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-   -   Easy software to draw electrical system (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=156070)

kaber56 12-14-2017 07:51 AM

Easy software to draw electrical system
 
I apologize if this thread is redundant but does anyone know of an easy software program that can be used draw up my electrical system?

Thanks

ShortSnorter 12-14-2017 07:53 AM

Visio has an electrical system component in its built in templates.

rv8bldr 12-14-2017 07:55 AM

I used MS Visio for my RV-8 (painful). I'm currently using TinyCAD for my Bearhawk.

wjb 12-14-2017 08:15 AM

I used Visio to draw my schematic (24 B-sized pages and counting).

However, I was to do it again, I'd use a bona-fide schematic capture program.

There are some great programs out there (Altium, Eagle, OrCad, Pads), which I used at work in the past, but no longer have available, and I didn't want to spring for the three or four figure price tags.

There are some good free ones, though: KiCad, TinyCAD, EasyEDA, and others.

Advantages:
- Does a great job keeping track of all the wiring, including maintaining netlists between all components.
- Easy search of connections by user net name
- Forces you to include all connectors and other misc components
- Generates a bill of materials (often directly exportable to Mouser, Digikey, etc)
- You can build virtual cable bundles by combining individual wires into busses, helping fuselage wiring layout.

Disadvantages:
- Have to learn a new SW tool, and these tools are not easily "self discoverable"
- Have to make individual "components" for all the non-generic stuff like avionics, special relays, fuse holders, etc. This is a big job if you're going glass.
- Are constrained to their grid system and schematic presentation styles (ie, your schematic may look a bit uglier and be more confusing that you'd like)

In the end, though, the benefits outweigh the initial investment to set up the components in the system. It make tweaking and schematic management much easier in the end. YMMV.

vlittle 12-14-2017 08:28 AM

ExpressSCH is stone simple.

Example schematics here http://www.vx-aviation.com/sprocket/.../schematics-2/

Www.expresspcb.com

Whatever you choose, congratulations. A thoroughly documented electrical system will significantly add value to your aircraft.

V

leok 12-14-2017 09:20 AM

These were done in Power Point
 
The electrical diagrams in this thread were done in Power Point

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...d.php?t=152279

The files are available for download (links in the thread somewhere) if they provide any help.

AJ85WA 12-14-2017 06:42 PM

+1 ExpressSCH is stone simple.
 
+1 for ExpressSCH is stone simple.

Tbone 12-14-2017 08:23 PM

Ditto
 
ExpressSCH hands down.

miyu1975 12-14-2017 08:30 PM

Paper and Pencil worked well for me...

Tbone 12-14-2017 08:33 PM

Ditto
 
ExpressSCH hands down.


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