What is EPLAN?
Introduction to EPLAN P8 Electrical Design Software
Learn what EPLAN is and how EPLAN P8 electrical design software is used in real industrial projects. Start your free introduction to EPLAN with Session 1
✅ What is EPLAN? Introduction to EPLAN P8
In this free session, we answer one of the most common questions in the industry: What is EPLAN?
You will get a clear and practical introduction to EPLAN P8, the most widely used electrical design software in modern industrial projects.
We start with a simple EPLAN introduction, explaining what the software does, where it is used, and why it has become a standard tool for electrical engineers and automation specialists.
✅ What is EPLAN Software Used For?
You will learn about the main applications of EPLAN software, including:
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designing electrical circuits
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creating professional project documentation
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supporting manufacturing and panel building
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improving engineering and production workflows
We explore the key documents that can be generated in EPLAN, which are essential for design, engineering, construction, and commissioning of electrical projects.
✅ Overview of EPLAN Electrical Systems
In this session, we also discuss the connection between industrial electrical systems and EPLAN, helping you understand how the software is integrated into real-world projects.
You will also see why many engineering companies rely on EPLAN software to standardize their documentation and reduce design time. By using EPLAN P8, teams can improve accuracy, avoid wiring errors, and create consistent electrical drawings. This introduction will help you understand how EPLAN fits into real engineering workflows and why it has become the leading electrical design platform.
✅ History and Development of EPLAN
Additionally, we cover the history and development of the EPLAN software and company, showing how EPLAN P8 evolved into a powerful engineering platform.
✅ Course Structure and Prerequisites
This session prepares you for the full training by outlining the essential prerequisites and giving you a solid foundation before moving to more advanced topics.
✅ This free course includes the first 20 sessions of our full 90-session Complete EPLAN P8 Program.
If you want to continue and access the full professional training, the remaining sessions are available in the complete package.
🚀 Start learning EPLAN step by step and build strong practical skills for your engineering career.
Mohammad Rahmati
Founder & Lead EPLAN Instructor – EPLAN Center
With over 15 years of specialized experience in electrical engineering, industrial automation, and panel design, I have worked extensively across major oil, gas, petrochemical, energy, and manufacturing projects. My expertise spans:
• Electrical, instrumentation, and Ex-proof panel design
• Industrial automation & control systems
• Engineering documentation and standards development
• Optimization of design workflows using EPLAN
• Technical consulting for engineering teams and industrial companies
As the founder and lead instructor at EPLAN Center, I have trained more than 4,000 engineers and technicians, helping organizations adopt modern, standardized, and error-reduced engineering processes. I have authored over 100 hours of structured, industry-focused EPLAN training, designed to build real-world skills from beginner to advanced levels.
I hold an M.Sc. in Power Engineering and an MBA, and continue to work with engineering teams to advance best practices in digital design and documentation.
Alireza Momeni
EPLAN Presenter & Project Engineering Specialist
I am a Telecommunications Electrical Engineer with a Master’s degree from TU Darmstadt, Germany. With over a decade of experience in electrical engineering and hardware development, I have contributed to a wide range of industrial and technical projects across Europe.
I currently work as a Project Engineer at the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, where I design and document complex electrical and communication systems. In my daily workflow, I use EPLAN to develop structured, reliable, and fully standardized project layouts.
At EPLAN Center, I combine my strong engineering background with clear technical communication, serving as an EPLAN Presenter and contributing to the creation of high-quality, real-industry-based educational content. My focus on precision, clarity, and practical engineering makes me an essential part of the EPLAN Center team.
Try Free Lessons or Enroll in the Full EPLAN Course
Information Alert: Not sure? All courses have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
| Features | Free Course ✅ | Full Course 💎 |
|---|---|---|
| Online video content | ✅ 20 sessions | ✅ 90+ sessions |
| Certificate of completion | ❌ | ✅ |
| Instructor Q&A | ❌ | ✅ |
| Instructor direct message | ❌ | ✅ |
| Sample project files & exercises | ❌ | ✅ |
| EPLAN software & Data Portal | ❌ | ✅ |
| Free updates | ❌ | ✅ |
Please submit a support ticket and we will guide you through the process:
https://eplancenter.com/support-portal/
Is this training course also applicable for extracting 3D wiring diagrams outside of control panels, for example in automotive systems or telecom shelters? And in the final stage, can it be used to calculate and report cable lengths (data and RF cables) based on the layout of STEP models of subsystems?
This is a comprehensive training that covers the main modules of EPLAN, including EPLAN Electric P8 and EPLAN Pro Panel.
Regarding your use case, with this training you can design a wide range of electrical projects such as automotive wiring systems, schematic diagrams, cable termination plans, and connection reports—all within EPLAN.
Cable length parameters can be generated and reported, but mainly in a documentation and reporting context. EPLAN is not a calculation or simulation tool like ETAP; its main purpose is to create complete and structured electrical documentation.
For 3D modeling in EPLAN Pro Panel, the focus is specifically on 3D design of electrical control cabinets and enclosures. General 3D modeling of other industrial systems or full plant structures is not the intended use of EPLAN.
This difference is mostly related to industrial development paths and common workflows in each region, not just popularity or habit.
EPLAN Electric P8 is widely used in Europe because it is based on a data-driven and standardization-focused engineering approach. In other regions, CAD-based workflows are still more common.
