Software for drawing diagrams. Drawing a single line diagram - review of free programs

Electricians no longer use compasses and gauges to manually assemble a complex and intricate system of lines and cables. This is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also not always beautiful and clean. In addition, any person is prone to mistakes, this is especially noticeable when working with drawings: inaccuracy on paper results in a real danger for the use of the electrical system by users. Designing electrical circuits became more accessible after special programs were developed for constructing and modeling electrical wiring in a house or apartment. In this article we will talk about the need for CAD systems, the positive and negative sides of the most popular ones.

Advantages of designing drawings on a computer

Wiring diagram platforms are designed to make it easier to create accurate blueprints. The machine will make calculations for you based on the data you enter. Any product made by a good designer will undergo automatic testing.
Many software include a diverse base. Ready-made layouts that you just need to supplement and customize. All elements in the library meet drawing standards. Using them in your work, you make your task easier and do not waste time re-drawing classic power grid blocks.
Advanced functionality makes the computer equivalent of a pencil and ruler much more ergonomic. There is no need to have a pile of paper drawings with different parts, when in the electrical design program you can click a couple of buttons to compare different pages. Using new technologies, it becomes easier for an engineer to work: there is no need to draw a lot of drawings in which only the indicators differ, the computer will do it for you. ZWCAD solves this problem by prompting the user to insert selected objects with various options from the Properties palette.
It is very convenient to store the project in electronic form. It can be sent by mail to colleagues, modified or corrected if necessary. In this case, you will not need to re-do the drawing. When the work is completed, the plan can be printed at any scale.
In any project there are elements that do not require creativity. They are standard and uncomplicated, but also waste the developer's time. Automated CAD design systems come to the rescue. With them, all or part of the work will be completed in a split second.
Any consumer will find his product. To draw up a simple house wiring diagram, a free version of the program for an electrician is suitable. Such software has less functionality and opens up more modest possibilities, but sometimes more is not required to complete a simple task. The specialist will also select software for himself: with extensive resources and a technologically competent interface. The high cost of a product is not always an indicator of quality. Popular companies that occupy a high position among their peers inflate their prices, giving in to the variety of features of their younger competitors.
The quality of European standards remains, but use becomes convenient for the average designer, because most new programs for creating electrical circuits offer an interface in Russian.
There are developments aimed at a specific specialty. The tools in them are selected for a specific activity, for example, for the construction of large buildings, industrial facilities or residential buildings. Some companies offer additional modules that expand the functionality of the standard package.
Many companies offer periodic updates, so a platform purchased once will remain relevant for many years.

In what cases is the software suitable?

The program is needed for drawing, designing, drawing single-line diagrams of the electrical supply of a house. It is a graphic design document. Its tools contain the elements included in the structure of the device and the contacts between them. Conventions make it easy to find and use all the tools available during development. The drawing itself is part of the entire package of documents associated with the project. It contains data for installation, coordination and control of the device.

What stages is the program for drawing electrical circuits intended for?

It is indispensable at all stages of power supply:

Drawing up a project. The model makes it possible to establish the components of the product being developed.
Production process. The drawings can demonstrate the device. Based on them, all stages of creating, installing and testing the system are calculated.
Operating period. If a defect appears or a breakdown occurs, thanks to the drawing you can find the cause and understand how to eliminate it.

This is the main type of planning. It is usually used when constructing simple projects. This method differs from other models in its ease of creation: the entire set of components necessary to supply electricity to consumers is displayed on it in several lines.

The main stages of project development using a program for creating, drawing, drawing electrical circuits:

The initial and most important stage is the collection and preparation of computational materials. The accuracy of the calculations is important.
If the system has been in use, it is necessary to visually and technically diagnose the electrical system, study the characteristics and identify defects and breakdowns of the network. Based on the results of the inspection, you need to make an estimate of those parts that need to be replaced. This data is included in the report and taken into account during design. If the entire electrical network requires reconstruction, the calculation has to be done again.
With the collected materials you can start drawing. The safety of the owner and users of the premises depends on the correctness of this stage. The accuracy of execution can be entrusted to specialized programs for electrical design.

ZWSOFT offers technical support for users of any version of ZWCAD. They will answer your questions related to using the software. The developer's website has articles and videos created to help customers.

