Today we're walking you though how to create a simple circuit layout inside AutoCAD using a Electrical Symbol Library which supports both ANSI and IEC standards.

After installing the Electrical Symbol Library - start AutoCAD. On the Menubar, you will find headings for the libraries you have installed. 

Play the 3 minute video below now!

Choose Imperial or Metric symbols

The electrical symbols come in two versions - Imperial and Standard version. In the menu this is shown as ” Y32.2 (Imp)” and the Metric version as ” Y32.2 (Met)”. In the video above we are using the ASNI Y32.2 Symbol Library

If you are using Standard sized drawing sheets, use the (Imp) version and if using Metric sized drawing sheets, use the (Met) version. Selecting the wrong library will result in "mini sized" electrical symbols if (Imp) symbols are used on Metric sized sheets. On the other hand if (Met) symbols are used on Imperial sized sheets, then they will appear oversized.

Decide scale and insert drawing sheet

Having decided which symbol library to use, there are now two options. The first one is to import or develop your own drawing sheet, in which case, right click on the appropriate Menubar heading and from the dropdown menu, right click on “Parameters”. This will set the correct Snap value and other parameters.

The second option is to go to the bottom of the dropdown menu and select the required drawing sheet size and hit ‘Enter’. The displayed sheet is now displayed and is pre-set with the correct parameters.

Check and adjust your drawing settings

Since the majority of schematic diagrams have connecting lines that run vertically or horizontally, it helps to put “Ortho mode” on. This can be toggled “On” or “Off” by hitting the “F8” key.  In addition check if Snap settings are set correctly to either a 1/4" or 1/2" as this will help align the electrical schematic as well.

Additionally check the OSNAP settings in AutoCAD are toggled on ...

Next, draw the electrical circuitry

Now, to draw the circuit, lets try a simple Electric Motor Stop/Start circuit. From the drop-down menu, left-click on ‘Relays’. An Image Menu will appear. Most of these image menus have a descriptive box at the side of the menu. Double left-click on the relay coil of your choice and the menu will disappear, leaving the coil symbol attached to the mouse pointer. Drag the symbol towards the bottom center of the drawing sheet and double-left-click to transfer the symbol from the mouse pointer to the drawing.

You may notice that the first click of the double click, fixes the symbol to the drawing and it now waits for the symbol to be rotated. If the Ortho mode is on (F8), the symbol can be rotated in 90 degree increments. Having rotated the symbol to its desired orientation, left click a second time and the symbol is now anchored into the drawing.

Then add the pushbuttons

Open the relay image menu again, and select a normally open contact. Drag it into the drawing area and position and rotate it about 1 inch or so  above and 1/2 an inch to the right of the relay coil.

From the drop down menu, click on Switches/Pushbuttons, then Operators/PB’s. From the image menu, select the normally open pushbutton and position it directly above the relay coil and level with the normally open contact. Rotate it before the second click.

Go back to the image menu and this time select a normally closed pushbutton and position and rotate it about 1/2 an inch above the normally open pushbutton.

Lastly, add the interconnections 

From the drop down menu, go to ‘Choose Linetypes’ and select ‘Continuous’

Before drawing the lines, it is helpful to type ‘OSnap’ and hit ‘Enter’.
Then under Object Snap Tracking, select ‘Insertion’. This will ensure that the ends of the lines will attach themselves to the correct part of each circuit component.

Draw two horizontal lines, above and below the previously inserted components. The upper line is the Live feed and the lower line the Neutral feed.

Complete the interconnections between the feeds and the components.

The above exercise should give you an idea as to how to create a simple electrical circuit layout using our Electrical Symbols for ANSI Y32.2 & IEC 617. Have fun!