Electrical drawing software
Electrical drawing software
Discover specialized toolsets for creating electrical drawings with AutoCAD professional design and electrical drawing software.
Discover specialized toolsets for creating electrical drawings with AutoCAD professional design and electrical drawing software.
What is an electrical drawing?
What is an electrical drawing?
Electrical drawings, also known as electrical plans, are technical documents that depict and notate designs for electrical systems. Workers use these documents to install systems on-site. In electrical drawings, every type of component and connection has its own specialized symbol and every detail matters.
AutoCAD can be used as a fully-featured electrical drawing program, with most of its electrical capabilities available through the dedicated Electrical toolset, which is included with a subscription to AutoCAD. This powerful toolset allows you to efficiently create, modify, and document electrical control systems with ease. Gain access to extensive libraries of symbols, automated drafting features, and real-time error checking to streamline your workflow and enhance productivity.
Electrical drawings, also known as electrical plans, are technical documents that depict and notate designs for electrical systems. Workers use these documents to install systems on-site. In electrical drawings, every type of component and connection has its own specialized symbol and every detail matters.
AutoCAD can be used as a fully-featured electrical drawing program, with most of its electrical capabilities available through the dedicated Electrical toolset, which is included with a subscription to AutoCAD. This powerful toolset allows you to efficiently create, modify, and document electrical control systems with ease. Gain access to extensive libraries of symbols, automated drafting features, and real-time error checking to streamline your workflow and enhance productivity.
Image courtesy of Tait Towers and Rukes.comThe electrical drawing process explained
The electrical drawing process explained
An electrical drawing is intended to provide a visual representation of the layout of an electrical system, including the components and the connections between them. There are various kinds of electrical drawings with different purposes, but generally you can begin the process by sketching out the layout of the electrical system, using either quality paper and a pencil, or electrical drawing software such as AutoCAD Electrical. Include all components, represented by special symbols. Then, you add lines to connect the components, representing wires. Labels and other annotations can be added to provide further information and clarification for the reader.
An electrical drawing is intended to provide a visual representation of the layout of an electrical system, including the components and the connections between them. There are various kinds of electrical drawings with different purposes, but generally you can begin the process by sketching out the layout of the electrical system, using either quality paper and a pencil, or electrical drawing software such as AutoCAD Electrical. Include all components, represented by special symbols. Then, you add lines to connect the components, representing wires. Labels and other annotations can be added to provide further information and clarification for the reader.
Specialized electrical drawing software
AutoCAD
AutoCAD LT
Benefits of using electrical drawing software
While electrical drawings have long been created by hand, using electrical drawing software has many benefits, including:
While electrical drawings have long been created by hand, using electrical drawing software has many benefits, including:
Efficiency
It’s far faster to place and connect pre-made electrical component symbols and wiring digitally rather than drawing them by hand. Many other elements are also automated, giving you more time to focus on the things that matter.
It’s far faster to place and connect pre-made electrical component symbols and wiring digitally rather than drawing them by hand. Many other elements are also automated, giving you more time to focus on the things that matter.
Accuracy
Using electrical drawing software like AutoCAD can help to eliminate costly and unfortunate mistakes by dramatically reducing the risk of human error when creating electrical layout drawings.
Using electrical drawing software like AutoCAD can help to eliminate costly and unfortunate mistakes by dramatically reducing the risk of human error when creating electrical layout drawings.
Easier collaboration
Once you’ve created a set of electrical plans using AutoCAD’s Electrical Toolset, you can easily share it with other members of your team instantaneously.
Once you’ve created a set of electrical plans using AutoCAD’s Electrical Toolset, you can easily share it with other members of your team instantaneously.
How to read electrical drawings
Learn the symbols used to notate components in an electrical plan.
Lights
Lights
Use AutoCAD tools to diagram lighting sources, from klieg lights to sconces.
Use AutoCAD tools to diagram lighting sources, from klieg lights to sconces.
Switches
Switches
From single-pole to multiple-pole, AutoCAD can help you diagram electrical circuits.
From single-pole to multiple-pole, AutoCAD can help you diagram electrical circuits.
Fuses
Fuses
Fuses limit the flow of current to prevent damage to other components. With AutoCAD, fuses are easier to design and diagram.
Fuses limit the flow of current to prevent damage to other components. With AutoCAD, fuses are easier to design and diagram.
Ground
Ground
Electrical circuits must connect to the ground to maintain safety. Learn the correct ways to diagram electrical grounds with AutoCAD’s electrical layout drawing tools.
Electrical circuits must connect to the ground to maintain safety. Learn the correct ways to diagram electrical grounds with AutoCAD’s electrical layout drawing tools.
Wires
Wires
Wires connect components, and AutoCAD gives you the design power to specify what you need.
Wires connect components, and AutoCAD gives you the design power to specify what you need.
Resistors
Resistors
AutoCAD gives you the electrical plan design tools to diagram resistors, which reduce current flow, adjust signal levels, divide voltages, and more.
AutoCAD gives you the electrical plan design tools to diagram resistors, which reduce current flow, adjust signal levels, divide voltages, and more.
Capacitors
Capacitors
Capacitors store potential energy; they're polarized or nonpolarized. The AutoCAD Electrical toolset enables you to diagram capacitors correctly.
Capacitors store potential energy; they're polarized or nonpolarized. The AutoCAD Electrical toolset enables you to diagram capacitors correctly.
Power sources
Power sources
From DC to AC currents and batteries, there are many ways to power what you make. AutoCAD makes the electrical drawing planning and design process easy.
From DC to AC currents and batteries, there are many ways to power what you make. AutoCAD makes the electrical drawing planning and design process easy.
