Circuit Schematic Design Software

[HellasTechn]

Does anyone know of any free Circuit Schematic Design Software ?

I just want to draw circuits easily and MS paint isnt exactly the best way to do it...


I use to have the EWB software but this is more a simulator than a drawing tool.

Any suggestion welcomed.

Thank you very much !!!

PS. What i need is not a PCB design software

 

[eman12]

Hi HellasTechn,

Isn't SwitcherCAD software helpful for you?

 

[davenn]

for purely drawing I have been using MS Paintbrush for years
I love it so easy specially once I have a collections of circuits i have drawn over the years ... its easy to cut and paste sections for starting another drawing.

Honestly ... It REALLY is the BEST way to do it and end up with professional looking layouots!!!

And with the use on monochrome mode the drawings are razor sharp in their reproduction and printing out.

here's just one example of a really complex drawing I did

I still highly reccoment paintbrush to people for circuit drawing

Dave

 

[HellasTechn]

I admire your patience.

still i dont think i could do that.

 

[KMoffett]

I really like ExpressPCB. Free, pretty intuitive, OK library but easy to add new parts, and good looking schematics.

Ken

 

[davenn]

My Huge complaint with most of the CAD schematic packages ( particularly the cheap - free ones) were that they are quite inflexible and the results in them looked dreadful component colours were different to connecting line colours , you couldn't vary the size of a component and as a result for a complex circuit, as I did above, the resulting drawing would be huge, they would draw the component name and value over the top of the component and or other components

In paint I can vary the size of resistors, transistors etc so for complex circuits I can really get a lot of detail into a small area and still have it easy to follow.
after a short time of use its so easy to copy a say resistor and do multi pastes all over the place ready to then copy and paste in the connecting lines and other components in the same way.....
Its awesome for doing block diagrams and line drawings as well ... see below
here's a few more examples of stuff I have done ... I have done literally 100's and 100's of drawings

after using it for a while it really is VERY EASY compared to the clunky CAD programs

BTW ... the 4 drawing I have shown in my 2 posts are also gear that I have reversed engineered, I was unable to obtain any service info for this equip
and had to trace out the boards and systems to be able to do the drawings

Dave

 

[HellasTechn]

Thank you all !


I find that express pcb is very handy !

 

[HellasTechn]

Hi HellasTechn,

Isn't SwitcherCAD software helpful for you?

I really like ExpressPCB. Free, pretty intuitive, OK library but easy to add new parts, and good looking schematics.

Ken

Thank you both for your suggestions !

SwitcherCAD : I havent tried that yet

ExpressPCB : Simple to use and easy to add or draw new parts !

 

[eman12]

Don't mention it. Hope you could find the best one which suits you.

 

[HellasTechn]

Does anyone know where i can find updated part's database for express PCB ?

 

[shumifan50]

As far as I am aware There is no central repository - you just install the latest version and get what you get.
HOWEVER
It is very easy to make your own components and add them to your library for future use. Just make sure you select the correct side of the board and set the layout up correctly for that side, otherwise it becomes a pain later on - ask me I screwed up before. The best place to get the exact dimensions for the new component is in its datasheet.

I actually like the limited number of components as it makes finding what you want much simpler, unlike Eagle where it can become a real pain for an inexperienced user like me. I typically tend to use the same components over and over (my preferred selection that I have in my bitsbox), so those are always in my favourites to make selection even quicker.

Also make sure you do the component in both the PCB layout and schematics programs as that makes checking that you did the layout correctly much simpler.

 

[KMoffett]

There is an ExpressPCB YAHOO group that has a file section where people have posted components that they have created...though not well organized. As shumifun50 stated, it's really easy to create new schematic and PCB components.

Ken

 

[Kiwi]

Another vote for ExpressPCB. I have been using it at work for about ten years.

I went to tech and learnt Autocad, but it is too complicated, and EXPENSIVE, for the drawings I do.

 

[Flyeo]

How about eagles schematic editor?
Using Eagle for years now, never had any problems.

 

[BobK]

+1 on Express PCB. I use it for my all my DYI boards.

I have also used Eagle and have many problems with it:

As someone else said the libraries are too large, and badly organized making them difficult to search.

Making a new component has me pulling my hair out every time I attempt it.

And the Delete as a mode key is disastrous. I cannot tell you how many times I have accidentally left it in delete mode then deleted several components before I realized what was going on. I find myself having to go to backups quite regularly because of this.

Bob

 

[HellasTechn]

If only the Express PCB had an online library update function. It would be perfect for amateurs.

 

[Paulo Tibúrcio Pereira]

Dear Davenn.
I observed that you have attached part of the Harris Microwave Radio 23 GHz diagram. Please, could you provide the complete diagram. Or rather, you could help me to enable the carrier ODU unit. I do not have the IDU unit and I need the carrier 23 GHz / 17 dBm.
Thank you.

 

[Minder]

I have been using the free open source Kicad, after giving up my old Orcad DOS version, it is for schematic and board manufacture but it is in sections so you would only need to use the schematic part, the advantage is the number of symbols etc and the ease of modifying/creating a new module.
It also has a raft of tutorials out there.
M.

 

[HellasTechn]

Dear Davenn.
I observed that you have attached part of the Harris Microwave Radio 23 GHz diagram. Please, could you provide the complete diagram. Or rather, you could help me to enable the carrier ODU unit. I do not have the IDU unit and I need the carrier 23 GHz / 17 dBm.
Thank you.

Are they Military radio tranceivers ?

 

[davenn]

Are they Military radio tranceivers ?

no, they are commercial point to point microwave radio linking gear

I picked them up dirt cheap when they were taken out of service at a local university
I have used some of the gear on our 23 GHz ham radio band


D