Most of my wiring is jotted down on various pieces of paper. After the dust settles in the layout room I cannot make out most of them.
Do you guys and gals know of a schematic program?
Would prefer cheap and easy!
Thanks
Cliffsrr
I use the draw feature in Microsoft POWERPOINT. Easy to use and is part of Microsoft Office.
Well, if you are going to draw schematics on your computer, the program to have is Orcad. I have it, but let’s be real. Orcad is a commercial schematic capture program, costs several hundred bucks, and has a learning curve. On the other hand I have tried schematics in Power Point and it ain’t worth it. Takes too long, too fiddely.
I’d use a sharp pencil, squared paper, a pink pearl eraser, and a straight edge. For extra pizzazz, get a template to draw resistors and lamps and toggle switches. Take your time lettering the schematic to make the lettering clear and readable. Give each sheet a title block that tells you what part of the layout it is and a date. Have a change block, where you note down when you changed the schematic and why, e.g. “Added two switchmachines for the Black Rock siding”.
I take a peice of paper, write down the wire and it’s purpose (Ex: Track Power Bus, 14 AWG -Red and Black) and tape it every few feet as the wire is being installed. And after a wire is installed and running, a small notebook recieves an entry along with a digital photograph.
Blue and white wires are for track feeders
Yellow and Brown are switch power busses
Green is reserved for later use.
Anything else should have a label on it because I would know what it “Aint” powering.
Any bugs require a complete removal of said wire and re-installation… oh wait… that was my computer… sorry.
That is how I do mine.
I dont draw pictures and I dont bother entering the data into the computer, I cannot draw with a mouse to save my life; too many high/low and axle range changes over the years.
I use ExpressSCH. It’s free, easy to learn and comes with a symbol library. You can find it here:
There is also a program that creates circuit board layouts based on the schematic, and you can order the PC boards from them if you wish.
Chris
I find the cost, and the learning curve, vs the time to get the job done, just isn’t worth doing a schematic on a CAD program, nor MS Office product. If I had the money to spend, and worked with CAD on my “day” job…sure, no problem.
I have found something that works for me, and I see from the replies, for others also…that is, a sharp pencil and paper. I go one step further. I use 1/4" square grid paper that I purchase at Staples Office Supply. It comes in pads of standard 8 1/2 X 11 or 11 X17. I also use colored pencils so that I can show the different circuits in their own color scheme that I choose for clarity and easy tracing of the circuits on the schematic later. For instance, Red and Black for Power Buss, Green and Yellow for track drops.
I have also scanned my finished schematic into my computer, and made a DVD. This is handy for save storage, and to read the schematic on the PC in the train room if I choose.
I hope this helps you, and others.
Add my vote to the KISS camp - quadrille-ruled 3-ring paper, a sharp pencil (or several) and a straightedge.
The most important thing is the most obvious - and the one most likely to get overlooked. Once you make a schematic, FILE the bloomin’ thing! Anything left laying around the layout room is subject to catastrophic damage, while anything left laying around where Madame Neatfreak can misinterpret it is subject to sudden disappearance.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - 3-ring schematic binder in hand)
Anything not in a notebook will be deemed trash and thrown away within a month.
Anything on the computer will be lost when you need to replace the hard drive. I have several.
Anything you do today on the railroad and not documented will be totally byzantine next week.
This is where a copier comes in handy. Draw a plan of the layout. Run off a couple copies to work with, finalize you wireing diagram and copy that.
I use the microsoft WORD drawing feature. It’s easy to use for simple electrical drawings. I still think that a piece of paper, a sharp pencil, and a straight edge is still the best way to go for complex wiring drawings. And as stated above, keep your drawings in a notebook. If there is ever a problem the drawing is in easy reach to trace the problem down. I also use numbered wire identification adhesive strips that i wrap around each of the wires in a circuit and then write down the numbers of the circuit in each of the associated drawings so that the wires are easy to trace and pinpoint the problem. The drawing and a multi-meter are a must to find electrical problems…chuck
Along with schematics, marking of the wire under the layout is a great help to troubleshooting. Even just a bit of paper with a pencil notation scotch taped to the wire is extremely helpful. Also, neat wiring, with channels and staples to keep each run going straight from source to sink. If you can just look under the layout and see where the wire is coming from and going to, you probably know all you need to know about that wire. If under the layout is a giant rat’s nest of wires going every which way, then you are in hurt city when something stops working.