Seeking free circuit drawing program

Hi all. I’m looking for a free circuit drawing program for someone with no experience with them. I have some experience in general electronics but not on the computer. I’d like to be able to draw my circuits nicely to get better help but can’t afford to pay for one.

Thank you.

EDIT: Thank you all for your input. I greatly appreciate it.

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agreed - solid package and within reach of non hardware experts for the basic stuff

Also: PCB CAD Software – ExpressPCB

I have been using Express Sketch for years. It is, i think, much easier to use if all you want is good schematics. I cannot speak to the PCB part (Express PCB) as i have not used it. It comes with a decent library of parts and custom parts are easy to make.

I have not downloaded or updated my installation for years. If it is still available for free it is worth a look.

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Which is all I've used it for. I tried KiCad but as @Delta_G stated, it's not intuitive - for me. I'll have to give the tutorials a look I guess.

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I don't do PC boards. I use schematics to document my projects and as aids for wiring proto boards. So KiCad or Eagle are just too much for me.

Quite a few here at various levels of ease of use. From those I'd suggest Circuit Diagram (online) as a start.

It would be usefull if someone who introduce a new program, include the screenshot of the resulting diagram....

Output of Kikad:

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Hi,


Express PCB/SCH

Tom... :grinning: :+1: :coffee: :australia:

Tom, is the Uno a part that you created?

The ease of creating custom components might be the feature that sold me on Express Sketch.

following Getting Started in KiCad | 7.0 | English | Documentation | KiCad is a good way to get started. it worked for me

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Yes, simple and representative of the position of the pinouts.

If you want a copy, I can send you a schematic with it in and you can save it as a component, simple.
I did a Nano too.

Tom.. :grinning: :+1: :coffee: :australia:

Thanks, Tom, appreciate the offer. I have my versions so no need.

I still use an old program that’s not available any more, but if i was looking for a new program, i’ll consider KiCAD as mentioned above.

EasyEDA might be an option too.

Mine is "Ancient OrCAD". The latest version costs $2360, and I'm sure it's wonderful. Way back in time, it was much more basic, but it's good enough for a hobbyist. Yes, I drew up the Nano. It's pretty easy.

I used Or Cad (DOS) for many years (while my company paid for it). I still have a copy on 3.5" disks though i don't think it would run under Windows. It was great.

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I've copied OrCAD from computer to computer for years, and I'm surprised that it's kept working. It's version 7.10.340, dated 1997. Yours would probably work too, if you can just find a floppy drive to put it in!

I have a floppys. Borh 3.5 and 5.25. But i wiuld have to be pretty bored to want to install a drive and OrCad right now. :slight_smile:

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