Main types of electrical drawings
There are four main types of electrical drawings:
Schematic diagrams
Schematic diagrams
A schematic diagram is the simplest version of an electrical drawing, and aims to convey the functionality and connectivity of a circuit using lines and universal symbols.
A schematic diagram is the simplest version of an electrical drawing, and aims to convey the functionality and connectivity of a circuit using lines and universal symbols.
Circuit diagrams
Circuit diagrams
These are used to depict more accurately the reality of an electrical system, rather than just the logic underpinning it. They include details about how the wires and components are arranged, and often what wire colours are used. Â
These are used to depict more accurately the reality of an electrical system, rather than just the logic underpinning it. They include details about how the wires and components are arranged, and often what wire colours are used. Â
Pictorial diagrams
Pictorial diagrams
This type of electrical plan is even more detailed, using pictures to depict components and including details of how wires are attached.
This type of electrical plan is even more detailed, using pictures to depict components and including details of how wires are attached.
Block diagrams
Block diagrams
Block diagrams use blocks and lines to illustrate the relationship between components.
Block diagrams use blocks and lines to illustrate the relationship between components.
Who uses electrical drawing software?
Who uses electrical drawing software?
Many different professions and industries use electrical drawing programs such as AutoCAD in their everyday activities or for project work. Electricians use electrical plans in installation and maintenance, during both planning and implementation. Electrical engineers design elaborate systems and work towards ensuring compliance with regulations using electrical drawing software. Product designers often use it to determine how to make something work or to find the most efficient way to carry out an electrical function, while electronics technicians may use electrical drawing software extensively in troubleshooting.Â
Many different professions and industries use electrical drawing programs such as AutoCAD in their everyday activities or for project work. Electricians use electrical plans in installation and maintenance, during both planning and implementation. Electrical engineers design elaborate systems and work towards ensuring compliance with regulations using electrical drawing software. Product designers often use it to determine how to make something work or to find the most efficient way to carry out an electrical function, while electronics technicians may use electrical drawing software extensively in troubleshooting.Â
Get started with AutoCAD tools and resources
Design environment tutorial
Design environment tutorial
Learn the basics of the AutoCAD interface and how to open essential tools.
Learn the basics of the AutoCAD interface and how to open essential tools.
Electrical drawing resources
Electrical drawing resources
From basic schematic design to advanced file management, these resources can get you up to speed so you’re ready to handle electrical layout drawing.
From basic schematic design to advanced file management, these resources can get you up to speed so you’re ready to handle electrical layout drawing.
AutoCAD tutorials
AutoCAD tutorials
Get step-by-step instructions on circuit and wiring design, report generation, and a host of topics related to electrical drawings.Â
Get step-by-step instructions on circuit and wiring design, report generation, and a host of topics related to electrical drawings.Â
See how customers are using electrical drawing software
Making the switch from AutoCAD LT to AutoCAD
Making the switch from AutoCAD LT to AutoCAD
Martz Technologies switched from AutoCAD LT to AutoCAD (with the Electrical toolset) and saw greater efficiency with the additional features for electrical plans.
Martz Technologies switched from AutoCAD LT to AutoCAD (with the Electrical toolset) and saw greater efficiency with the additional features for electrical plans.
Electrical drawing resources
Explore the possibilities of AutoCAD electrical drawing software with these learning sessions, tips, and workflows.Â
Explore the possibilities of AutoCAD electrical drawing software with these learning sessions, tips, and workflows.Â
Get started with AutoCAD Electrical toolset
Learn your way around the electrical drawing software interface.
Learn your way around the electrical drawing software interface.
Electrical drawings and plans with AutoCAD
Learn more about the AutoCAD Electrical toolset, including AI enhancements and features specific to electricians and electrical designers.
Learn more about the AutoCAD Electrical toolset, including AI enhancements and features specific to electricians and electrical designers.
Unlock the power of AI in AutoCAD toolsets
In this Autodesk University on-demand video, explore AutoCAD's AI-driven tools for intelligent object recognition, predictive analytics, and seamless collaboration across AutoCAD toolsets.
In this Autodesk University on-demand video, explore AutoCAD's AI-driven tools for intelligent object recognition, predictive analytics, and seamless collaboration across AutoCAD toolsets.
Using AutoCAD Electrical for more than just electrical cchematics
In this on-demand class, discover how linked drawings and components update automatically, improving efficiency and design quality. Learn how to access symbol libraries, create custom drawing types, link components, and generate reports based on drawing types.
In this on-demand class, discover how linked drawings and components update automatically, improving efficiency and design quality. Learn how to access symbol libraries, create custom drawing types, link components, and generate reports based on drawing types.
AutoCAD subscription FAQ
Get answers to popular questions about AutoCAD software licenses and subscriptions, and see what’s possible with Autodesk electrical drawing software.
Get answers to popular questions about AutoCAD software licenses and subscriptions, and see what’s possible with Autodesk electrical drawing software.
The ABCs of transitioning to AutoCAD Electrical and best practices
Discover how AutoCAD Electrical can significantly improve your documentation process, save 25% more time, and allow you to run audits and extract critical data like BOMs and wire reports.
Discover how AutoCAD Electrical can significantly improve your documentation process, save 25% more time, and allow you to run audits and extract critical data like BOMs and wire reports.
Frequently asked questions about electrical drawing software
This can vary, but electrical plans are often made on the same scale as the associated floor plans, frequently 1:50.
Yes, we offer a range of free file viewers, which others who don’t have the same electrical drawing software can use to view your drawings. You can find detailed information about sharing files and collaborating with team members in our online tutorial.
Yes, we offer free trials of AutoCAD electrical drawing software, so you can try it out without any risk.