The goal of this course is exactly to change that mindset. In the end, you should be able to use EPLAN not just as a user, but also as an EPLAN admin who can implement a standardized engineering process in your organization.
Even if the software is not common in your region, you can still introduce and build this system inside your own company based on the value it brings.
AutoCAD Electrical was built on top of a general mechanical drafting platform. Its core is still a drawing-based system, so it is mainly used for creating electrical drawings and relatively simple reports. It can support electrical design, but automation and system-wide engineering integration are limited.
In contrast, EPLAN Electric P8 was designed from the beginning specifically for electrical engineering documentation. This changes everything in how it works.
EPLAN is built around a continuous engineering structure. That means you don’t just draw diagrams—you build a connected engineering database. From basic schematics, the system can automatically generate other outputs like terminal plans, cable lists, BOMs, and panel documentation. This reduces duplication and manual work significantly.
Another key advantage is consistency and change management. When you modify something in one place, all related documents are updated automatically. In AutoCAD Electrical, this level of synchronization is much more limited and often requires manual updates.
EPLAN also supports advanced panel design with integrated 3D modeling using standardized manufacturer data through EPLAN Data Portal. This allows faster, more accurate cabinet design compared to manual or semi-manual methods.
From an industrial perspective, the goal is not just drawing—it is to create a unified engineering workflow where different departments (design, manufacturing, documentation, procurement) all work on the same consistent data.
So in short:
AutoCAD Electrical is mainly a drawing and basic reporting tool, while EPLAN is a fully data-driven engineering system designed to generate and manage complete electrical documentation with minimal repetition and higher automation.
Hello, how can I get the full version of EPLAN Electric P8?
Please submit a support ticket and we will guide you through the process:
https://eplancenter.com/support-portal/
Is this training course also applicable for extracting 3D wiring diagrams outside of control panels, for example in automotive systems or telecom shelters? And in the final stage, can it be used to calculate and report cable lengths (data and RF cables) based on the layout of STEP models of subsystems?
This is a comprehensive training that covers the main modules of EPLAN, including EPLAN Electric P8 and EPLAN Pro Panel.
Regarding your use case, with this training you can design a wide range of electrical projects such as automotive wiring systems, schematic diagrams, cable termination plans, and connection reports—all within EPLAN.
Cable length parameters can be generated and reported, but mainly in a documentation and reporting context. EPLAN is not a calculation or simulation tool like ETAP; its main purpose is to create complete and structured electrical documentation.
For 3D modeling in EPLAN Pro Panel, the focus is specifically on 3D design of electrical control cabinets and enclosures. General 3D modeling of other industrial systems or full plant structures is not the intended use of EPLAN.
i watched some videos, your explanation is very pretty. I have a question sir, can purchase full course via PayPal?
Yes, you can purchase the full course using international cards such as Visa Card or MasterCard through the online payment gateway.
If you prefer PayPal, just go to the checkout page and select the option:
💬 Need another payment method?
Then you will be guided to alternative payment options.
why EPLAN is super popular in Europe but not widely used in other regions? is there technical reason or just industry habit?
This difference is mostly related to industrial development paths and common workflows in each region, not just popularity or habit.
EPLAN Electric P8 is widely used in Europe because it is based on a data-driven and standardization-focused engineering approach. In other regions, CAD-based workflows are still more common.
The goal of this course is exactly to change that mindset. In the end, you should be able to use EPLAN not just as a user, but also as an EPLAN admin who can implement a standardized engineering process in your organization.
Even if the software is not common in your region, you can still introduce and build this system inside your own company based on the value it brings.
I am new in EPLAN P8. Is it very difficult software, or beginner electrical engineer can learn it without big experience?
Don’t worry.
If you already know the basic electrical concepts, that is enough to start.
In this course, we will simplify everything and teach you step by step in a project-based way, so you can learn it in a practical and clear manner.
I see many companies using EPLAN but I don’t understand exactly what it do different from AutoCAD electrical? like why industry prefer it so much?
AutoCAD Electrical was built on top of a general mechanical drafting platform. Its core is still a drawing-based system, so it is mainly used for creating electrical drawings and relatively simple reports. It can support electrical design, but automation and system-wide engineering integration are limited.
In contrast, EPLAN Electric P8 was designed from the beginning specifically for electrical engineering documentation. This changes everything in how it works.
EPLAN is built around a continuous engineering structure. That means you don’t just draw diagrams—you build a connected engineering database. From basic schematics, the system can automatically generate other outputs like terminal plans, cable lists, BOMs, and panel documentation. This reduces duplication and manual work significantly.
Another key advantage is consistency and change management. When you modify something in one place, all related documents are updated automatically. In AutoCAD Electrical, this level of synchronization is much more limited and often requires manual updates.
EPLAN also supports advanced panel design with integrated 3D modeling using standardized manufacturer data through EPLAN Data Portal. This allows faster, more accurate cabinet design compared to manual or semi-manual methods.
From an industrial perspective, the goal is not just drawing—it is to create a unified engineering workflow where different departments (design, manufacturing, documentation, procurement) all work on the same consistent data.
So in short:
AutoCAD Electrical is mainly a drawing and basic reporting tool, while EPLAN is a fully data-driven engineering system designed to generate and manage complete electrical documentation with minimal repetition and higher automation.