Which software do electrical engineers use to draw circuits usually?

[wirehead_freenode]

Open to any suggestions.

[dan46n2]

KICAD is free...

[Shock]

https://www.eevblog.com/wiki/index.php?title=PCB_CAD_programs

There is a whole section of forums here dedicated to them.
Electronics <---- You are here
Products
General
Computing
EDA <---- Here has all the electronics cad forums take your pick
EEVblog

[Psi]

Altium is pretty common, and there's a simpler free version of it called circuitmaker.
I've not used it in ages so i cant remember what the limitations are, but i do know you can make projects of any size and use your the pcb designs commercially.  I think the limitation comes down to storing your files on their cloud or something. can't remember.

[SilverSolder]

I've found LTSpice makes quite nice diagrams, and the benefit is of course that you can simulate them at the same time!  -  huge time saver overall.

[E-Design]

MS Visio if I need really pretty looking schematics or have other non circuit element things to include like block diagrams etc..

Otherwise, the simulator tool works nice - Microcap or LTSpice

Many times, I just hand scribble ideas down on a blank sheet of paper and then scan it as a PDF to archive it for a future use.

Sometimes I also take a hi res photo of my gigantic whiteboard where I have sketched out some kind of schematic or pseudo schematic.

[Jay_Diddy_B]

Hi,

To the original poster, are you asking about electrical circuits, power distribution, domestic and industrial installation etc?

or you asking about electronic circuits, opamps, resistor etc?

Jay_Diddy_B

[Microcheap]

When you say a software for "electrical engineers", I'm assuming you are referring to a software specifically to drawn wiring diagrams for a machine or a building, for instance, correct?

There is a huge number of software out there and the choice will depends on your application, budget, industry where you are and so on.

AutoCAD Electrical and Eplan are two well know options but very expensive. SolidWorks Electrical is another one.

If you need something free and simple that can run on Linux or Mac there is QElectroTech https://qelectrotech.org/index.html

DesignSpark Electrial is also free: https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/electrical-software

But, as others pointed, you could use anything that you already have or know how to use, from MS Visio to Altium Designer.

A long time ago, when I was still in college and I were an intern, I had to use AutoCAD (the normal version) to update the schematics of electrical panels for six complete production lines in a refrigerator factory. Definitely not the most efficient tool for the task, but I learned a lot with that.

For reference, another similar thread posted recently: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/what-is-a-good-software-for-electrical-wiring-diagram/

[Rasterist]

I don't know which package is the most popular, but I also don't think the question can be answered without narrowing down what you're really interested in.  E.g., if you only want to simulate a circuit, there are applications that just do that.  If you're going to turn the circuit into a physical design on a printed circuit board (PCB), there are packages that integrate circuit design and PCB design in one application.  A single, independent, consulting EE is probably going to gravitate toward a different solution than the one chosen by a team at a large corporation (more expensive, more collaboration tools, possibly integrating circuit design + PCB design + simulation).

[wirehead_freenode]

Thanks all for your suggestions.

Jay_Diddy_B, I meant designing a circuit with resistors and capacitors and such.

[Jay_Diddy_B]

Thanks all for your suggestions.

Jay_Diddy_B, I meant designing a circuit with resistors and capacitors and such.

+1 for KiCAD

I switched to KICAD about 6 months ago. For the projects I have done with it, it has been great.

I use LTspice for simulation.

Jay_Diddy_B

[Brumby]

DaveCAD for most smaller projects, otherwise KICAD.