Color-highlighting of Ladder Diagram components only works, of course, when the computer running the program editing software is connected to the PLC and the PLC is in the “run” mode (and the “show status” feature of the editing software is enabled). Otherwise, the Ladder Diagram is nothing more than black symbols on a white background. The ladder diagram is the universal programming language of PLC. It has a short abbreviation as ‘LD’ and also known as ‘Ladder Logic’. LD is one of the oldest programming languages for PLC. In the ladder diagram, the programming language that used to create the program to control the PLC system is known as ‘Ladder Diagram Language. Ladder Logic compiler for LDmicro software. Generate virtual machine code that can be easily implemented on PIC, AVR or other microprocessors. Produce assembly like opcodes for PLC to handle contact, coil, relay, counters and other elements.

An electrical diagram or drawing is a pictorial form of presenting an electronic circuit visually. Hence, an electric diagram consists of different components: symbols, sizes, markings, etc. Electrical diagrams can be used in several situations by professionals such as engineers, builders, technicians, programmers, etc. The electric diagram helps understand the overall electrical plan, how much it will cost, and what material will be required.

There are many ways of making an electrical drawing, but online electrical drawing software is a quick, easy, and convenient option. Today, we will talk about 7 of the best electrical drawing software to use in 2021.

7 Best Electrical Drawing Software

Here are the top 7 electrical drawing software which you can use quickly and easily.

1. EdrawMax

With the help of EdrawMax, you can create professional electric drawings, whether you are an electrician, engineer, programmer, or builder. Use the best professional electrical drawing software of Edraw and make electrical drawings quickly and easily. It contains all the essential tools and components needed to create a detailed professional electrical diagram. You can also use different templates.

EdrawMax is a user-friendly drawing tool available for all operating systems and accessible on all browsers. What makes EdrawMax one of the best electrical drawing software is that it is super quick, easy, and fun to use.

Pricing:

• Online Tool/Basic Use: Free
• Annual Plan: $99
• Lifetime Plan: $245

Software Tool URL:https://www.edrawsoft.com/edraw-max/

EdrawMax

All-in-One Diagram Software

• Superior file compatibility: Import and export drawings to various file formats, such as Visio
• Cross-platform supported (Windows, Mac, Linux, Web)

2. ETAP

ETAP or Electrical Power System Analysis Software is an excellent tool for making electrical diagrams of different electric power systems. It contains many tools for automation, optimization, simulation, and analysis. With the help of ETAP, professionals can create detailed and lengthy electric drawings accurately.

As an excellent electrical drawing software, it contains CAD tools for advanced drawings. However, one drawback of ETAP is that it is only accessible on Windows and does not offer a free offline version.

Pricing: Custom pricing.

Software Tool URL: https://etap.com/

3. AutoCAD Electrical

AutoCAD Electrical is a drawing tool by Autodesk to create a wide range of electrical drawings using specially developed drawing tools to enhance electrical engineers' productivity. Technicians and engineers use this tool to make a detailed drawing using different features of AutoCAD.

However, AutoCAD Electrical is a sophisticated tool not suitable for all users, especially beginners. It also lacks premade templates or samples. Hence, it is ideal for experienced professionals who are looking for a pro tool.

Pricing:

• Monthly: $200
• Annual: $1,610
• Three years: $4,345

Software Tool URL: https://www.autodesk.com/products/autocad/included-toolsets/autocad-electrical

4. SolidWorks Electrical Schematics

SolidWorks Electrical Schematics is a professional drawing software for collaborative diagram and design tools which can be used to make complete electrical systems. With the help of the symbol library, 3D manufacturing parts, and component models, you can create a pro electric drawing using this software.

SolidWorks Electrical Schematics offers no free version, but it does provide a free trial before you purchase this tool. All in all, it is an excellent tool with many positive reviews from its users.

Pricing: Custom pricing.

Software Tool URL: https://www.solidworks.com/product/solidworks-electrical-schematics

5. Electra E8

Electra E8 is an easy, rapid, and affordable tool for electrical dawning. This electrical drawing software very useful and powerful. It allows you to create professional engineering diagrams as easy as possible, whether it's electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic.

Electra E8 is a paid tool that can be used on a desktop without any limitations. However, there is no online version, but you can get a free trial. This software also contains other CAD tools for all professionals.

