Which electrical CAD tool should I learn first?

EPLAN if you are heading for panel builders and OEMs, AutoCAD Electrical if the plants you target use Autodesk; both courses are free and the drawing principles transfer.

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Free electrical design software courses with certificate

EPLAN Electric P8, AutoCAD Electrical, SOLIDWORKS Electrical and DIALux evo, free and complete: projects, symbols, wires, terminals, PLC I/O, reports, 3D panel layout and lighting design with lux calculation, with notes, quizzes and an optional verifiable certificate.

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4 courses · 49 modules · 58h 20m of video · Updated 27 September 2026

FreeElectrical CADBeginner

EPLAN Electric P8 and Pro Panel

Electrical design the way panel builders and OEMs do it: projects and settings, pages, structure and plot frames, symbols and devices, modular engineering to DIN 81346, terminals, cables and interruption points, PLC design, macros, parts management and the Data Portal, reports and checks, tracking and options, 2D panel layout and Pro Panel 3D, routing, Smart Wiring and the EPLAN Cloud.

Create projects with base projects, plot frames and structure identifiers
Place symbols, devices, terminals, cables and PLC cards
Build macros and manage parts with the Data Portal

14 modules 13h 25mView course

FreeElectrical CADBeginner

AutoCAD Electrical for Control Design

Control drawings with the industry default tool: AutoCAD Electrical versus AutoCAD, install and interface, AutoCAD essentials, projects and drawings, templates and title blocks, wires and wire numbers, components, symbols and catalogs, three-phase and starter circuits, PLC modules and I/O addressing, terminals, reports and data exchange, and practice drawings.

Install AutoCAD Electrical and master the interface and drawing aids
Manage projects, drawings, templates and title blocks
Draw wires with numbers, arrows and splices

11 modules 9h 40mView course

FreeElectrical CADBeginner

SOLIDWORKS Electrical Schematic and 3D

Schematic design that connects to the mechanical model: introduction and licences, projects, templates, locations and functions, title blocks and symbols, manufacturer parts and libraries, wires, marks and multiwires, terminals, relays and black boxes, PLCs and I/O, cables and harnesses, macros, reports and revisions, Electrical 3D and routing, and mechanical schematics, P&ID and PDM.

Create projects with templates, locations and functions
Build title blocks, symbols, manufacturer parts and libraries
Draw schematics with wires, marks, multiwires, terminals and relays

12 modules 19h 54mView course

FreeElectrical CADBeginner

DIALux evo Lighting Design: Interior, Daylight and Documentation

Professional lighting simulation with the free industry tool: interface and settings, importing DWG plans, building outlines, rooms, floors, doors, windows and roofs, spaces, ceilings, cut-outs and stairs, furniture and materials, luminaire catalogues and selection, automatic arrangement and lux calculation, lighting fundamentals with CRI and manual calculation, daylight, architectural techniques with cove and linear luminaires, raytraced images, documentation and export to AutoCAD, and a complete house project.

Import plans and model buildings, rooms, openings and roofs in DIALux evo
Furnish and assign materials with correct reflectances
Select luminaires from catalogues and arrange them to hit lux and uniformity

12 modules 15h 22mView course

Compare the Electrical design software courses

Course	Level	Modules	Video	Brand
EPLAN Electric P8 and Pro Panel	Beginner	14	13h 25m	EPLAN
AutoCAD Electrical for Control Design	Beginner	11	9h 40m	Autodesk
SOLIDWORKS Electrical Schematic and 3D	Beginner	12	19h 54m	Dassault Systèmes
DIALux evo Lighting Design: Interior, Daylight and Documentation	Beginner	12	15h 22m	DIAL

Questions

Which electrical CAD tool should I learn first?: EPLAN if you are heading for panel builders and OEMs, AutoCAD Electrical if the plants you target use Autodesk; both courses are free and the drawing principles transfer.