wewire2;
There are a few Packages available, from "Affordable & Usable" to "Holy $$$ & Usable".
In the CAD realm, there are the $100.00 - $200.00 Packages, which are usable for the Design / Drafting Work you plan to perform.
TurboCAD is one of these App's, and several ECN Members have used this App with good results.
TurboCAD, I believe, is capable of opening either .DWG Files, or .DXF Files.
If you can afford it (and want to take the full plung!), look into AutoCAD, from Autodesk.
The "LT" Versions are available at Retailers such as Fry's Electronics, and similar.
The LT Versions are much less expensive than the Full Versions.
With an AutoCAD App, the Native File format is .DWG, and Work may be saved as .DWG or .DXF as well.
There are many CAD App's available, so take a look at a few variations.
These App's all have a steep learning curve, so expect to allocate a few Months to grasping the most basic stuff.
Once you know the basics, the rest comes much easier - and believe me there is a lot of "The Rest" left for discovering!!! Things that you would never have thought about doing with "Drawings" are available.
For Panelboard Schedules (and any other types of Schedules as well), utilize a Spreadsheet Application - such as Excel.
You may build an Excel Workbook which performs Voltage Drop, Fault Calcs, Feeder Load Calcs, a Panel Circuit Directory, plus Panel Schedule entries, all from one "Tab Page" of user input.
The Panel Schedule Database may also be exported to one of your AutoCAD Sheets, for inclusion with the Electrical Set.
How does this sound so far?
Please reply with questions.
-- Scott
