Cable schedule Excel template.
Every field cable on the project, from the instrument it leaves to the panel or junction box it lands in, with its type, cores and routed length.
- ACable Number
- BTag Number
- CInstrument Type
- DSignal ClassAIAODIDON/A
- ESignal Type
- FFrom (Field)
- GTo (Panel/JB)
- HCable Type
- ICores
- JLength (m)
- KJB/Terminal
- LNotes
Frozen header, auto-filter on every column, 48 blank rows ready to fill. No macros.
Every column, defined.
Twelve columns, in the order the sheet carries them. Signal class is the only dropdown; cable construction, cores and length stay free text, so vendor specifications fit.
| Col | Column | What goes in it |
|---|---|---|
| A | Cable Number | Unique cable identifier (C-101-001) |
| B | Tag Number | Instrument tag the cable serves |
| C | Instrument Type | ISA letter group (FIT, PT, XV) |
| D | Signal Class | AI, AO, DI, DO, or N/A |
| E | Signal Type | Electrical signal (4-20mA, 24V DC, fieldbus) |
| F | From (Field) | Field origin (instrument tag or JB) |
| G | To (Panel/JB) | Termination destination (JB, marshalling, DCS) |
| H | Cable Type | Construction (1P 18AWG IS OS, 2C 16AWG) |
| I | Cores | Number of conductors |
| J | Length (m) | Routed cable length in metres |
| K | JB/Terminal | Termination point (JB-101 / 1-2) |
| L | Notes | Shielding, IS classification, comments |
The cable a signal usually takes.
What the Cable Type column tends to hold for each kind of signal. The project's own cable specification has the final word.
| Signal | Typical cable | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| 4-20 mA, with or without HART | One twisted pair, shielded | Shield earthed at one end, normally the panel end |
| RTD, three-wire | One shielded triad | The third core cancels the lead resistance |
| Thermocouple | Extension or compensating cable of the same type as the sensor | Plain copper adds an error at every termination |
| Discrete, 24 V DC | One pair, usually inside a multi-pair cable to the junction box | Kept apart from AC power cables |
| Fieldbus, FOUNDATION Fieldbus H1 or PROFIBUS PA | Fieldbus-rated shielded twisted pair, IEC 61158-2 type A | One trunk carries the whole segment, and spur lengths are limited |
| Solenoid or motor control, 120 or 230 V AC | Power-rated cores with earth | Routed apart from analog signal cables |
Common questions
What is a cable schedule?
A cable schedule is the master list of every instrument and control cable on a project: one row per cable, with cable number, the field device it serves, the junction box or marshalling panel it terminates in, signal type, cable construction, core count, and length. It is the document handed to construction so cables can be ordered, routed, pulled, and terminated.
What columns are in this template?
Twelve columns: Cable Number, Tag Number, Instrument Type, Signal Class, Signal Type, From (Field), To (Panel/JB), Cable Type, Cores, Length (m), JB/Terminal, Notes. Signal Class is a dropdown (AI / AO / DI / DO / N/A). Auto-filter is enabled on every column and the header row is frozen.
Can I edit the template in any spreadsheet tool?
Yes. The format is plain .xlsx and opens in Excel, Google Sheets, and LibreOffice.
Can I extend the template for a larger project?
Yes. 48 blank rows ship preformatted. Add rows beneath the example and the validation, filter, and column widths carry through. Cable schedules on EPC projects routinely run into the thousands of rows. The schema holds at that scale.
How is this different from extracting straight from a P&ID?
The template is a manual starting point you fill yourself. To skip the typing, upload the drawings to Tagsight and review the cable schedule it reads from them, then complete what the drawings do not carry from the cable specification.
What goes in the Signal Type column?
The electrical signal carried by the cable: 4-20mA, 4-20mA + HART, 24V DC, 110V AC, RS-485, fieldbus (FOUNDATION Fieldbus, PROFIBUS, PROFINET), Ethernet/IP, or thermocouple millivolt. The column accepts free text so dialect-specific signal naming fits.
Run it on your drawings.
Or upload the drawings and review the cable schedule Tagsight reads from them, then complete what the drawings do not carry from the cable specification.