Pricing:

• Professional (Perpetual license): $2098 (one-time payment)
• Enterprise (Perpetual License): $2398 (One-time payment)
• Enterprise (Monthly): $79/month
• Enterprise (Annually): $828/year

Software Tool URL: https://radicasoftware.com/index.php

6. ProfiCAD

ProfiCAD or Electrical CAD Software is a drawing tool specially designed for electrical diagrams as it contains many drawing tools for circuit boards. This electrical drawing software is straightforward to use and comes with great features. With the help of ProfiCAD, you can create many technical diagrams, including pneumatics and hydraulics.

It is a great tool for beginners and students as all you have to do is add symbols and attach the connecting wires. Electrical CAD Software can be used at home as well as commercial software. Download the app to start using it.

Pricing:

• Single User: $277
• School License: $277
• Website License: $877

Software Tool URL: https://www.proficad.com/

7. SmartDraw

SmartDraw is a practical diagramming tool for all purposes, whether you want to create charts, graphs, infographics, or illustrations. You can use this multipurpose drawing tool to make professional-level content for any purpose. Similarly, you can also use SmartDraw to create engineering drawings such as electrical diagrams. Hence, SmartDraw also works as electrical drawing software.

SmartDraw has more than 4500 different templates and CAD-like drawing abilities. This circuit diagram maker is not free and requires account registration.

Pricing:

• Single User: $277
• School License: $277
• Website License: $877

Software Tool URL: https://www.smartdraw.com/

Compare and Pick Up Your Electrical Drawing Software

Plc Ladder Diagram Software

As stated earlier, making an electrical drawing or any technical diagram on your own is quite hard. Such drawing is very complex and requires a high level of understanding. To create professional-level drawings, we have many useful digital tools today. Hence, there are also many electrical drawing software available out there, and we have listed the best ones for you.

However, picking the right one for you is not as easy as all the tools mentioned above come with their features and benefits. While some are great for all purposes, others are only suitable for engineering drawing. Similarly, some are good for beginners, while some are a better choice for professionals. With that being said, there is one tool in the list above that takes a slight edge over the others and that is, EdrawMax.

EdrawMax is the ultimate graphics tool for all your drawing needs as you can create any visual content using this tool – graphs, charts, diagrams, technical drawings, illustrations, storyboards, infographics, and more! The electrical drawing software of Edraw is free, comes with advanced drawing tools, a custom symbols library, free templates, and many beneficial features.

To put it in simple words, EdrawMax is the one-stop-shop for all your digital drawing needs!

Although H-Series PLC may look like an ordinary single-board computer, they are all programmable using the 'Relay-Ladder Logic' language which is the most popular programming language used by all major manufacturer of PLCs such as Allan-Bradley, Siemens AG and OMRON, etc. Although programs written in Relay Ladder Logic cannot directly manipulate the microcontroller's internal hardware as easily as the assembly language, such programs are however much easier to write and are generally understood by all electricians around the world who need not have any knowledge about microcontrollers at all.

Fig 1 - TRiLOGI Editor Screen

Thanks to our extremely powerful yet very user-friendly Relay ladder logic editor-cum-simulator software - TRiLOGI, programming H-series PLC become an almost trivial task. TRiLOGI runs on any IBMPC compatible computer and provides complete pull-down menus, pop-up windows and on-line context-sensitive help systems. As you may observe from the above screen, you can see that all I/Os may be defined using very meaningful names such as Start, Stop, etc. in the program and the relationship between each I/Os are defined by how the imaginary 'current' could flow through the circuit connection.

The following sections describe the main features of TRiLOGI including the types of functions it supports.

1. Insert Element Menu

Fig 2- Intuitive pull-down 'Ins Element' Menu

To add an element to the ladder diagram, you simply press the <Ins> key and pick an item from the Insert Element pull down menu as shown above. This menu lets you create Normally-Open (NO) or Normally-Closed (NC) contacts in series or in parallel. One or more coils can be connected by choosing Item '7' or '8'. To insert a special function, select Item '9' or '0' (for multiple function) and the special function menu will appear as described in the next section.

