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  #1  
Old 10-18-2016, 10:49 AM
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KatieB KatieB is offline
 
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Default Electrical diagram software?

Hey you guys. What programs do you like to use to create electrical diagrams?

I'm looking for something easily obtainable--free or cheap--that doesn't require an engineering degree to use. I could piece together something in Excel, but I'm looking for something more elegant... maybe even with some little electrical symbols. I was hoping the EAA SolidWorks package would be able to pull this off, but that is really geared toward 3D modeling.
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  #2  
Old 10-18-2016, 10:55 AM
YellowJacket RV9 YellowJacket RV9 is offline
 
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I used SchemeIt which is a free tool on DigiKey's website.

http://www.digikey.com/en/resources/...tools/schemeit

Not too much learning curve and you can be as simple or complex as you want to make it.

Chris
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  #3  
Old 10-18-2016, 10:58 AM
rapid_ascent rapid_ascent is offline
 
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I use and actual schematic capture program since I have it, but you could use Visio. It has electrical symbols if you get that library template.

I find most of these schematics can be done with just using blocks for each of your items. Visio would work fine for that. I use it for block diagrams a lot and it is pretty flexible.

I tried to find that EAA Solidworks version but I wasn't able to. Do you have a good link?
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  #4  
Old 10-18-2016, 11:31 AM
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KatieB KatieB is offline
 
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It took me a long time to download EAA's SolidWorks package last night, but it went OK. There is a section of the EAA forums devoted to it. Right now most of the forum content surrounds the download process.

http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-member...esource-center

It looks like it would be a really nice tool if you like to do 3D modeling. I would love to get into that, but I have enough projects to deal with right now!

I'll check out these other programs... thank you!
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  #5  
Old 10-18-2016, 11:41 AM
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TajMahal TajMahal is offline
 
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Default Visio or PowerPoint

+1 for MS Visio and I've also used MS PowerPoint to do electrical diagrams on builds. Easy to draw out components, symbols, connectors, labels, use colors to match wire colors, etc. Using PowerPoint on my -8 electrical diagrams now.

Good luck!

Chris
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  #6  
Old 10-18-2016, 11:44 AM
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uk_figs uk_figs is offline
 
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Default ExpressPCB

Took a while to get the hang of it but it worked for me, if I recall someone posted a bunch of the library components that replicate the multi pole switches that are in the aeroelectric design manual.
I can send schematics if that would help but they are from the 2007 era rather than today's fully integrated glass systems.
Figs
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  #7  
Old 10-18-2016, 12:27 PM
ethand ethand is offline
 
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I used Express SCH for my on-going build.

Free on-line

E
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  #8  
Old 10-18-2016, 12:34 PM
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cfiidon cfiidon is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ethand View Post
I used Express SCH for my on-going build.

Free on-line

E
As did I. It worked out well and I printed the pages to PDF and carry them on my IPad through Dropbox.

Saved my bacon when I had an "away" incident with wiring.

Don
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  #9  
Old 10-18-2016, 01:42 PM
Mich48041 Mich48041 is offline
 
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I also use ExpressSch
It is a two part program. You will only use the schematic part, not the printed circuit part. Express Sch is very easy to learn.
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  #10  
Old 10-18-2016, 02:11 PM
txnbuilder txnbuilder is offline
 
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Default Diptrace

Take a look at Diptrace:

http://diptrace.com/download-diptrace/#DownloadForm/1/

It is a full schematics capture and PCB layout suite with a very large built-in library of symbols. They have a free version limited to 300 pins (I don't know if this applies to the schematic capture too or just the layout side of the tool...give it a try!).

They have a PDF tutorial that you can read in a couple of hours. I have used ExpressSCH before, and it feels like using MS Paint compared to this little tool

Good Luck!
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