One line software

Status
Not open for further replies.
Eros said:
I am looking for a template or software to design detailed one line diagrams for single and three phase PV installations.
Thank you
Click to expand...

I use AutoCAD LT. By subscription it's not that expensive but it's pretty sophisticated software. There is a significant learning curve.
 
ggunn said:
I use AutoCAD LT. By subscription it's not that expensive but it's pretty sophisticated software. There is a significant learning curve.
Click to expand...

Just to add - before I got AutoCAD I tried using Microsoft Vizio to make electrical drawings. It just about drove me crazy; it works, sort of, but it's the wrong tool for the job. I also tried SketchUp with same result. In both cases I was able to make them work, but it was painful and imprecise. AutoCAD is great, IMO, especially if you have a good library of templates and blocks.
 
There are some basic templates for residential and small commercial systems, 240V single phase based. Once you get into 3 phase systems there really is no "template" they are all too different and require customized solutions for each site.

If you are looking for software to design the diagrams for you get in line. People have been looking for that for years. HelioScope will give you a basic single line based on your input. It's not perfect but maybe at least something to start with.
 
pv_n00b said:
There are some basic templates for residential and small commercial systems, 240V single phase based. Once you get into 3 phase systems there really is no "template" they are all too different and require customized solutions for each site.

If you are looking for software to design the diagrams for you get in line. People have been looking for that for years. HelioScope will give you a basic single line based on your input. It's not perfect but maybe at least something to start with.
Click to expand...
Aurora goes a step further but it's certainly not doing it for you. Easypower, skm, and etap are good for modeling slds but not very applicable as for design software for solar.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
Bluebeam REVU

Bluebeam REVU

I have used REVU with its electrical toolbox to directly create PDFs. Not as powerful as CAD but less expensive and easier to learn.
 
ggunn said:
Just to add - before I got AutoCAD I tried using Microsoft Vizio to make electrical drawings. It just about drove me crazy; it works, sort of, but it's the wrong tool for the job. I also tried SketchUp with same result. In both cases I was able to make them work, but it was painful and imprecise. AutoCAD is great, IMO, especially if you have a good library of templates and blocks.
Click to expand...

Have you tried the freeware program Draftsight by Dassault Systems? It is very similar to CAD to the point that many of the same commands work and I can often figure out how to do things in it by reading ACAD forums. It has a Full paid version for about $249 that adds features but, if you are only an occasional user. I would say you are looking at only about a 15% increase in time without the features. They also have a fairly reputable 3D called Solidworks that builds on Draftsight.
 
I use Visio Standard, $249. Fairly quick to learn. You make shapes, IE a disconnect switch, and drag into the drawing. Connect with lines. Maybe I can post a riser dwg tommorrow
 
The problem with CAD programs is that AutoCAD pretty much has it locked up if you have the exchange files. If you are just making drawings for yourself and to get permits you can use anything, you can even hand draft. But if you have to exchange electronic CAD files with others then 99.999% of the time it's going to be an AutoCAD file. And don't believe these other CAD programs that say they can read and write AutoCAD files, I have yet to find one that is 100% compatible. I use AutoCAD LT. Not too expensive and does everything I need.
 
tom baker said:
I use Visio Standard, $249. Fairly quick to learn. You make shapes, IE a disconnect switch, and drag into the drawing. Connect with lines. Maybe I can post a riser dwg tommorrow
Click to expand...
I used Visio for quite a while for producing electrical drawings and I hated it (YMMV). Its lack of precision made me crazy.
 
pv_n00b said:
But if you have to exchange electronic CAD files with others then 99.999% of the time it's going to be an AutoCAD file. And don't believe these other CAD programs that say they can read and write AutoCAD files, I have yet to find one that is 100% compatible.
Click to expand...

I've been using DraftSight for 5-6 years, the only compatibility problems have been lack of support for acad 2018 format; it's been fine with 2013 format.
 
pv_n00b said:
The problem with CAD programs is that AutoCAD pretty much has it locked up if you have the exchange files. If you are just making drawings for yourself and to get permits you can use anything, you can even hand draft. But if you have to exchange electronic CAD files with others then 99.999% of the time it's going to be an AutoCAD file. And don't believe these other CAD programs that say they can read and write AutoCAD files, I have yet to find one that is 100% compatible. I use AutoCAD LT. Not too expensive and does everything I need.
Click to expand...

Draftsight works with DWG's 2013 version. It also saves files in that format. I trade CAD all the time with Engineer's with no problem. It is free. Try it if you have a half hour to spare. Zero problems.
 
