The times of using drawing boards are long gone, they were replaced by graphic editors, this special programs for drawing electrical circuits. Among them there are both paid applications and free ones (we will consider the types of licenses below). We are confident that the brief overview we have created will help you choose from a variety of software products the software that is most optimal for the task at hand. Let's start with the free versions.

Free

Before moving on to the description of the programs, we will briefly talk about free licenses, the most common of which are the following:

Freeware– the application is not limited in functionality and can be used for personal purposes without a commercial component.
Open Source– product with “ open source", which allows you to make changes by adjusting the software to your own tasks. There may be restrictions on commercial use and paid distribution of modifications made.
GNU GPL– a license that practically does not impose any restrictions on the user.
Public domain– almost identical to the previous version, on this type The license does not apply to copyright protection laws.
Ad-supported– the application is fully functional and contains advertisements for other products of the developer or other companies.
Donationware– the product is distributed free of charge, but the developer offers to make donations on a voluntary basis for further development project.

Having gained an understanding of free licenses, you can move on to software distributed under such conditions.

Microsoft Visio

This is an easy-to-use, but at the same time very convenient editor. vector graphics, which has a rich functional set. Despite the fact that the main socialization of the program is the visualization of information from MS Office applications, it can be used to view and print radio circuits.

MS releases three paid versions that differ in functionality and a free version (Viewer), which is integrated into the IE browser and allows you to view files created in the editor. Unfortunately, to edit and create new diagrams you will need to purchase a full-featured product. Note that even in the paid versions, among the basic templates there is no set for fully creating radio circuits, but it is not difficult to find and install.

Flaws free version:

The functions of editing and creating diagrams are not available, which significantly reduces interest in this product.
The program only works with the IE browser, which also creates a lot of inconvenience.

Compass-Electric

This software is an application to CAD Russian developer"ASCON". For its operation, the installation of the KOMPAS-3D environment is required. Since this is a domestic product, it fully supports the GOST standards adopted by Russia, and, accordingly, there are no problems with localization.

The application is intended for designing any types of electrical equipment and creating sets of design documentation for them.

This is paid software, but the developer gives you 60 days to familiarize yourself with the system, during which time there are no restrictions on functionality. On the official website and on the Internet you can find a lot of video materials that allow you to familiarize yourself with the software product in detail.

In the reviews, many users note that the system has a lot of shortcomings that the developer is in no hurry to fix.

Eagle

This software is a comprehensive environment in which you can create both a schematic diagram and a printed circuit board layout for it. That is, place all the necessary elements on the board and perform tracing. At the same time, it can be performed both automatically and manual mode or by a combination of these two methods.

The basic set of elements does not contain models of domestic radio components, but their templates can be downloaded on the Internet. The application language is English, but localizers allow you to set the Russian language.

The application is paid, but the ability to free use with the following functional limitations:

The size of the mounting plate cannot exceed 10.0 x 8.0 cm.
When routing, only two layers can be manipulated.
The editor allows you to work with only one sheet.

Dip Trace

This is not a separate application, but a whole one software package, including:

Multifunctional editor for developing circuit diagrams.
Application for creating circuit boards.
A 3D module that allows you to design housings for devices created in the system.
A program for creating and editing components.

The free version of the software package, for non-commercial use, has minor restrictions:

Circuit board no more than 4 layers.
No more than one thousand pins from components.

The program does not provide Russian localization, but it, as well as a description of all functions of the software product, can be found on the Internet. There are also no problems with the component database; initially there are about 100 thousand of them. On thematic forums you can find component databases created by users, including those for Russian GOSTs.

1-2-3 scheme

This is completely free application, allowing you to equip Hager electrical panels with equipment of the same name.

Functionality programs:

Selecting a housing for an electrical panel that meets the standards for the degree of protection. The sample is taken from model range Hager.
Complete with protective and switching modular equipment from the same manufacturer. Note that in element base Only models certified in Russia are available.
Formation of design documentation (single-line diagram, specification that meets ESKD standards, drawing of appearance).
Creation of markers for electrical switchboard switching devices.

