC panelboard and AS/NZS distribution board
US and Australian practice describe the same thing in different terms, so the workbook keeps them on separate sheets rather than forcing one layout on both.
| Item | NEC Panel Schedule sheet | AS-NZS DB Schedule sheet |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | Panelboard (for example 208Y/120 V, 3-phase, 4-wire) | Distribution board (for example 400/230 V, 3-phase, 4-wire, 50 Hz) |
| Circuit positions | 42 positions, phase A/B/C in the usual 1–2 A, 3–4 B, 5–6 C pattern | 36 circuits, phase L1/L2/L3 chosen per circuit |
| Protective device | Breaker poles and trip rating | Device type (MCB, RCBO, MCCB, fuse), rating, curve, poles and 30 mA RCD flag |
| Conductors | Size in AWG or kcmil | Cable size in mm² plus the cable ID from your cable schedule |
| Load entry | VA per phase, optional demand factor per circuit | Amps per phase |
| Totals | Connected VA and current per phase, total demand load, 3-phase demand current, imbalance | Current per phase, highest phase, imbalance, and a check of your maximum demand against the main switch |
Which standards apply
- United States: panelboards, load calculations and overcurrent protection follow the NEC (NFPA 70) edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted, mainly the articles covering branch-circuit and feeder load calculations and panelboards.
- Australia / New Zealand: the wiring rules are AS/NZS 3000, which also sets out how maximum demand is assessed; cable selection is to AS/NZS 3008.1.1; and the switchboard assembly itself is designed and verified to the AS/NZS 61439 series.
The workbook does not reproduce tables or demand factors from either standard. Enter values from your own licensed copy or your design software. The imbalance limit is a cell you set for your project; it is not a code value.
What goes in each column
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Header block | Project, client, document number, revision, date, board or panel name, location, what it is fed from, and who prepared and checked it. |
| System data | Voltage, phases and wires, bus or main switch rating, short-circuit or prospective fault rating, and enclosure, form of separation or IP rating as applicable. |
| Circuit no. / description | The circuit number as labelled in the board and a description an electrician will understand on site. |
| Device and rating | Breaker or device type, poles, rating and (AS/NZS) curve and RCD protection. |
| Conductor / cable | Size, and on the AS/NZS sheet the cable ID, so the schedule ties back to the cable schedule. |
| Phase loads | The load on each phase the circuit occupies. For a multi-pole circuit, enter the load on every phase it uses. |
| Status / notes | Proposed, IFC, installed or as-built, plus any notes, so changes stay traceable. |
How to use the template
- Pick the sheet for your project: NEC Panel Schedule or AS-NZS DB Schedule.
- Fill in the header and system data. Yellow cells are example values; replace them.
- Add one row per circuit and delete or overwrite the highlighted EXAMPLE row.
- Enter the load on each phase. Totals, current per phase and the imbalance figure update automatically.
- Set your imbalance limit. The check cell shows OK or CHECK against it.
- AS/NZS sheet: enter the maximum demand from your AS/NZS 3000 assessment; the sheet compares it with the main switch rating.
- Keep revisions: update the Status column and the header revision every time the board changes.
The template is provided as-is. It is not engineering advice, and load calculations, device selection and cable sizing must be verified by a competent person against the applicable standard, the manufacturer’s data and the project specification.
Start with a defined scope.
Agree the source information, deliverables and review requirements before the first issue.