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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Southern Highlands NSW
    Posts
    1,894

    Default Software for drawing wiring diagrams?

    I need to draw several schematics for a RV bus I wired up.
    Can anyone recommend a free or open source app? Dirt cheap also considered.

    It should be able to draw lines and text, and preferably have a basic library of automotive symbols.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Kingswood
    Posts
    930

    Default

    nadroj,

    I use QElectroTech for ordinary electrical schematics.

    The key is make your own library of elements, the standard libraries provided are a dog's breakfast to navigate through.
    When you find an element in the standard library that you like, copy to your own library.
    Using the package to draw is just a bit 'quirky', but you get accustomed to it.

    My experience is on Linux, but the website lists Windows.

    Keep well,
    John,

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Southern Highlands NSW
    Posts
    1,894

    Default

    Thanks John,

    I had a look at QElectroTech but it seems like too much to learn and modify before I can make use of it.
    I'm wondering if it would be sensible to use Inkscape, which is already on my Linux computer?
    There's lots of tutorials online for it.

    Years ago I designed my house using Photoshop - not really ideal but it's what I had and had the advantage that it could be copied, modified and printed, saving a lot of pencil work.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    574

    Default

    Here's an Inkscape circuit I did a few days ago for an amp restoration I'm undertaking - not sure how familiar you are with Inkscape but my suggestion is to make good use of the layers, ie wiring on one layer, relays on another, text on another, fuses on another etc - not only makes it easier to edit, but but you can turn off say all of the main wiring and only have the audio system wiring on display and print just that - makes it easier to follow the audio wiring diagram when the time comes to actually so the work.

    Screenshot 2022-05-10 111305.jpg

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Southern Highlands NSW
    Posts
    1,894

    Default

    I'm encouraged to find several tutorials on YouTube, for circuit diagrams using Inkscape.
    There are also libraries of various symbols, but I haven't found any specific for auto electrics yet.
    But as it's a drawing program, that should be easy enough to make my own, even for a lazy bourke like me.

    Being a so-called vector type drawing system, I need to get used to this as I've only used raster type before.
    I did use layers with these, so I'm already familiar with this concept.

    Thanks fellas!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Latrobe Valley
    Posts
    4

    Default

    For basic block diagrams - DrawIO is a good one.
    Drag and drop and easy linking of blocks.

    Can get more detailed for schematics, just takes time.

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