The program is completely localized for the Russian language, its only drawback is that the element base contains only the electrical equipment of the developer company.

Autocad Electrical

An application based on the well-known CAD system Autocad, created for designing electrical circuits and creating technical documentation for them in accordance with ESKD standards.

Initially, the database includes over two thousand components, while their conventional graphic symbols meet current Russian and European standards.

This application is paid, but you have the opportunity to get acquainted with the full functionality of the basic working version within 30 days.

Elf

This software is positioned as an automated workstation (AWS) for electrical designers. The application allows you to quickly and correctly develop almost any drawing for electrical projects linked to the floor plan.

The functionality of the application includes:

Arrangement of UGO when designing electrical networks laid openly, in pipes or special structures.
Automatic (from the plan) or rune calculation of the power circuit.
Drawing up specifications in accordance with current standards.
Possibility of expanding the element base (UGO).

The free demo version does not allow you to create or edit projects; you can only view or print them.

Kicad

This is a completely free open source software package. This software is positioned as an end-to-end design system. That is, you can develop a circuit diagram, use it to create a circuit board and prepare the documentation necessary for production.

Features systems:

The use of external tracers is allowed for board layout.
The program has a built-in printed circuit board calculator; elements can be placed on it automatically or manually.
Upon completion of the tracing, the system generates several technology files (for example, for a photoplotter, drilling machine, etc.). If desired, you can add a company logo to the PCB.
The system can create layer-by-layer printouts in several popular formats, as well as generate a list of components used in development for order generation.
It is possible to export drawings and other documents to pdf formats and dxf.

Note that many users note that the system interface is poorly thought out, as well as the fact that in order to master the software, you need to thoroughly study the documentation for the program.

TinyCAD

Another free and open source application that allows you to create circuit diagram drawings and has the functions of a simple vector graphics editor. The basic set contains forty different component libraries.

TinyCAD - a simple editor for circuit diagrams

The program does not provide PCB tracing, but it is possible to export the netlist to third party application. Export is carried out with support for common extensions.

The application only supports English language, but thanks to the intuitive menu there will be no problems with mastering it.

Fritzing

Free project development environment for Arduino based. It is possible to create printed circuit boards (the layout must be done manually, since the auto-routing function is frankly weak).

It should be noted that the application is “tailored” for quick creation sketches to explain the operating principle of the designed device. For serious work, the application has a too small base of elements and a very simplified diagram.

123D Circuits

This is a web application for developing Arduino projects, with the ability to program the device, simulate and analyze its operation. A typical set of elements contains only basic radio components and Arduino modules. If necessary, the user can create new components and add them to the database. It is noteworthy that the developed printed circuit board can be ordered directly from the online service.

In the free version of the service you cannot create your own projects, but you can view other people’s developments located in open access. For full access to all features, you must subscribe ($12 or $24 per month).

Note that due to its poor functionality, the virtual development environment is of interest only to beginners. Many of those who used the service drew attention to the fact that the simulation results differed from real indicators.

XCircuit

Free multi-platform application (GNU GPL license) for quickly creating circuit diagrams. The functional set is minimal.

The application language is English, the program does not accept Russian characters. You should also pay attention to the atypical menu, which you need to get used to. In addition, contextual hints are displayed on the status bar. IN basic set elements include the UGO of only the main radio components (the user can create his own elements and add them).

CADSTAR Express

This is a demo version of the CAD software of the same name. Functional limitations affected only the number of elements used in the development circuit (up to 50 pieces) and the number of contacts (no more than 300), which is quite sufficient for small amateur radio projects.

The program consists of a central module, which includes several applications that allow you to develop a circuit, create a board for it and prepare a package of technical documentation.

The basic set includes more than 20 thousand components; additional libraries can be downloaded from the developer’s website.

A significant drawback of the system is the lack of support for the Russian language; accordingly, all technical documentation is also presented online in English.

QElectroTech

A simple, convenient and free (FreeWare) application for developing electrical and electronic circuit drawings. The program is a regular editor; no special functions are implemented in it.

The application language is English, but there is a Russian localization for it.