The final step before installation begins is the approval of the project by the operation service. If everything is approved, you can begin installation.

Compliance with all rules is fundamental when preparing a building for electrification. The normal functioning of the entire energy supply, the possibility of long-term operation without repairs and replacement of parts and, of course, the health and safety of consumers depend on this.

What programs for designing electrical power supply systems exist?

There are a number of platforms, including paid ones and their free counterparts. The main functionality remains the same, but purchased software offers a number of additional tools. Let's talk about the most popular ones.

AutoCAD

Until recently, this product occupied a leading position in the design systems market. Autodesk developed this software back in 1982, and it immediately gained popularity among engineers. The abbreviation AutoCAD means “computer-aided design systems”. It is a two- or three-dimensional modeling program. It is actively used by engineers in various industries. AutoCAD has been translated into 18 languages. The Russian-language version is fully adapted for users of our country - the entire interface and tools are clear and accessible. And only the instructions are not suitable for Russian designers. Over its long life, the company has developed dozens of versions, thousands of add-ons and auxiliary applications.

According to statistics, around the world, about 6,000,000 consumers use the capabilities of the AutoCAD service. Among all the functions, the 3D modeling system occupies a special place. Three-dimensional figures can be brought to life thanks to the capabilities of three-dimensional printing. The popular brand has both ardent supporters and critics. The first claim that all the disadvantages attributed to AutoCAD are only the result of incomplete study of the platform and the inability to use its full potential.

The latter find negative aspects:

The first is a conclusion from the statement of software advocates: if most engineers cannot understand the capabilities of the software, then its functionality is too difficult to convey to the user.
It is often noted that AutoCAD graphics are not suitable for text editors.
The system does not recognize some drawings made in other software.
Numerous add-ons for AutoCAD often have an inconvenient interface.
Both supporters and opponents of the program agree with the last drawback - its price is too high. And even if we assume that quality is correlated with cost, this does not make the product more accessible.

Reasons for looking for other platforms:

Over the past 5–7 years, the position of popular software has fallen. Increasingly, engineers are looking for an analogue from foreign developers. This is due to the compulsory licensing policy introduced by the company and the high price for the product, according to users. Large companies are interested in finding the most profitable software for their work.

The main search criteria are:

ample opportunities for designing electronic systems, a similar set of functions;
convenient and simple interface, understandable to both specialists and inexperienced users;
simplified licensing system;
reasonable price and flexible system of corporate discounts;
compatibility with projects made in other software;
the ability to purchase updates and additional modules that expand the classic basic set of functions.

QElectroTech

This is one of the free programs in Russian for drawing various electrical circuits: single-line, structural and hydraulic. It is easy to use thanks to a large library of ready-made layouts. Well suited for beginners and students, for whom a simple design process is not so much needed as a wide range of tools. But due to the small variety of functions, the system is not suitable for serious, complex projects and professional work.

Visio

Another product that competes with popular simulators. It is as convenient as possible to use: the creators competently approached the classification of elements. Dividing into groups made the parts accessible; they are dragged onto the layout and stacked one on top of the other, like in a constructor. But the library of ready-made circuits is poorer than most programs. A noticeable drawback is also the possible formatting failure when switched on from a different version or in a different format.

NanoCAD

An excellent domestic analogue of AutoCAD. It has decent functionality and a number of additional modules. The interface remains the same and is easily recognizable. Unlike the foreign product, working with layers is convenient - there is a function for deleting one slice and transferring data to the previous one. This allows you to avoid multiplying tabs and cluttering the drawing. But there are opinions according to which this development did not live up to expectations: it takes a long time to load and often works in jerks or responds slowly and is unstable. The disadvantages also include incomplete geometry editing, in particular, the inability to trim splines and hatches.

ZWCAD - convenient CAD for electrical circuits

The development of the ZWSOFT company is a high-tech analogue of AutoCAD, which has the potential to surpass the first in manufacturability. ZWSOFT employees make the transition of consumers to new software easy and convenient. This is as follows:

Each customer is offered a free consultation from technical specialists. They will help you choose the appropriate version, taking into account the capabilities of the consumer’s equipment and the scope of use of the product.
Before purchasing, you have the opportunity to test the platform by installing a fully functional version with a limited validity period.
The discount system is aimed at working with corporate clients: the simultaneous purchase of a whole package of licenses will cost several times less than that of competing companies.
The ZVKAD interface combines ease of use and versatility.
The platform has wide compatibility with other CAD formats. Integration with third-party applications is even possible, since files created in other editors are supported in ZWCAD.
It is easy to work in both 2D and 3D space.
The client will have access to regular updates and extensions, both paid and free.
The company offers a range of options, from a classic feature set to a professional package.

