If you are interested in trying out PSCAD, you can download the free edition from the official website. The free edition is fully featured and limited only by network size and a few other non-essential features. It can run on Windows 7 SP1 64-bit, Windows 10 64-bit, and Windows 11 64-bit, with an internet connection. However, it is not supported on Windows 32-bit.
How to Install PSCAD Free Edition
To install PSCAD free edition, you need to follow these steps:
Make sure you have Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 installed on your machine. You can download it from here or from this webpage.
Create a MyCentre user account if you do not have one already. You can sign up for free here.
Download and install MyUpdater, a software update client that will help you install PSCAD and other required components. You can get it from here.
Launch MyUpdater from your Windows Start menu and log in with your MyCentre credentials.
Select PSCAD free edition from the list of available products and click on Install.
Also select one or both of the GFortran compilers (GCC 4.6.2 or GCC 8.1.0) and click on Install. A Fortran compiler is required for building your PSCAD projects.
Wait for the installation to complete and log out then log back in on your machine.
Launch MyUpdater again and use it to launch PSCAD free edition.
You can find more detailed instructions on how to set up the PSCAD free edition here.
How to Use PSCAD Free Edition
Once you have installed PSCAD free edition, you can start creating and simulating your own power system models. You can also use the built-in examples and tutorials to learn the basics of PSCAD. Here are some tips on how to use PSCAD free edition:
To create a new project, go to File > New Project and enter a name and location for your project.
To add components to your project, go to the Component Palette on the left side of the screen and drag and drop the desired components onto the canvas.
To connect components, click on the terminals of the components and drag a wire between them.
To edit the properties of a component, double-click on it or right-click and select Properties.
To run a simulation, go to Simulation > Run or press F9.
To view the results of a simulation, go to Results > Plot Page Manager or press F10.
To save your project, go to File > Save Project or press Ctrl+S.
You can find more resources on how to use PSCAD free edition here.
About PSCAD Free Edition License
The PSCAD free edition license is permanent and does not expire. However, it requires an internet connection to activate and renew a temporary certificate on your computer. This certificate may be returned to the server when you exit PSCAD, or it may be retained for a four-week period that is refreshed whenever PSCAD is launched with an internet connection. If you do not have an internet connection, you will not be able to use PSCAD free edition until you reconnect.
If you have any questions or issues regarding PSCAD free edition, you can contact the support team at support@mhi.ca. Please include your licensing information in your request as listed here.
Conclusion
PSCAD is a powerful software tool for power system simulation and analysis. You can download and use the free edition for personal or educational purposes, as long as you have a Windows 64-bit machine and an internet connection. The free edition is fully featured and limited only by network size and a few other non-essential features. To install PSCAD free edition, you need to create a MyCentre account, download and install MyUpdater, and use it to install PSCAD and a Fortran compiler. To use PSCAD free edition, you need to activate and renew a temporary certificate on your computer with an internet connection. You can also access various resources and support services to help you learn and use PSCAD free edition.
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