Hello, I have a question about schematic software. Does anyone know of any software that allows import of a schematic and the ability to break down the schematic into individual circuits? For example clicking on a particular part of the schematic highlights that circuit so one can see path for analysis.
Hi John. I really don’t think such an advanced software exist (as of yet) or at list a never heard of it. But… if it does exist, the documents containing the schematic would almost certainly have to be embedded within the software itself to be able to clic on certain parts of the schematic to highlight and make interactive and ready for an automatic analysis. So there wont be such function on that software to allow you to simply import a PDF or a JPEG of a schematic no. That would have to be a very powerful and sophisticated software to be able to achieve such a task . Well. who knows maybe with the advancement of todays Ai tools such things could be achieved one day …perhaps. PS: if someone already knows otherwise, please let us know. I’m all in. :))
@ovi4 I thought so as I could not find anything even the system that Tesla uses Altium can not do that. The only reason I was looking for such a program was a friend of mine bought a huge generator with a complex PLC unit from the local college, Clarkson University and wants to use it as a back up generator for his house and farm. This unit is large enough and I did fix a few things for him to get it to run but it came with a booklet of schematics and trying to dig through them to trouble shoot circuits is out of my depth without a way to isolate circuits. I told him to contact the vendor who built the unit as it was custom made for the University. I was just hoping someone knew of a program that would allow me to drill down on the circuits to find out where other problems are happening. Anyway maybe I can get an AI to alter a current program to allow for such a task as AI has been used to make programs.
Easiest is to get a pack of highlighter pens.
When in doubt use a microcontroller.
@wilhelm Explain please. How are highlighter pens going to work?
You mark the lines with different colors by hand.
When in doubt use a microcontroller.
Why is an SCR called a “silicon controlled rectifier” When in fact it has nothing to do with Rectification of power? AC to DC. It functions as a switch and more like a latch switch. So why is it not called an SCLS Silicon controlled latch switch?
Good question! I’ve wondered that myself. Indeed, why bother with the word “Silicon” at all, since that’s sort of a given; and then “Rectifier” is really not a term that adds much meaning — it almost dilutes the meaning, really. I’d have to agree that “…Controlled Latch…” in some form or other would be more meaningful.
Perhaps Mr. Carlson knows the etymology of SCR…
@john-barron Some things I would like to mention though: as far as I know at the industrial level (in electrotechnics / electrics applications) there are certain Power stations that distribute power over long distances using DC instead of AC and yes, SCR’s are used to actually Rectify AC into DC when dealing with high voltage/high power demands. Er, …even though this is somewhat a “niche application” this proves that yes, they can indeed be used for rectification jobs as well. Another thing is that a proper name for an SCR is in fact THYRISTOR and yes an SCR is the most common type of a THYRISTOR. And by the way according to Wikipedia (Quote): The name “silicon controlled rectifier” is General Electric‘s trade name for a type of THYRISTOR :(End of Quote).
There is an application on Apple that has come the closest for me. But you have to build the circuit and cannot import one. It is woefully short of legacy parts but it comes danged close for me. I don’t believe I can name it here, so I won’t. But it is not hard to find either.
@butchie_t I used to be an APPLE user back in the beginning (1990’s to 2004) but have switched to PC some years ago. Advantages and disadvantages for both. That being said I am really interested in finding a program that works with imports but I think that you are right. If the schematic was not designed with that system it would not work but than again I have not found any program that does that. Not even that best pro versions. So what I’m thinking is that one needs to be designed or rather made to work that way. Anyone who creates such a program I would think would become an instant millionaire.
@butchie_t I used to be an APPLE user back in the beginning (1990’s to 2004) but have switched to PC some years ago….
I use both….well all three actually. Win 11 for Ham Radio programs, iMac, day-to-day, and Linux (Ubuntu) for networking laptop.
I would love to see a program to where one could build basically anything they wanted to build on a platform regardless of OS. Then have the capability to bring it, or components of it ‘live’. And not have it cost a boatload.. The last part is the kicker though.
Cheers,
B.T.
@butchie_t Sorry for not getting back sooner but I been dealing with SNOW for the last two weeks.
As for Mac vs PC vs Linux I too have used all three and have Kali Linux on one of my laptops. As for Mac’s I knew from the beginning that their hardware was superior to PC’s and still is. I had kept all of my computers since I started learning back in the early 1980’s when I got my first computer a Commodore 64. Then went through a progression of computers Commodore 128, Amiga then on to Macs and had gone through about 5 different versions starting with my first Mac a Performa 5200 and ending with a Power Mac G4. Which I used from 1998 until I switched to PC around 2004.
Since then I went through Dell, Sony, acer, HP and even have a custom made Falcon Northwest which is what I now use mostly. The Dell PC which I use only for certain things that still run on windows 8. My acer laptop has Kali Linux which is my secure laptop for traveling as it has the most security and my Sony laptop is just used in my electronics lab for anything I do there such as schematics, information parts lists etc.
All of my computers are networked through my intranet both wired and wireless except my acer which can only be used hard wired. Sadly two years ago I did a bad thing. I decided to sell my house and move to warmer climate I started down sizing and getting rid of things that were just sitting around and got rid of all my computers except for those four I still use. I wish I had kept that Mac G4. Unfortunately Mac computers are high end and expensive but who knows maybe after I get to my new home when I get this place sold I will buy a new Mac computer.
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