This program is ideal for both multi-stage design of an enterprise power supply system and for designing simple electrical wiring diagrams in an apartment. You can design on different platforms, get used to it and not pay attention to the shortcomings. But in order to enjoy your work, you need high-quality and convenient software that meets all your preferences.

Topic: download free program for drawing electrical circuits QElectroTech.

Title and version- QElectroTech

Purpose- program for drawing electrical circuits

License- Freeware

File size- 12 MB

Brief description of the QElectroTech program:

We offer you a free, simple, convenient, in my opinion, very good and worthy program for creating electrical and electronic circuits. The program is called QElectroTech. It has a Russian-language, intuitive interface (even a beginner can quickly and easily understand it). Requires minimal computer resources. Can work under various operating systems. When using it, you can draw a simple electrical or electronic circuit within a few minutes.

QElectroTech program for drawing electrical circuits contains a base of elements that are ordered in a certain way. To create an electrical circuit, the user simply needs to look at the list on the left side of the program and select the desired component for his circuit. After this, you need to drag the selected element onto the main field of the program with the mouse. As a result, it will be fixed in the right place on the grid. Next, you just need to use your mouse to make connections (conductors) between the existing electrical and electronic elements of the circuit, which ultimately forms a complete electrical circuit.

If the existing database of the QElectroTech program for drawing electrical circuits does not contain the required element, or it is not exactly what you need. Then you can easily create your own. Simply go to the New Circuit Components Editor and create your own element, specifying the required characteristics and dimensions. After this, this newly created element will be saved in the QElectroTech program database. The next time you draw a new electrical or electronic circuit, you can select it from the menu item.

Overall, this program for creating electronic and electrical circuits, called QElectroTech, is very good. It is simple, has a clear and convenient interface, is free, and is constantly updated (both the program itself and its database of electronic and electrical elements). It installs quickly on your computer, works without glitches or slowdowns, and is supported by many operating systems. When mastering its interface, the user can quite quickly create and draw on his computer both simple electrical circuits and quite complex ones. After which the created diagram can be saved and exported in different formats.

Personally, I liked this QElectroTech program. I started working with her myself and I recommend it to you. In general, download, install, get used to it and draw your electrical circuits with this program.

Nowadays, no one draws electrical circuits on a piece of paper anymore, because it is extremely inconvenient and takes a long period of time. To simplify drawing diagrams, you can safely use various software that can be easily downloaded on the Internet. In this article, we will tell you what programs there are for drawing electrical circuits in a house and apartment, consider several free and paid ones, and show you a ready-made list with descriptions from which you can choose the best one for yourself.

Free programs for drawing diagrams

Nowadays, there are several excellent programs for drawing diagrams in Russian, they are easy to use and are considered optimal. Of course, you will have to tinker with some during installation, because in this list we included programs that can be downloaded, but they need to be “broken”; there are also those who give a trial version for a month. This should be enough time to draw several diagrams. So, here is the rating of the program for drawing electrical circuits in a house and apartment that we have prepared for you:

