QElectro Tech Software: Free Electrical Diagram Tool – Full Overview & Guide

In this article, we’ll explore a complete overview of QElectro Tech, a free and open-source electrical diagram software.

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QElectro Tech Software
QElectro Tech Software

What is QElectro Tech?

  • QElectroTech (QET) is a free and open-source electrical schematic design software used to create electrical diagrams, wiring schematics, and automation documentation. It is a cross-platform application available for Windows, Linux, and macOS and is widely used by electrical engineers, technicians, and students.
  • The short form for QElectro Tech is QET.
  • This Software is Very Effective and Very Useful for Electronic, Electrical, Heating Ventilation Air Conditioner and Instrumentation Department Engineers.
  • Compared to another diagram software, the QElectro Tech setup file (.exe) is very small in size.
  • QElectro Tech is a good professional quality drafting application for various drawings that form a project.
  • Libraries of common symbols are included along with the IEC 60617 standardized symbols.
  • QElectro Tech has a large collection of standard and custom symbols, referred to as elements, that describe most of the commonly used components in electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, computer systems. 

Software Version’s💻 

The first version of QET (0.1) was released on March 9, 2008.

Version Released on
0.2 June 27, 2009
0.21 May 5, 2010
0.22 May 13, 2010
0.3 September 28, 2013
0.4 February 20, 2015
0.5 November 27, 2015
0.6 March 6, 2018
0.61 August 23, 2018
0.7 August 23, 2018
0.8 February 2, 2021
0.90 January 6, 2023.

Ongoing development Version 0.100 dev build was released on June 12, 2025

How to Use QElectro Tech

🌐 Download the software from the official website: https://qelectrotech.org/
📥 Download QElectro Tech: https://qelectrotech.org/download.php

How to Install QElectroTech Software

  1. Download the installation file from the official website
  2. Run the installer package
  3. Follow installation instructions
  4. Launch the software and create a new project
  5. Start designing electrical diagrams
After installation, QElectro Tech can be launched from Windows Start Menu. If the shortcut icon has been created at the desktop during installation, QElectroTech can also be launched from that icon.
  1. Click the Windows [Start] button.
  2. Select All Programs.
  3. Open QElectroTech program group.
  4. Click QElectroTech icon.
Once QElectro Tech has been launched, the main window looks as follow:
  • Explore the built-in tutorials and documentation to learn how to use the tools effectively.
  • Start creating diagrams by dragging components from the library onto the workspace.
  • After Install the QElectro software Components , Elements , and Symbols are Update Automatically.
  • The Software of Table of Contents is following of (Basics , Interface , Preferences , Project , Folio , Element , Conductor , Schema , Drawing , Reports , Export and print , Annex etc..)

qelectrotech electrical schematic software interface
QElectroTech Table of Contents

Key Features of QElectro Tech

Diagram Creation

  • Allows users to create detailed electrical schematics, including single-line diagrams, wiring diagrams, and control circuits.
  • Supports a wide range of electrical symbols and components.
  • The software can also be used to create mechanical objects to illustrate processes, instrumentation drawings among various creative possibilities. 

Symbols (Customizable)

  • The QElectro Tech Software contains many collections (Electrical , Logic , Hydraulic , Pneumatic and Energy symbols and Elements).
  • Users can create and customize their own symbols and elements to suit specific project requirements.
  • Includes a library of pre-defined symbols for common electrical components.

Elements (Customizable)

  • QElectro Tech also consists of an inbuilt element editor that permits creation of newer elements that do not exist in the collection. 
  • Elements in the collection are not editable i.e. read only. But, once the element is drag dropped into a diagram, it is automatically added to imported collection in a duplicate copy. 
  • This copy of the element will be available for editing to effect suitable changes to create customized symbols.
  • These elements can be selected drag dropped with mouse on to a diagram editor and connected with lines to represent or describe a system. A large number of such diagrams can be drafted under a project.

