ivsenroute
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Any free or inexpensive diagram software for electrical? Samples of what you like please.
Shall I say "relatively" inexpensive.
Shall I say "relatively" inexpensive.
Electrical diagram software
- Thread starter ivsenroute
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Pierre C Belarge
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
I cannot remember the exact name, but I believe there is a program out there called "Smart Draw". Google that name and you may find it.
When I do drawings it is usually in AutoCad but it is neither free nor cheap.
I have also used EasyCAD and there is a free trial version here:
http://www.smartdraw.com/specials/ppc/caddrawing.htm?id=206178&gclid=CJK9rt-O4ZcCFQ4i3god4lDoDQ
wbalsam1
Senior Member
- Location
- Upper Jay, NY
The "Smart Draw" program that Pierre mentioned is a nice program for the money. :smile:
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
we use autocad too. the low end versions are not horribly expensive but it takes a while to become useful with it.
a lot of people have started using visio for basic diagrams.
cadpoint
Senior Member
- Location
- Durham, NC
Well, it's surely not a one size(program)fits all situation. IMO!
If you just want a draw or sketch program thats fine, I haven't played with any in years. Google your own words and you'll be able to download alot of free "demo" packages. I can only guess that "now" only a few software (lower end) packages have a minumin of database type characteristic's that are usuable and functional, or even if they can be editable! The key here would be if you edit and add to the database ? ! This is all good and if you don't need any of this then don't read any farther.
Download some of the free-be's and drive them hard!
MAYBE I'm Totally Wrong!
My underlining thought in answering your thread is that you want more of any program. You will want to use or attach a database and obtain a print out of all the devices used, IE length of runs, number of circuits or any combination of additional aspects of what is in-putt into an electrical plan.
These database interfaces only happen in the higher end CAD packages, and are not user friendly, and is in fact an additional cost and expensive to learn and be productive with.
ACAD will show and import an Excel spread sheet, but I don't know that it is now interactive to removing an item on a CAD file that the correct count will be updated to show that the count has now changed. IE, edit something in CAD, one needs to edit the Excel spread sheet. "linked" or Linkable database to the CAD file is what you might be looking for.
Bentley-Microstation is even tougher on even importing Excel SS's, they display but aren't interactive, but they do use oracal software for their database interface and it is interactive. Now of late, some of Oracal's software is avaiable for free.
ACAD Lite has no Database interface.
Student addition of Bentley MicroStation have no database interface either.
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