Panel Load Schedule Calculator
Roll up multiple branch circuit loads into total panel demand, current, utilization, and spare capacity.
AEO summary
A panel load calculator totals branch loads and estimates panel kW, kVA, current, utilization, and spare capacity.
Use this page when you need a quick answer for whether a panel appears lightly loaded, heavily loaded, or close to its rating. It helps summarize branch-circuit entries into a practical planning view for panel schedules and capacity review.
- Useful for preliminary panel schedule and spare-capacity checks.
- Shows connected load, apparent load, current, and spare margin together.
- Helps flag when panel loading is approaching the entered rating.
Panel Inputs
Circuit Loads
Panel Summary
How to read the result: total connected load is the sum of branch loads, total apparent load adjusts that demand for the entered power factor, estimated panel current reflects the selected phase and voltage, and utilization/spare shows how much rating remains.
Use this result for planning and discussion, then apply any required demand or diversity factors separately before issuing a final panel schedule.
⚠️ Engineering Caution:
This tool is intended for screening and pre-check workflows. Results are usually directionally useful, but they
can still shift with equipment selection, environmental conditions, naming conventions, revision status, or
interpretation rules. Confirm any value that affects ordering, substitution, compliance, or installation before
acting on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this calculator apply demand factors automatically?
No. It sums the entered circuit loads directly so you can see raw connected load. Apply project-specific demand or diversity assumptions separately if needed.
Can it estimate current for three-phase panels?
Yes. It supports both single-phase and three-phase panel current estimation using the total apparent load and selected voltage.
What This Calculator Is For
A panel schedule is more than a list of breakers. In practical electrical design work, engineers often need a quick summary of how individual loads roll up into a panel’s total demand and whether enough spare capacity remains.
Typical questions include:
- What is the total connected load across several branch circuits?
- How much panel current does that total imply at a chosen voltage?
- What percentage of panel capacity is already used?
- How much spare kVA or ampacity margin is left for future circuits?
This tool is designed as a practical panel load summary helper for early design, review, and planning workflows.
What It Calculates
The calculator adds multiple circuit loads and reports:
- total connected load in kW
- total apparent load in kVA based on power factor
- estimated panel current
- panel utilization percentage
- spare capacity remaining
Core Relationships
For a set of entered circuit loads:
Total kW = Sum of all circuit kWTotal kVA = Total kW ÷ Power Factor- Single-phase current:
I = kVA × 1000 ÷ V - Three-phase current:
I = kVA × 1000 ÷ (√3 × V) Utilization % = Total Current ÷ Panel Rating × 100
Practical Use Cases
This tool is useful for:
- early panel schedule planning
- comparing load growth against panel rating
- preparing design review notes
- checking spare capacity before adding circuits
- summarizing equipment loads for small industrial or commercial boards
Important Limitations
This tool is a planning summary, not a substitute for full design documentation. Final panel design still depends on:
- demand factors and diversity assumptions
- continuous load treatment
- breaker coordination
- code rules for spare spaces and reserve capacity
- harmonics and nonlinear load behavior
Use it to create a fast, practical load picture before detailed engineering review.
FAQ
Does this calculator apply demand factors automatically?
No. It sums the entered loads directly. If your project requires demand or diversity adjustments, apply them separately.
Can I use this for three-phase panels?
Yes. The calculator supports both single-phase and three-phase current estimation.
Is this a replacement for a full panel schedule document?
No. It is a compact planning and review helper, not a full documentation system.
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