Paid applications

Unlike software distributed via free licenses, commercial programs, as a rule, have much more functionality and are supported by developers. As an example, we will give several such applications.

sPlan

A simple editor program for drawing electrical circuits. The application comes with several component libraries that the user can expand as needed. You can work with several projects simultaneously by opening them in separate tabs.

Drawings made by the program are stored as vector graphics files in its own format with the “spl” extension. Conversion to standard ones is allowed raster formats images. It is possible to print large diagrams on a regular A4 printer.

The application is not officially released in Russian localization, but there are programs that allow you to Russify the menu and contextual hints.

In addition to the paid version, there are two free implementations: Demo and Viewer. In the first one there is no way to save and print the drawn diagram. The second provides only the function of viewing and printing files in the “spl” format.

Eplan Electric

Multi-module scalable CAD system for developing electrical projects of varying complexity and automating the process of preparing design documentation. This software package is now positioned as a corporate solution, so it will not be of interest to ordinary users, especially if you take into account the cost of the software.

Target 3001

A powerful CAD complex that allows you to develop electrical circuits, trace printed circuit boards, and simulate operation electronic devices. The online library of components contains more than 36 thousand different elements. This CAD is widely used in Europe for PCB routing.

The default language is English, it is possible to set the menu in German or French, there is no official Russian localization. Accordingly, all documentation is presented only in English, French or German.

The cost of the simplest basic version is about 70 euros. For this money, tracing of two layers with 400 pins will be available. The cost of the unlimited version is around 3.6 thousand euros.

Micro-Cap

An application for modeling digital, analog and mixed circuits, as well as analyzing their operation. The user can create in the editor electrical circuit and set parameters for analysis. After this, with one click of the mouse, the system will automatically perform the necessary calculations and display the results for study.

The program allows you to establish the dependence of the parameters (ratings) of elements on temperature conditions, illumination, frequency characteristics, etc. If the diagram contains animated elements, for example, LED indicators, then their status will be displayed correctly, depending on the incoming signals. During modeling, it is possible to “connect” virtual measuring instruments to the circuit, as well as monitor the state of various components of the device.

The cost of the full-featured version is about $4.5 thousand. There is no official Russian localization of the application.

TurboCAD

This CAD platform includes many tools for designing various electrical devices. A set of special functions allows you to solve engineering and design problems of any level of complexity.

Distinctive Features – fine tuning user interface. Lots of reference books, including in Russian. Despite the lack of official support for the Russian language, there are Russifiers for the platform.

For ordinary users, purchasing a paid version of the program in order to develop electrical circuits for amateur devices will be unprofitable.

Designer Schematic

An application for creating electrical circuits using radioelements produced by Digi-Key. The main feature of this system is that the editor can use mechanical design to build circuits.

Component databases can be checked for compliance at any time and, if necessary, updated directly from the manufacturer’s website.

The system does not have its own tracer, but the netlist can be loaded into a third-party program.

It is possible to import files from popular CAD systems.

The approximate cost of the application is about $300.

Currently, design automation tools are increasingly used when designing electrical cabinets, panels, and consoles. This is due to the fact that, along with the creative engineering part of the project associated with the development of electrical circuit diagrams and the layout of equipment on metal structures, there is always a large amount of routine work on the preparation of wiring diagrams.

Design automation systems can significantly increase labor productivity and project quality by providing the designer with convenient tools for developing documentation for circuit diagrams and practical automatic creation installation documents.

Below we discuss the use of a computer-aided design system for secondary switching circuits of electrical installations (CAD CAD) for the preparation of design documentation for the design of electrical devices.

This system is used in a number of design organizations in the energy sector and in factories that produce panel board products.

Often, design automation refers only to drawing circuit diagrams and wiring diagrams in a universal graphics editor (AutoCAD is the most common). But using a computer only as an automated drawing board for preparing individual drawings does not give much effect.

A significant increase in productivity can be achieved by using specialized CAD systems designed to automate the design of electrical devices in various industries (mechanical engineering, automotive or aviation industries, etc.).