User-Friendly Interface

  • Intuitive and easy to use interface, making it accessible for both professionals and beginners.
  • Drag and drop functionality for adding components to diagrams.
  • Two tools are used as element editor for creating schematic symbols and a diagram editor for creating your drawings.

Export & Printing Options

  • Diagrams can be exported in various formats, including DXF, JPG, BMP, PDF, PNG, and SVG, for easy sharing and printing.
  • Supports high quality printing for professional documentation.
  • Elements are saved in an xml format.
qelectrotech electrical diagram drawing example
QElectroTech exporting formats

License and Availability🔑 

  • QElectro Tech is under GNU/GPL license. 
  • Available for Windows, Linux, and macOS, ensuring compatibility across different operating systems.
  • QElectro Tech is a versatile and powerful tool for anyone involved in electrical design and documentation. 
  • Its open-source nature and active community make it a reliable choice for both professional and personal projects.
  • Being open-source, it is free to use, modify, and distribute, with an active community contributing to its development.
qelectrotech control panel wiring diagram design

Collaboration

  • Supports collaborative work, allowing multiple users to work on the same project.
  • GNU/GPL license refers to software that is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) a widely used free software license created by the Free Software Foundation (FSF).
  • You can use the software for any purpose (personal, educational, or commercial).
  • Freedom to Study, Modify and Share.
  • You can view the source code and modify it to suit your needs.
  • You can freely distribute the original software or your modified version to others.
  • If you modify and distribute the software, you must also release it under the same GPL license keeping it free for others too.
  • You cannot make it proprietary or restrict others' freedom to use and modify it.

Use Cases for QElectro Tech

  • It is particularly useful for engineers, electricians, and hobbyists who need to design and document electrical circuits and systems.
  • Industrial Applications: Designing control panels, PLC wiring diagrams, HVAC System and industrial automation systems.
  • Residential and Commercial Wiring: Creating wiring diagrams for buildings and infrastructure.
  • Education: Teaching electrical engineering concepts and circuit design.
  • Hobby Projects: Designing circuits for DIY electronics projects.
qelectrotech electrical schematic software interface
Designing control panels
 

Advantages and Dis-advantages

QElectroTech focuses mainly on schematic documentation and diagram creation rather than electrical simulation or advanced automation design tools.

Advantages:

  • Completely free and open source
  • Easy to learn for beginners
  • Good for educational purposes
  • Supported Platform (Windows / Linux / Mac)
  • Suitable for small industrial projects
  • Less space required

Dis-advantages:

  • No circuit simulation features
  • Smaller component library compared to enterprise tools
  • Fewer automation integrations

Applications of QElectroTech Software

QElectroTech can be used for several engineering applications, including:
  • Industrial control panel design
  • Motor control circuit diagrams
  • PLC wiring diagrams
  • Electrical distribution schematics
  • HVAC control system diagrams and more,
Many engineers use the tool for creating professional electrical documentation and wiring plans for industrial and building automation projects.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. Is QElectroTech free?
Yes, QElectroTech is completely free and open-source software licensed under GNU GPL.

2. What is QElectroTech used for?
It is used to create electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and automation documentation.

3. Does QElectroTech support circuit simulation?
No, It is mainly designed for schematic drawing and documentation rather than simulation.

Conclusion

QElectroTech is a powerful free electrical schematic design tool that allows engineers, technicians, and students to create professional electrical diagrams without expensive CAD software. With its open-source architecture, large symbol library, and simple interface, it is an excellent solution for learning electrical diagram design and documenting automation systems.

About the Author – Insight Control System

Insight Control System provides technical education and practical guidance in the fields of Building Automation Systems (BAS), HVAC controls, PLC programming, sensors, and industrial automation. The content published on this platform is based on field experience, technical documentation analysis, and real-world system applications.
Our objective is to simplify complex automation concepts for engineers, technicians, students, and industry professionals worldwide. 

Every article is carefully structured to deliver accurate technical knowledge, practical insights, and industry-relevant information aligned with modern automation standards.
We continuously update our content to reflect current technologies, control strategies, and best engineering practices.

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