Author Topic: Recommendations for cheap n easy CAD? (electrical drawing)  (Read 541 times)

Offline berniebee

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Recommendations for cheap n easy CAD? (electrical drawing)
« on: June 22, 2022, 11:13:16 AM »
Hey all,

I completely rewired my SP. Non stock handlebar switches and fuse box, added relays, aftermarket alternator and ignition system and of course non stock wire colours. I've hand drawn a schematic. It's about 30" by 24",  so a little too big to fold up and tuck under the seat.  :grin:




 I want to redraw, shrink it and add colour to the wires. In a former life (15 years ago.) I played with some CAD programs, but I'm out of touch with what's available now.

Any suggestions for CAD software?  This is my one and only project, so I'm looking for a short learning curve and low cost.  I know, it would make more sense to have someone do it for me, but it's an excuse to learn something new...


Online StuCorpe

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Re: Recommendations for cheap n easy CAD? (electrical drawing)
« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2022, 01:15:35 PM »
I have not tried this one but I use their companion LibreOffice all the time and that is pretty good software.  LibreCAD
Price: Free with no commercial restrictions
Operating System Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux
Supported File Formats: DXF, DWG, JWW, LFF, CXF, SVG, BMP, CUR, GIF, ICO, JPEG, PNG, TIF, XPM, and more
LibreCAD free 2D CAD software
LibreCAD is one of the few no-strings-attached free 2D CAD software around.

No trial period, limited license, or capped commercial use here – LibreCAD is free to download and use as you see fit.

Online Wayne Orwig

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Re: Recommendations for cheap n easy CAD? (electrical drawing)
« Reply #2 on: June 22, 2022, 03:49:48 PM »
I have used TinyCAD. It is OK and not to complicated.
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Offline lucian

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Re: Recommendations for cheap n easy CAD? (electrical drawing)
« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2022, 04:55:35 PM »
That's some impressive work right there. A cad plan would not do it justice.  :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

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Re: Recommendations for cheap n easy CAD? (electrical drawing)
« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2022, 04:55:35 PM »

Offline Canuck750

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Re: Recommendations for cheap n easy CAD? (electrical drawing)
« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2022, 05:34:16 PM »
you can download a free 30 day trial of Autocad Lite.
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Offline V7Record

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Re: Recommendations for cheap n easy CAD? (electrical drawing)
« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2022, 06:59:56 PM »
If you own microsoft office you could do this in Visio... might be able to do it for free with an online version but I haven't checked that.  I started using Visio back in the '90's before Microsoft bought and bloated it, and have used it for a number of non-standard projects.

Offline old head

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Re: Recommendations for cheap n easy CAD? (electrical drawing)
« Reply #6 on: June 22, 2022, 07:25:54 PM »
sketchup....

I use it everyday as I design outdoor structures, pergolas, pavilions, decks, carports that kind of thing.
it is primarily a 3d modeler, but it works fine as a 2d cad.
its free, its very easy to use, and you can view on your smart phones and tablets.

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Offline Kiwi_Roy

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Re: Recommendations for cheap n easy CAD? (electrical drawing)
« Reply #7 on: June 22, 2022, 09:23:43 PM »
I use Easydraw for Mac it does all I need.
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Offline Pescatore

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Re: Recommendations for cheap n easy CAD? (electrical drawing)
« Reply #8 on: June 23, 2022, 07:41:45 AM »
+1 on TinyCAD. Have used it for years to design electronics, block diagrams and occasionally for construction.
I think it will handle a page size as big as your printer can handle.
Free with no ads.

Impressive work you did. I don't think you'll be able to shrink it and still be able to read it.
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Offline moto

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Re: Recommendations for cheap n easy CAD? (electrical drawing)
« Reply #9 on: June 23, 2022, 01:22:06 PM »
I use the free scheme-it circuit diagramming tool on the digikey site to develop my projects. Here's my final drawing for my integrated airhorn/OEM horn/headlights/spotlights system on my T3:





https://www.digikey.com/schemeit/project/guzzi-t3-integrated-horn-and-spotlight-warning-system-64a1398152c548f588ea87b32cec0142

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« Last Edit: June 24, 2022, 08:34:53 AM by moto »
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Offline berniebee

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Re: Recommendations for cheap n easy CAD? (electrical drawing)
« Reply #10 on: June 23, 2022, 08:53:54 PM »
Wow, thanks for all the suggestions. As usual the wildguzziers come through!

 

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