Examples of such systems presented on the Russian market: ElectriCS (Consistent Software), Cschematic® Elautomation, CAElectro (NPP TECHNIKON), E.CADdy (POINT company), SAPR-ALFA (SAPR-ALFA Firm LLC), EPLAN (ThermoCool Group of Companies).

The basis of such computer-aided design systems are: a library of conditional graphic symbols circuit elements, graphic-text databases of electrical devices, libraries of wires, cables, wire lugs; project management system, which provides a simple and logical sequence of design stages, reducing the time for obtaining output documentation, as well as systematic storage of information with the provision quick access to documents.

The initial data for the design of electrical devices in the electrical design systems under consideration is the electrical circuit diagram. The diagram is generated using a graphic library of conventional graphic symbols of circuit diagram elements. The project management system presents the electrical circuit diagram in tabular form, after which the necessary initial data is transferred to design procedures that directly carry out design automation.

A number of systems are implemented as specialized add-ons over universal graphic editors. For example, ElectriCS and CADElectro work with AutoCad; E 3 .CADdy - with the CADdy graphic editor.

CAD CVK is a problem-oriented add-on to the AutoCad graphic system.

CAD CVK is designed for automated preparation of documentation on circuits of electrical installations (power plants, and other electrical devices).

Although the implementation of a number of design procedures takes into account industry specifics, CAD is based on universal tools for automating electrical design.

CAD CVK ensures the preparation of the following documents:

complete schematic electrical diagrams of secondary circuits with lists of equipment;
connection diagrams;
cable magazines;
schematic electrical diagrams of low-voltage complete devices (LVDs) - panels, cabinets, boxes;
general types;
rows of clamps;
NKU wiring diagrams;
connection diagrams for rows of NKU terminals.

All documents are carried out in accordance with the ESKD. Examples of drawings are shown in the figures. As already noted, primary document is the electrical circuit diagram (Fig. 1).

The circuit is assembled from standard elements (coils, switches, microprocessor devices and others). The required element is selected from a specialized menu; then its location on the drawing is indicated, the position designation and clamp numbers are specified.

The elements are connected by wires for which markings are specified.

It is possible to draw a circuit using macroblocks containing ready-made circuit fragments.

The list of equipment is generated using a database.

The prepared complete diagram is not just a set of drawings, but also contains information about the connections of all elements. The list of equipment is associated with data on the service areas of the devices. This allows you to use it to create other documents.

When designing an NKU, after preparing a schematic diagram, a metal structure is selected and the devices are arranged (the dimensions of the devices are stored in the project database and the contours of the devices are automatically entered into the drawing) to form a general view of the NKU (Fig. 2).

According to the scheme and general appearance the program generates rows of clamps (Fig. 3), which can be adjusted if necessary.

The installation diagram is issued automatically (Fig. 4).

One important feature of the CAD CAD system should be noted. Most well-known electrical CAD systems prepare installation documentation only in tabular form. However, given that many panel factories prefer to work with traditional graphic image, CAD CVK, along with the table, allows you to obtain a drawing of the wiring diagram.

An important feature when using CAD is the increase in labor productivity not only when developing new devices, but also when upgrading existing projects.

Since the main input document is a schematic diagram, and other drawings are generated automatically, when releasing documentation for a new device based on a prototype, it is enough to make changes to the diagram (add or remove circuits, change markings).

The remaining documents will be corrected automatically.

References:

1. Bryzgalov Yu.N., Trofimov A.V. Automated preparation and maintenance of documentation for secondary circuits of electrical installations. - Electric stations, 1997, No. 4.

Purpose of the work

Master the capabilities of the PCAD 2001 computer-aided design system in the field of creating electrical circuit diagrams.

Work progress

The design of the electrical circuit diagram was carried out in the computer-aided design system PCAD 2001.

During the design of the electrical circuit diagram, the PCAD Schematic program was used.

BUILDING A SCHEME DRAWING

The construction of an electrical circuit diagram is carried out using a mouse manipulator moved along the horizontal surface of the desktop; at the same time, the cursor in the form of a cross moves synchronously on the display screen. A convenient feature of using the mouse in the PCAD 2001 environment is the availability of functions for scrolling and scaling the diagram.

