How to draw electrical wires

Step by step:

1. Select Insert - Wire, click the Wire button on the toolbar, or simply press the s shortcut key.
2. Your mouse pointer changes to a soldering iron cursor.
3. Move the pointer to the connection point where you want to start the wire. Click when the connection point turns red.
4. Click to add a bend point. Press Backspace ⌫ to undo the last bend.
5. Move the pointer to the target connection point. Click when it turns red.
6. Once a wire is complete, you can immediately start drawing the next one. Press Esc at any time to stop drawing wires.

 

Drawing a wire between a symbol and another wire

1. The process is the same as drawing a wire between two symbols, but you end the wire on an existing wire (by clicking the left mouse button). A junction dot is added automatically to show the interconnection.
2. For crossed wires that need a junction, use the Insert - junction menu command or the toolbar icon.

 

Changing the connection shape

The shape of a connection can only be changed if its structure allows it.

The connection must have at least three segments. In that case, you can change its shape by moving the middle segment, which is not attached to any symbol.

⚠️ Important:

Change the connection shape exclusively by dragging the resize handles.

If you grab the connection by its line and move it, the entire connection will move and become disconnected from the symbols.

The end segments are always attached to symbols and their position cannot be changed.

Correct: changing the shape using a resize handle. Change the connection shape exclusively by dragging the resize handles.
Wrong: dragging the line → the connection becomes disconnected. Change the connection shape exclusively by dragging the resize handles. If you grab the connection by its line and move it, the entire connection will move and become disconnected from the symbols.

 

Sloped connections

To draw a sloped (non-orthogonal) connection, use Insert - Sloped Connection.

orthogonal connection	sloped connection

A different cursor appears while drawing so you can tell it apart from a normal orthogonal connection.

 

Curved connections

You can draw curved connections using a Bezier curve (Draw - Curve). Note that curved connections cannot be connected to other connections.

To enter a curved connection's number: use the Properties panel or the Edit - Renumber Connections function.

To display the connection number in the drawing: select the connection and click the Insert Connection Number link in the Properties panel. You can display multiple connection numbers this way.

To remove a connection number from the drawing: select the connection number and press the Delete key.

 

Drawing open-ended wires

Sometimes you need a wire that doesn't connect to anything on one or both ends. Start by pressing the right mouse button, draw bends with left clicks as usual, and end the wire "in the air" by pressing the right mouse button again.

   

Striped wires

Connection Shape

When a connection joins another connection, the program automatically adds a dot at the junction. You can turn off this dot in the Properties panel under Border - Shape.

How to show the direction of energy flow

Select the connection and choose a suitable arrow shape in the Properties panel.