Sketching schematics and circuits without "real" components - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: eV1Te
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2017, 08:11:58 pm
content: I am sometimes required to draw proof-of-concept circuits or typical connection of some lab setup for reports or presentations. For this it is overkill and much too time consuming to use my normal CAD/EDA software (since I do not need real components, part names, or rule checking etc.).I have tried using normal drawing programs, but its annoying to have to draw each symbol by hand.I have also tried searching for free schematic drawing softwares but I have not found one that is not web based (needs to be local) and does not require libraries of components and so on.TLTRCan anyone here recommend a standalone circuit diagram drawing program for making good looking illustrations of generic circuits?I am sorry if this has been asked before, I tried my best to search for it but I could not find it.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2017, 08:16:20 pm
content: Microsoft Office Visio?

author: Bratster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2017, 08:29:05 pm
content: Did you already check out KiCad?It is a full CAD software suite. However just doing the schematics does not require you to build up a whole library of Parts.I like because for resistors diodes capacitors Etc I don't need to go picking specific components, it has a generic library of discrete components which you can choose from.Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2017, 08:35:48 pm
content: I use this and then annotate with Microsoft Paint:http://www.qsl.net/wd9eyb/klunky/framed.html(no shit. It's actually quite usable)

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2017, 09:37:18 pm
content: LOL! It's not called Klunky for nothing. Damn that was painful. At least itmaywork with Netscape Navigator 6.0So Klunky is at least 17 years old.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2017, 09:40:30 pm
content: It's like a crack addiction though. I am forever asking "can I bend it to do X". Usually I can

author: tycz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2017, 03:11:15 am
content: eV1Te,TryBsch3V. It comes with a good (but not overwhelming) symbol collection, full unicode support, muti-layered schematics feature.

author: eV1Te
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2017, 09:01:56 pm
content: Thanks for the suggestions, I will see if I can convince my IT department to give me Visio because I don't have it installed at the moment and I don't know if we have licenses for it.Otherwise I will try some of the other options, such as Bsch3V or KiCad.I have used KiCad before for PCB design, but I didn't like it back then, maybe its time to try again.Klunky seemed a little too rudimentary, it barely does its job

author: f5r5e5d
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2017, 09:25:05 pm
content: why not a modern, free, Spice with schematic entry - LTspice, Tina...

author: b_force
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2017, 01:59:58 pm
content: https://www.draw.io/Works pretty decent, there is a circuit/electrical option for drawing schematics.It's free, also for commercial use.

author: stmdude
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2017, 02:25:56 pm
content: Another vote for KiCad here. Once you've learned the shortcut keys, it's blazingly fast to throw together a schematic in it.Only thing that comes close to it is... Pen and paper.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2017, 08:25:45 pm
content: I used to use AutoCAD for this which is overkill but worked well.

author: Warhawk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 12:40:13 pm
content: Quote from: tycz on August 22, 2017, 03:11:15 amI second that

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 01:13:51 pm
content: Oh that's rather nice. Minimalist software FTW.Alsohttp://ludens.cl/Electron/kisscad/kisscad.htmlI have no excuse to continue using Klunky now

author: b_force
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 07:04:27 pm
content: Also love the classic icon visuals!(much better than most programs nowadays)

author: joshund
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 25, 2017, 03:50:12 pm
content: Another vote for Microsoft Visio. It's the best I've used for this but it's not cheap. Dia is a decent open source alternative to Visio that has circuit components (http://dia-installer.de/shapes/Circuit/index.html.en). You might also want to check out Fritzing's schematic feature (http://fritzing.org/home/), another free option. It may be a little more full featured than what you're looking for but I've found it useful for simple and quick circuit documentation.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2017, 04:25:29 pm
content: I'll give you that. Dia is pretty good.