CREATING A SCHEME

Schemes are constructed from symbols. Creating a diagram is the process of visually placing components on a workspace and connecting them to each other.

You can also create a drawing file containing graphic information, which can be used to obtain a circuit drawing. The placement of components is set using the Insert / Component command. In this case, the system opens the active library, which contains UGO components.

The library manager, Library Executive, is responsible for creating component libraries in P-CAD 2001. The P-CAD 2001 system has the ability to create integrated component libraries. Three types of data are entered into such a library: text information about components (components), UGO (symbols) and images of component housings (patterns). The graphics of housings and UGOs are created in the graphic editors P-CAD Schematic and P-CAD PCB or in special editors Symbol Editor and Pattern Editor. The last two are similar to the editors of circuits and printed circuit boards, in the set of commands of which only those commands that are necessary for creating UGO and component designs are left, and the so-called masters of samples and symbols are added. Another important feature of the Symbol Editor and Pattern Editor is the ability to directly edit UGO/component designs. In addition, Library Executive includes commands for searching components in libraries using a given set of attributes.

After selecting a component, you should place it on the workspace. In this case, you can control the orientation of the element, set the mirror mode, etc.

After installing an element, it is possible to reproduce it using the copy / paste command from the clipboard.

To make connections, use the insert/wire command. When conducting, the starting and ending points are indicated. Unconnected contacts of microcircuits are marked with a diagonal cross. To connect two nets, you need to make them global and then assign identical names by connecting them to the bus.

To designate elements, use the properties command from the context menu (activated by right-clicking on the corresponding element). Next, its designation is specified.

Saving data to a file and loading from a file is carried out using commands from the File menu. The diagram is saved in the PCAD 2001 system format and has the sch extension.

Conclusion: In the course of the work done, the PCAD 2001 Schematic program was mastered, which is part of the PCAD 2001 CAD system and is intended for constructing electrical circuit diagrams.

Creating a drawing of an electrical circuit diagram in CAD "P-CAD 2006 SP2"

Electrical diagrams are not drawn to scale. The actual location of components on the wiring field is not taken into account when drawing electrical circuits. The selected format size of the sheet on which the diagram drawing is displayed should ensure compactness and clarity when reading the details of the diagram.

An electrical diagram shows symbols of components, electrical connections between them, text information, tables, alphanumeric symbols and basic inscriptions on the circuit format.

The lines on all diagrams of one project are made with a thickness of 0.2 to 1 mm. Connections and symbols components are made with lines of the same thickness. Thickened lines draw harnesses (common busbars). Each connection, when connected to the harness, is marked with a number or its name and must be connected at a right angle or at an angle of 45°.

After setting up the configuration of the P-CAD Schematic graphic editor and if the library contains all the component symbols contained in a given electrical diagram (current project), you can begin to create the latter. The sequence of actions is as follows:

Download graphic editor P-CAD Schematic.

Configuring the Editor . When setting up, click the EditTitleSheets button, then in the Titles splash screen in the TitleBlock area, click the Select button, select the file with the finished format and click the Open button. Let's close all previous windows. An image of a format with fields will appear on the screen.

Let's execute the command to fill in information about the project File/DesignInfo/Fields, then sequentially highlight the necessary lines, click the Properties button and fill the Value window with the desired text in the FieldProperties splash screen. After entering each category of data, click OK. Data entered when editing the diagram:

The list of data can be expanded (Add button) or reduced (Delete button).

Current data, which is updated periodically:

Current Date - current date;

Current Time - current time;

Filename - file name;

Number of Sheets - number of sheets of the project;

Sheets Number - current sheet number.

Let's execute the Place/Field command. As a result, a dialog box of the same name will open, in which we select the name of the information field Title (name of the drawing) and click OK. Then place the cursor in the desired format field (the field must be sufficiently scaled) and click the mouse. Text will appear with the name of the project or current sheet if the name was previously entered using the Options/Sheets command.

Operation