. This program is considered professional; it has its own database, which includes various names and ratings of various types of automation for relay protection, circuit elements, low-voltage installations, etc. There are also graphic symbols on the diagrams, so using such a program you can easily draw a simple and understandable diagram. Find out.
Eagle(Easily Applicable Graphical Layout Editor) - this program is completely in English, there are no cracks, but you can figure it out, there are no special difficulties. The package allows you to draw single-line diagrams and even develop PCB drawings. If we talk about printed circuit board drawings, the program can even create them automatically. If you need a simple version, then pay attention to Freeware; for home use this is the best option.
« 1-2-3 scheme" This program is considered completely free and can be downloaded from the official website. Drawing diagrams with it is a pleasure. A simple and intuitive interface allows you to understand it in a few minutes. There is also a database that includes all the main elements of the circuit, reminiscent of automata, etc.
AutoCAD Electrician. We can call this program the most “new” and simplest; we recommend installing it. After all, it is suitable for beginners and professional electricians who already know all the intricacies. The interface is in Russian, the crack can be downloaded on the Internet without any problems, there is also a free version (limited).
Elf. The program for drawing electrical circuits of this type is functional. Of course, the name and interface are immediately intimidating, but as a result it turns out to be an excellent assistant. With it you can draw all the diagrams and simply and even select them. Elf is free to download.
. The program is considered excellent, but there is a serious problem - downloading the free version is not so easy, but if you try, you can find “Cracks” on the Internet. This graphic editor allows you to draw all the diagrams without much effort and immediately print them. This program is best suited for home use.

Paid programs for drawing diagrams

We have discussed the best free programs for drawing electrical circuits, but do not forget that there are also paid ones. They can be called for a long time, we decided to show you one of the best - sPlan. If you are a professional electrician, then such a program will be a real godsend for you. But, there is one significant drawback - it costs $40, so once again you should seriously think about such a purchase. A simple and pleasant interface, great functions and absolutely all electrical symbols have been developed here. The language is Russian, you can figure it out quickly, but to understand all the functions you will have to spend more than one week.

Here is a video we found with an overview of this program.

Interesting article

Today, not a single experienced electrician uses manual drawing of electrical circuits on a piece of paper. It is much easier, more convenient and clearer to draw up a project for the electrical wiring of a room on a computer using a special software package in Russian. However, the problem is that not all programs are easy to use, so when they come across an inconvenient and, moreover, paid version of the software, most old-school masters simply throw the modern method of modeling aside. Next, we will provide readers of the site with an overview of the simplest programs for drawing electrical diagrams of apartments and houses on a computer.

Free software

There are not many Russian-language, easy-to-use, and also free software for creating single-line electrical diagrams on a computer. So, we have created a small rating so that you know which programs are best for drawing power supply diagrams for houses and apartments:

. Oddly enough, the most popular and, no less important, free program for drawing single-line electrical diagrams on a computer is the vector graphics editor Visio. With its help, even a novice electrician can quickly draw a circuit diagram of a house or apartment. As for the functionality, they are not as advanced as the software that we will provide below. To summarize, we can say that Microsoft Visio is an easy-to-use and, at the same time, free program in Russian for modeling electrical circuits, which is suitable for home electricians.
. A more professional software package for designing indoor electrical circuits. Compass has its own database, which stores the names and ratings of all the most popular types of automation, relay protection, low-voltage installations and other circuit elements. In addition, the database contains graphic symbols of all these elements, which will make it possible to create a clear diagram of the power supply or even a separate switchboard. The software is completely in Russian and you can download it for free.
Eagle(Easily Applicable Graphical Layout Editor). This software package will allow you not only to draw single-line power supply diagrams, but also to independently develop a drawing of a printed circuit board. As for the latter, drawing can be done either manually or without your own participation (in automatic mode). Today there are both paid and free versions of the Eagle program. For home use, it will be enough to download the version labeled “Freeware” (there are some restrictions regarding the maximum usable area of the printed circuit board). The disadvantage of this software package is that it is not officially Russified, although if you try a little, you can find a Russifier on the Internet, which will allow you to draw electrical diagrams of apartments and houses without any obstacles.
Dip Trace. Another popular program for drawing electrical circuits and creating routes for printed circuit boards. The program is simple and easy to use, and is also entirely in Russian. The interface allows you to design a printed circuit board in three-dimensional form, using a database with ready-made elements of an electrical circuit. You can evaluate the full functionality of the software only for money, but there is also a stripped-down free version, which will be quite enough for a novice electrician.
" A completely free program for drawing electrical circuits on a computer. From the official website you can download it in Russian and the full version. In addition to modeling power supply projects for apartments, houses and other types of premises, in this software package you can easily create a diagram in which the most suitable ratings of circuit breakers, relay protection, etc. will immediately be provided. A nice addition to this software is a database with stickers that can be printed and pasted in your own distribution panel to graphically designate all circuit elements according to GOST.
. One of the free versions of the popular AutoCAD editor is AutoCAD Electrician. Briefly about this software, we can say the following: the functionality is suitable for both beginners and professional electricians working in the energy field. Everything in the interface is simple, you can quickly figure it out. All functions are in Russian, so you can easily use AutoCAD to draw electrical wiring diagrams for your house or apartment.
Elf. An interesting name for a simple program for modeling power supply circuits in construction drawing. The software package itself is no less interesting and multifunctional. Using the Elf Design program, you can create power supply drawings of any complexity. In addition, the software helps with the appropriate denomination, etc. "Elf Design" is a completely free software package in Russian.