Strathead said:
Draftsight works with DWG's 2013 version. It also saves files in that format. I trade CAD all the time with Engineer's with no problem. It is free. Try it if you have a half hour to spare. Zero problems.
Click to expand...

The problem is twofold. First, Autodesk likes to tweak their DWG files every few versions of AutoCAD and since AutoCAD is by far the favored program the 3rd parties have to decompile the new format and update their software to be compatible with the latest version of DWG. The result is that if someone gives you a 2018 DWG you have to go back to them and ask for them to save the file in an older version format. Maybe the person rocking the latest version of AutoCAD doesn't like the idea of having the exchange files in the 2013 format and lose information that is saved in the later formats.

Second, AutoCAD embeds codes in the DWG files so it can tell if a file was saved from one of the 3rd party programs even if nothing was changed. When someone opens the file in AutoCAD a warning pops up saying that the file is suspect because it's been saved by a program other than AutoCAD. This can be an issue because some 3rd party programs are not all that compatible and now the person with AutoCAD has to find out if the file was mangled by a 3rd party program.

When I work with subs I have to exchange CAD files with they have to use AutoCAD or they don't get the work. It just reduces problems. I have worked with people who have older versions of AutoCAD and that's fine but not with other CAD apps.
 
pv_n00b said:
When I work with subs I have to exchange CAD files with they have to use AutoCAD or they don't get the work. It just reduces problems. I have worked with people who have older versions of AutoCAD and that's fine but not with other CAD apps.
Click to expand...

If you want me to use actual autodesk autocad, I'll add the cost to your bill.

As to the other parts, they've never been a problem for me or the people I work with. Maybe that's because DraftSight* is better than many other CAD programs at reading/writing "compatible" files or maybe because my clients don't think this is a problem. The only CAD system I've ever had problems with is VectorWorks, which does not interchange with any autocad format nicely and it's a well-known issue; OTOH it's the software of choice for theatrical lighting and a few other trades.

*from the same people that make SolidWorks, the CAD/CAE of choice for solids modeling
 
pv_n00b said:
The problem is twofold. First, Autodesk likes to tweak their DWG files every few versions of AutoCAD and since AutoCAD is by far the favored program the 3rd parties have to decompile the new format and update their software to be compatible with the latest version of DWG. The result is that if someone gives you a 2018 DWG you have to go back to them and ask for them to save the file in an older version format. Maybe the person rocking the latest version of AutoCAD doesn't like the idea of having the exchange files in the 2013 format and lose information that is saved in the later formats.

Second, AutoCAD embeds codes in the DWG files so it can tell if a file was saved from one of the 3rd party programs even if nothing was changed. When someone opens the file in AutoCAD a warning pops up saying that the file is suspect because it's been saved by a program other than AutoCAD. This can be an issue because some 3rd party programs are not all that compatible and now the person with AutoCAD has to find out if the file was mangled by a 3rd party program.

When I work with subs I have to exchange CAD files with they have to use AutoCAD or they don't get the work. It just reduces problems. I have worked with people who have older versions of AutoCAD and that's fine but not with other CAD apps.
Click to expand...

I am generally not "exchanging" files, I am producing shop drawings for various systems. Or I am acting as the designer and working with the Architect not the engineer. I just haven't run in to the problems you describe with Draftsight. I am with zbang. I will gladly explain to the customer that the Electrical Engineer that they hired refuses to export his CAD in 2013 format so that I can do my joab and it will cost xxx dollars to fix it. Frankly the way you wrote that was very aggressive and reminds me of the days when the design team would charge $50 for a CD of the plans.
 
Strathead said:
I am generally not "exchanging" files, I am producing shop drawings for various systems. Or I am acting as the designer and working with the Architect not the engineer. I just haven't run in to the problems you describe with Draftsight. I am with zbang. I will gladly explain to the customer that the Electrical Engineer that they hired refuses to export his CAD in 2013 format so that I can do my joab and it will cost xxx dollars to fix it. Frankly the way you wrote that was very aggressive and reminds me of the days when the design team would charge $50 for a CD of the plans.
Click to expand...


And I'll tell the customer that I'll charge a fee to take into account all the problems of exporting in old formats and exchanging drawings with non-standard CAD software that their designer chooses to use. It goes both ways Strathead.

I've just found it solves a lot of problems if everyone uses the same software to exchange files and I'm sorry if you think it is aggressive to ask for that. With the kinds of PV systems I deal with it has not been a problem so far. When a company is doing 100s of MW a year they do not mind a $200/yr/seat AutoCAD software fee. It's noise in the overhead cost on a project.

Be glad we are not using BIM in PV design, yet.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top