PVcad AutoCAD Plugin: Solar PV Electrical Drafting

Definition

PVcad is an AutoCAD plugin for solar PV electrical schematics, providing pre-built symbol libraries, automatic SLD generation, and equipment schedule integration.

Key Takeaways

PVcad = AutoCAD plugin for solar electrical schematics.
Pre-built solar symbol library.
Accelerates SLD drafting.
Companion to AutoCAD Electrical.

What PVcad Actually Does

PVcad’s job is narrow but useful: it drops a library of solar-specific electrical symbols — inverters, combiner boxes, disconnects, meters — into standard AutoCAD, then automates the repetitive parts of building a single line diagram from those symbols. Instead of a drafter constructing each symbol and label from scratch, PVcad speeds up assembling the schematic and can carry equipment data through to a schedule, which cuts down on the manual re-entry that otherwise happens between the drawing and the equipment list.

Where PVcad Fits in the Design Workflow

PVcad sits downstream of site-layout tools. A designer typically lays out the array and string sizing in a tool like HelioScope or Aurora first, then brings that layout into AutoCAD — often via a HelioScope DXF export — before adding the electrical schematic on top. Teams that need more than symbol automation, such as wire numbering or automated panel and conduit schedules, tend to reach for AutoCAD Electrical instead of or alongside PVcad; the two overlap in purpose but differ in depth, a distinction covered in more detail in Heaven Designs’ breakdown of AutoCAD Electrical versus general AutoCAD drafting for solar SLDs.

Because PVcad is one tool in a broader CAD-and-drafting stack, it’s worth seeing how it stacks up against the alternatives solar teams actually use. Heaven Designs’ roundup of the best solar design software in 2026 places SLD-drafting plugins like PVcad alongside full site-design platforms, and the comparison of Aurora, HelioScope, and Heaven Designs shows where layout tools hand off to CAD-based electrical drafting. For a wider view of CAD tooling specifically built for solar, SurgePV’s roundup of solar CAD software covers plugins in the same category as PVcad.

Frequently Asked Questions

5 commonly searched questions about PVcad.

What is PVcad used for?

PVcad is used inside AutoCAD to draft solar PV electrical schematics — single-line diagrams (SLDs), three-line diagrams, and related permit drawings — using a pre-built library of solar-specific symbols instead of building them from scratch.

Is PVcad the same as AutoCAD Electrical?

No. PVcad is a plugin that runs on top of standard AutoCAD and focuses specifically on solar symbol libraries and SLD automation, while AutoCAD Electrical is Autodesk's own broader electrical-schematic platform with wire numbering and panel/conduit schedule tools. Some solar drafting teams use one or the other, not both.

Do I need AutoCAD to run PVcad?

Yes. PVcad is an add-on, not a standalone application, so it requires a licensed copy of AutoCAD to install and run on top of.

Does PVcad generate SLDs automatically?

PVcad automates much of the SLD build process by pulling from its solar symbol library and linking equipment data, which speeds up drafting compared to placing every symbol and label manually, though a designer still reviews and finalizes the drawing for permit submission.

Can PVcad produce equipment schedules for permit packages?

Yes. Because PVcad ties symbols to equipment data, it can generate equipment schedules alongside the SLD, which helps keep the schematic and schedule consistent when a design changes.