You can see some of the listed programs in video reviews:

AutoCAD Electrical

KOMPAS-Electric

In addition to the 7 programs provided for drawing electrical circuits, there are more than a dozen editors in which you can draw up a basic plan for the power supply of a house or apartment for free, but other programs have a more complex interface or problems with the Russian version. We recommend giving preference to representatives of this rating, so as not to waste time in the future searching for localization codes, user manuals, and the like!

Paid software

We reviewed free programs for creating electrical circuits on our own. However, you yourself understand that the paid versions provide a wider range of features and convenient add-ons that will allow you to draw an electrical circuit on your computer. There are many popular paid programs for drawing electrical circuits. We have provided some of them above, but there is one more program that is worth talking about a little - sPlan. This is one of the easiest to use and also multifunctional software packages for drawing up electrical wiring diagrams and tracing electronic boards. The interface is convenient, in Russian. The database contains all the most popular graphic elements for drawing electrical circuits.

We are increasingly using computers and virtual instruments. Now you don’t always want to draw diagrams on paper - it takes a long time, it’s not always beautiful and it’s difficult to correct. In addition, a program for drawing circuits can produce a list of necessary elements, simulate a printed circuit board, and some can even calculate the results of its operation.

Free programs for creating diagrams

There are many good free programs for drawing electrical circuits on the Internet. Their functionality may not be enough for professionals, but to create a power supply diagram for a house or apartment, their functions and operations will be enough. Not all of them are equally convenient, some are difficult to learn, but you can find several free programs for drawing electrical circuits that anyone can use, their interface is so simple and intuitive.

The easiest option is to use the standard Windows Paint program, which is available on almost any computer. But in this case, you will have to draw all the elements yourself. A special program for drawing circuits allows you to insert ready-made elements into the right places, and then connect them using communication lines. We'll talk about these programs further.

A free program for drawing diagrams does not mean bad. This photo shows work with Fritzing

The program for drawing QElectroTech circuits is in Russian, and it is completely Russified - menus, explanations - in Russian. Convenient and intuitive interface - a hierarchical menu with possible elements and operations on the left side of the screen and several tabs at the top. There are also quick access buttons for performing standard operations - saving, printing, etc.

There is an extensive list of ready-made elements, it is possible to draw geometric shapes, insert text, make changes in a certain area, change the direction in a particular fragment, add rows and columns. In general, the program is quite convenient, with the help of which it is easy to draw a power supply diagram, enter the names of the elements and ratings. The result can be saved in several formats: JPG, PNG, BMP, SVG; data can be imported (opened in this program) in QET and XML formats; exported in QET format.

The disadvantage of this program for drawing diagrams is the lack of videos in Russian on how to use it, but there are a considerable number of lessons in other languages.

Graphics editor from Microsoft - Visio

For those who have at least a little experience working with Microsoft products, it will not be difficult to master the work in the Visio graphic editor. This product also has a fully Russified version, with a good level of translation.

This product allows you to draw a diagram to scale, which is convenient for calculating the number of wires needed. A large library of stencils with symbols, various components of the scheme, makes the work similar to assembling a construction set: you need to find the right element and put it in place. Since many people are accustomed to working in programs of this type, the search is not difficult.

The positive aspects include the presence of a decent number of lessons on working with this program for drawing diagrams, and in Russian.

Compass Electric

Another program for drawing diagrams on a computer is Compass Electric. This is a more serious product that is used by professionals. There is a wide functionality that allows you to draw various plans, flowcharts, and other similar drawings. When transferring the circuit into the program, a specification and wiring diagram are simultaneously generated and they are printed.

