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Electronics => Beginners => Topic started by: wblackledg on April 03, 2015, 05:46:49 pm

Title: freeware electrical block diagram software?
Post by: wblackledg on April 03, 2015, 05:46:49 pm
I'm working on building a control panel for a sump pump backup system.

I was wanting something I could diagram the wiring setup (pump, battery, charger, alarm, switches, AC mains, Ground, etc.)

I have DipTrace (am brand new to it) , but that seems pretty low level for a high level wiring panel diagram, or am I wrong?

The software doesn't have to anything fancy like find wiring faults (although that would be kind of cool),   just something I can visually pound out whats in my head.

thanks
Title: Re: freeware electrical block diagram software?
Post by: Neganur on April 03, 2015, 10:14:44 pm
I had a similar problem last year, I found that you end up spending more time looking for a software than taking something like an evaluation version of Microsoft Visio and just draw the symbols yourself.
Title: Re: freeware electrical block diagram software?
Post by: codeboy2k on April 03, 2015, 10:35:36 pm
Try the online tool www.draw.io (http://www.draw.io)
or http://www.digikey.com/schemeit (http://www.digikey.com/schemeit)

Inkscape

yEd  :  http://www.yworks.com/en/products_yed_about.html (http://www.yworks.com/en/products_yed_about.html)

Lucid Chart  (maybe not free)
Openoffice Draw
Dia

not free, but Autocad Electrical has everything you will need.

Title: Re: freeware electrical block diagram software?
Post by: wblackledg on April 03, 2015, 11:27:42 pm
Quote from: Neganur on April 03, 2015, 10:14:44 pm
I had a similar problem last year, I found that you end up spending more time looking for a software than taking something like an evaluation version of Microsoft Visio and just draw the symbols yourself.

I thought about that.   ;D

I noticed Visio doesn't come with MS-Office.  :-\

Worst case i just sketch it out by hand on paper and pencil.  :P

Title: Re: freeware electrical block diagram software?
Post by: wblackledg on April 03, 2015, 11:42:40 pm
Quote from: codeboy2k on April 03, 2015, 10:35:36 pm
Try the online tool www.draw.io (http://www.draw.io)
or http://www.digikey.com/schemeit (http://www.digikey.com/schemeit)

Inkscape

yEd  :  http://www.yworks.com/en/products_yed_about.html (http://www.yworks.com/en/products_yed_about.html)

Lucid Chart  (maybe not free)
Openoffice Draw
Dia

not free, but Autocad Electrical has everything you will need.

very cool.  I should be able to find something that works.

thanks.
Title: Re: freeware electrical block diagram software?
Post by: Neganur on April 04, 2015, 12:41:50 am
Quote from: wblackledg on April 03, 2015, 11:27:42 pm
I noticed Visio doesn't come with MS-Office.  :-\

60 days trial IIRC
digikey's schemeit can't scale anything and is not designed to do that (according to support they don't plan to add that either)

yEd proved useful for a different project, can recommend that thing.
Title: Re: freeware electrical block diagram software?
Post by: wblackledg on April 04, 2015, 12:52:15 am
anything like these would work well.

http://www.electricscooterparts.com/wiringdiagrams/razor-e200-wiring-diagram-v13-19.jpg (http://www.electricscooterparts.com/wiringdiagrams/razor-e200-wiring-diagram-v13-19.jpg)

http://nickviera.com/electrical/lawn_mower/bandd/mower_switchmod_diagram.png (http://nickviera.com/electrical/lawn_mower/bandd/mower_switchmod_diagram.png)

http://www.electricscooterparts.com/wiringdiagrams/razor-electric-wagon-wiring-diagram.jpg (http://www.electricscooterparts.com/wiringdiagrams/razor-electric-wagon-wiring-diagram.jpg)
Title: Re: freeware electrical block diagram software?
Post by: wblackledg on April 04, 2015, 12:53:37 am
Quote from: Neganur on April 04, 2015, 12:41:50 am
Quote from: wblackledg on April 03, 2015, 11:27:42 pm
I noticed Visio doesn't come with MS-Office.  :-\

60 days trial IIRC
digikey's schemeit can't scale anything and is not designed to do that (according to support they don't plan to add that either)

yEd proved useful for a different project, can recommend that thing.

thanks.
Title: Re: freeware electrical block diagram software?
Post by: Lightages on April 04, 2015, 12:59:43 am
For electrical diagrams I found this to be simple and fast to learn and use..

https://www.proficad.com/ (https://www.proficad.com/)
Title: Re: freeware electrical block diagram software?
Post by: wblackledg on April 04, 2015, 01:05:39 am
Quote from: Lightages on April 04, 2015, 12:59:43 am
For electrical diagrams I found this to be simple and fast to learn and use..

https://www.proficad.com/ (https://www.proficad.com/)

very cool.  thanks.

I'll check into it.
Title: Re: freeware electrical block diagram software?
Post by: mtdoc on April 04, 2015, 01:06:11 am
Quote from: Lightages on April 04, 2015, 12:59:43 am
For electrical diagrams I found this to be simple and fast to learn and use..

https://www.proficad.com/ (https://www.proficad.com/)

That looks like a great free tool. Thanks!.
Title: Re: freeware electrical block diagram software?
Post by: Fsck on April 12, 2015, 07:44:53 pm
Quote from: mtdoc on April 04, 2015, 01:06:11 am
Quote from: Lightages on April 04, 2015, 12:59:43 am
For electrical diagrams I found this to be simple and fast to learn and use..

https://www.proficad.com/ (https://www.proficad.com/)

That looks like a great free tool. Thanks!.

amigod, it's brilliant yet simple.
Title: Re: freeware electrical block diagram software?
Post by: Chiaroscuro on April 12, 2015, 08:46:06 pm
Quote from: codeboy2k on April 03, 2015, 10:35:36 pm

not free, but Autocad Electrical has everything you will need.

What about student version? Aren't they usually free with Autocad?