2. Special Function Menu

Fig 3 - Special Functions Menu

1. Reversible Counter Function: [DNctr], [Upctr] and [Rsctr] - The [DNctr], [UPctr] and [RSctr] functions work together to implement reversible counter functions on any of the 128 counters supported by TRiLOGI. Unlike the ordinary down-counter, a reversible counter is a circular counter which changes the counter present value (PV) between 0 and the set-value (SV). When you try to increment the counter pass the 'Set Value', it will overflow to become '0'. Likewise if you try to decrement the counter beyond '0', it will underflow to become the 'Set Value'. All three counter functions [DNctr], [UPctr] and [RSctr] can operate on any built-in counters.
2. [AVseq],[RSseq] and [StepN] -These 3 functions control any one of the 8 sequencers supported by TRiLOGI. A sequencer is very useful for programming machines or processes which operate in fixed sequences. These machines operate in fixed, clearly distinguishable step-by-step order, starting from an initial step and progressing to the final step and then restart from the initial step again. [Avseq] advances the step counter, [Rsseq] clears the counter to inactive and [StepN] function allows you to set the step counter of the sequencer to any integer value between 0 and 31. [RSctr] - This function resets the counter to inactive state.
3. [Latch],[Clear] - When activated, the associated output or internal relay will remain ON until it is reset by the [Clear] function acted on the same output or relay.

[Ilock],[ILoff] - This is equivalent to a master relay with sub-branches as illustrated below:
Figure 4: [ILock] function & its Equivalence

1. [DIFU]-The associated relay will turn on for one scan time when its execution condition goes from OFF to ON.
2. [DIFD]-The associated relay will turn on for one scan time when its execution condition goes from ON to OFF.
3. [MaRST] - An ON condition to this function clears all mailbox inputs, outputs, relays timers and counter bits to OFF, resets all timers counters/sequencers to inactive state, and clears all latched relay bits.

3. Special Bits Menu

Fig 5- Special Bits Menu

1. Clock Pulse - Six clock pulses with period of 0.01s to 1.0 minute are available on the H-series PLC. They can be used as a NO or NC contact in the ladder diagram.
2. Normally On Flag - If for some reason you require a permanently ON or OFF condition this flag can be used to advantage.
3. First Scan Pulse - This flag with be turned ON for one scan time when the PLC is first powered ON or when host computer issue a Reset command.
4. Sequencer 1~8 - H-series PLC supports 8 sequencers, and each step of any one of the sequencer can be used as a contact in the ladder diagram. E.g. Seq2:5 represents Step #5 of sequencer #2 , which means that the contact with the name 'Seq2:5' will be turned ON when the step counter of the sequencer #2 reaches the value of '5' and will be OFF when the step counter is at any other value. Each sequencer supports up to 32 steps (Step #0 to Step #31).

4. Real Time Simulation

Fig 6 - Real Time Simulator Screen

While constructing your ladder program you can simulate it using TRiLOGI's unique real-time Simulator. When you invoke the Simulator, you will see a full screen of I/Os organized into 7 columns:

The first two columns show Inputs, followed by Timers, Counters/Sequencer, Internal Relays and Outputs. Beside each I/O, an indicator lamp indicates whether the I/O is ON or OFF. You can move the highlight bar to any I/O and press the <Enter> key to toggle its status and the status of all the other I/Os will be immediately updated according to the ladder program. A red '*' symbol means an I/O is ON whereas a grey '.' means it is OFF.

5. On-Line Monitoring and Control

Ladder Diagram software, free download

TRiLOGI can monitor the status of all the I/Os, Timers and Counters of the PLC via its RS232C port. It also permits you to pause the PLC and remotely forced-set or reset any I/Os or even modify the current value of the internal Timers and Counters. The I/O status can either be monitored on a full screen display similar to the Simulator-screen, or directly on the ladder diagram. This feature helps greatly during debugging and fine-tuning of your ladder program.

6. Use of Meaningful Label Names

In TRiLOGI all the I/Os must be defined with unique label names prior to using them to construct the ladder program. Up to 8 characters of alpha-numeric names can be defined which means you can create ladder diagram using far more meaningful names such as 'Start' and 'Fire' instead of 001, 205 etc. Once defined, the I/O names will be used throughout the entire session of program creation, simulation and monitoring. Any experienced programmer would be know that a program with meaningful names is far easier to create, debug and maintain than one made up of numbers only. Coupled with the powerful Simulator, you have to try it to believe how easy it is to develop your control program using TRiLOGI !

7. Password to Protect Intellectual Property

TRiLOGI allows you to set password protection on the target PLC to prevent unauthorized uploading of your ladder program.

Ladder Diagram software, free download

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