To get started, you need to load the library with system elements. When you select a schematic image of a particular element, a window will “pop up” in which there will be a list of suitable parts taken from the library. A suitable element is selected from this list, after which its schematic image appears in the specified place in the diagram. At the same time, a designation corresponding to GOST with continuous numbering is automatically entered (the program changes the numbers itself). At the same time, the parameters (name, number, denomination) of the selected element appear in the specification.

In general, the program is interesting and useful for developing device circuits. It can be used to create an electrical wiring diagram in a house or apartment, but in this case its functionality will be almost not used. And one more positive point: there are many video lessons on working with Compass-Electric, so it will not be difficult to master it.

DipTrace program - for drawing single-line diagrams and circuit diagrams

This program is useful not only for drawing power supply diagrams - everything is simple, since you only need a diagram. It is more useful for PCB development because it has a built-in function for converting an existing schematic into a PCB trace.

To get started, as in many other cases, you must first load the libraries with the element base available on your computer. To do this, you need to launch the Schematic DT application, after which you can load the libraries. They can be downloaded from the same resource where you will get the program.

After downloading the library, you can start drawing the diagram. First, you can “drag” the necessary elements from the libraries onto the workspace, expand them (if necessary), arrange them and connect them with connection lines. After the circuit is ready, if necessary, select the line “convert to board” in the menu and wait for a while. The output will be a finished printed circuit board with the arrangement of elements and tracks. You can also see the appearance of the finished board in 3D.

Free ProfiCAD program for drawing electrical circuits

The free program for drawing diagrams ProfiCAD is one of the best options for the home craftsman. It is easy to use and does not require special libraries on your computer - it already contains about 700 elements. If there are not enough of them, you can easily replenish the database. The required element can simply be “dragged” onto the field, rotated there in the desired direction, and installed.

Having drawn the diagram, you can get a table of connections, a bill of materials, a list of wires. Results can be obtained in one of the four most common formats: PNG, EMF, BMP, DXF. A nice feature of this program is that it has low hardware requirements. It works fine on systems from Windows 2000 and higher.

This product has only one drawback - there is no video about working with it in Russian yet. But the interface is so clear that you can figure it out yourself, or watch one of the “imported” videos to understand the mechanics of work.

If you'll be working with a diagramming program frequently, it's worth considering some of the paid versions. Why are they better? They have wider functionality, sometimes more extensive libraries and a more thoughtful interface.

Simple and convenient sPlan

If you don't really want to deal with the intricacies of working with multi-level programs, take a closer look at the sPlan product. It has a very simple and understandable structure, so after an hour and a half of work you will be able to navigate freely.

As usual in such programs, a library of elements is required; after the first launch, they must be loaded before starting work. In the future, if you do not move the library to another location, no configuration is needed - the old path to it is used by default.

If you need an element that is not in the list, you can draw it, then add it to the library. It is also possible to insert extraneous images and save them, if necessary, in the library.

Other useful and necessary functions include auto-numbering, the ability to change the scale of an element by rotating the mouse wheel, and a ruler for more understandable scaling. In general, a pleasant and useful thing.

Micro-Cap

This program, in addition to constructing a circuit of any type (analog, digital or mixed), also allows you to analyze its operation. The initial parameters are set and the output data is obtained. That is, it is possible to simulate the operation of the circuit under various conditions. A very useful opportunity, which is probably why teachers and students really like it.

The Micro-Cap program has built-in libraries that can be expanded using a special function. When drawing an electrical circuit, the product automatically develops circuit equations and also carries out calculations depending on the specified values. When the nominal value changes, the output parameters change immediately.

A program for drawing power supply diagrams and more - more for simulating their operation

The values of the elements can be constant or variable, depending on various factors - temperature, time, frequency, state of some circuit elements, etc. All these options are calculated, and the results are presented in a convenient form. If there are parts in the circuit that change their appearance or state - LEDs, relays - when simulating operation, they change their parameters and appearance thanks to animation.

The program for drawing and analyzing Micro-Cap circuits is paid, in the original it is in English, but there is also a Russian version. Its cost in the professional version is more than a thousand dollars. The good news is that there is also a free version, as usual with reduced capabilities (smaller library, no more than 50 elements per circuit, reduced speed). This option is also quite suitable for home use. It’s also nice that it works fine with any Windows system from Vista and 7 and higher.