October 01, 2020 · Capital X Panel Designer · Electrical CAD
Capital X Panel Designer's Innovative Electrical Symbol Generator
Since being acquired by Siemens in 2022, Electra Cloud has evolved into Capital Electra X. And as of 2025, we’ve officially rebranded as Capital X Panel Designer.
Looking to create your own electrical symbols for your electrical CAD drawings?
With Capital X Panel Designer (formerly Capital Electra X), it's easy to draw and create a custom symbol, but if you want even simpler symbol creation, you can use the PLC module shape, which is essentially a symbol generator.
How's that? Doesn't the PLC module generate a PLC module? Well, it does, and much more. To understand why you can use the PLC module to generate ANY symbol of your own, first you need to understand symbols.
What are schematic symbols?
In electrical and electronic circuit diagrams, electrical symbols serve as graphical representations of devices and components. These symbols, essential in electrical schematics, depict various elements in either multi-line or single-line forms, facilitating clear and concise communication of circuit design and functionality.
A symbol is only a representation of real-world components. Therefore, a single contactor symbol can be used to represent contactors of all sizes and from various manufacturers.
It is for the same reason, symbols in Capital X Panel Designer contain a link to the real-world components they represent, and this link can be easily changed and updated using the menu "Manage Components". Essentially, you can drop two contactor symbols but assign one of them to be a Siemens contactor while assigning the other to an ABB contactor.
This advanced feature enriches electrical symbol generation, supplementing the myriad of symbols available in Capital X Panel Designer, catering to the diverse needs of electrical CAD drawings.
How to generate symbols using the PLC module generator
Capital X Panel Designer simplifies the creation of electrical symbols, through a unique feature - the PLC module symbol. This is not just a schematic symbol generator; it's a versatile solution for generating electrical and electronic circuit diagram symbols and elements.
If you use the PLC module to generate two symbols, the same logic applies, where you can assign one symbol to be a controller from Siemens and the other a PLC from Schneider, or any other real-world components for that matter.
How to create a symbol for the mini controller
Here’s a step-by-step guide to create a symbol for the controller, the Siemens SIMATIC, using the PLC module generator.
- The first step is to drop a 2 sided PLC module shape onto the drawing and right-click and select "Set PLC module". Then enter the Siemens SIMATIC's input and output pin names as shown below:
- Once generated, right-click and select "Horizontal", "Rotate Label Orientation", and you will have the symbol below:
Notice that the reference and description of this symbol still says "PLC", and this would have to change.
- Select the symbol, then click "Create Symbol" on the toolbar and modify it as shown below:
Then click on the "Component" tab and create a Siemens SIMATIC component by clicking on the "Component Database" button. After creating the component, click on the "Select" button and find the component you have just created, select it, and make sure the symbol is now linked to the component you created as shown below:
Then select the "OK" button and your symbol will be saved in a new stencil.
Drag and drop your newly created symbol from your stencil onto your drawing, drag on the handle to rotate your symbol left 90 degrees and you will have the below:
And there you have it. Every time you drag your symbol from your stencil, this symbol will now be linked to a Siemens SIMATIC component instead of the original PLC. And that's how you use the PLC module to generate ANY custom symbol easily.
Try it out, and let us know how it goes or if it helps.
Conclusion: Benefits of Capital X Panel Designer’s Symbol Generator
Our approach to symbol generation emphasizes flexibility and efficiency, enabling users to customize symbols for specific components, thereby enhancing the utility and accuracy of electrical CAD drawings. This innovative electrical symbol generator streamlines the design process, ensuring that professionals can generate accurate electrical power circuit symbols with ease.
Try Capital X Panel Designer's electrical symbol generator FREE for 30 days now.
P/S: This post is inspired by the great drawings done by Jason Caruana from InterElectrical, Australia. Thank you Jason!
