Electrical Schematic design software

[rleffler]

Originally Posted by Greenley

Does anyone have a set of symbols for Vision to supplement what it comes with?

The symbol library that Bob distributes on his Aerolectric site imports into Visio just fine.

[rleffler]

Originally Posted by az_gila

As far a SW costs go, I use TurboCAD at about $30 for an older version vs. Visio which I believe is around $300. I haven't bought AutoCAD for the same reason.

I don't like to disagree with you given all of the excellent RV panels/schematics you create, but I think your viewpoint may be sometimes from a more production viewpoint than from a homebuilder working on his own, a piece at a time.

Gil,

At data point that you may not be aware of is that companies that have an enterprise agreement with Microsoft, can arrange for an option for employee home use of software licensed at the office. Additionally, since much of the corporate world has migrated to laptops instead of desktops, many can bring Visio home with them at night as well.

There also is another option to get Visio significantly less than retail pricing, but you have to become a Microsoft Partner to become eligible. If you don't already have multiple Microsoft certifications, Microsoft makes this option difficult to obtain.

The point is that for many people, there is no additional cost for Visio. They just didn't think about using it for schematics.

Btw, I had no problems with printing the "dot" when lines were connected. Also, many applications (including Visio) can put the U shaped hump at an intersecting line indicating that there is no connection automatically.

Bob

[az_gila]

Originally Posted by rleffler

Gil,

....
There also is another option to get Visio significantly less than retail pricing, but you have to become a Microsoft Partner to become eligible. If you don't already have multiple Microsoft certifications, Microsoft makes this option difficult to obtain.

The point is that for many people, there is no additional cost for Visio. They just didn't think about using it for schematics.

Btw, I had no problems with printing the "dot" when lines were connected. Also, many applications (including Visio) can put the U shaped hump at an intersecting line indicating that there is no connection automatically.

Bob

Yes, but I lost most of those extras when I retired.... However, at the large Aerospace firm I worked for Visio was not on the list of approved sw.

As far as the U-shaped hump goes, as I said the drawing standards - both military and commercial dropped them many decades ago.

The dot prints fine - it may be a problem after many copies, which is why it was dropped. Admittedly, it was more of a problem with older printers and obsolete blueprint techniques.

As a totally personal observation, I think schematic sheets full of "humps" look ugly, but like all subjective things, YMMV.

[Billvt]

Try TinyCad for Windows, not sure if a MAC version is available.

Easy to use and always FREE !!

Link http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawik...?title=TinyCAD

[Capflyer]

Originally Posted by Billvt

Try TinyCad for Windows, not sure if a MAC version is available.

Easy to use and always FREE !!

Link http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawik...?title=TinyCAD

Bill, I have had TinyCad for a while but could never figure out how to import the aviation electrical symbols. I tried converting the file from Aeroelectric which is in .dwg but can't get them into a format that TinyCad can read. Any thoughts?

[Billvt]

Mike,

I have not attempted to import symbols in TinyCad but have generated my own symbols when required.

Bill

[SteinAir]

As you can see, this can sorta be like the "which efis is best" discussion, or "which red car is best". Folks will generally defend or describe what they use, or what they are used to, or what they chose, or what they are/were experts on. Me, I think a case could be made for both (and even for hand drawing, using excel, using MSpaint, etc..) - but between CAD and Visio like I said we own both, we use both extensively and have different things in different programs for different reasons.

Again, like other subjects there won't be an ideal solution for each person. We happen to do this every single day, multiple times per day using both programs. We use CAD, Visio, Photoshop, PCBexpress, Paint, Gimp, Sketchup (which is also quite good) for many hundreds of customer projects as well as our own airplanes - of which we've actually built, completed and flown a number of them...start to finish!

All software programs and diagrams aside, there still is no substitute for getting out and building the plane. The enjoyment from the final result is indescribable, so whatever you choose just keep on building. People survived building many RV's long before they had access to these programs, so pretty much anything will be fine! Just don't hung up on details...remember, "perfection is the enemy of getting it done"!

Cheers,
Stein

[paul330]

Well said!

I used an A3 sheet, a cheap drafting board, a pencil and eraser to do the main power distribution. Skyview pin-outs etc will be done using the tables in the manuals.

In this modern world, I think we forget that it's sometimes easier to grab a pencil and paper than start up MS Word........

[jc11378]

GEE I did not mean to start a primer war. HEHE. The feed back is great and a lot of options. I have been in the IT Business for over 28 years now and yes we are a Microsoft partner so Visio lic, is no issue. I have used Turbo Cad for designing and building a deck around my house. It works great. I use Visio everyday at the office and once I get the symbols imported into viso format. I will try both ways.

I think we loose track of the main goal of documenting our electrical system, which i think should be mandatory to do.

With the great products available it should not be that hard or too time consuming.

Some people take the light and simple approach, some take the High detail thought to everything. That is ok either way as long as our flying carpets are airworthy and well built.

Me, I am in the High detail group so time is not of a concern. I have worked on just about any kind of airplane available, from military fighters to B-52 bombers, to the C-5A/B. General Aviation, with 5 years in Alaska, to contract work for Airlines. So maintainability and high quality is important to me. And Good Documentation is a must.

Lets keep pounding these rivets and wiring the wires. And document it all as we go along.