Basic Electrical Symbols

Let's go over some sample electrical symbols and what they represent.

Ground or Earth
A ground symbol (*IEC symbol 5017) identifies a ground terminal. It can be used for a
zero potential reference point from where current is measured. It is also for electrical
shock protection. There are a few different ground symbols. The one we're showing
here is "Earth", but there's also a Chassis and Digital/Common ground with slight
variations to this symbol.

* The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is an international standards

organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical,
electronic and related technologies – collectively known as "electrotechnology".

Resistor
A resistor reduces current flow. In a schematic, this is represented with a few zig zag
squiggles. We're showing the US/Japan version of this symbol (*IEEE). The UK uses a
simple box over a straight line (IEC). There are also symbols for variable and adjustable
resistors as well as thermal and preset resistors.

*Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is a professional association with its
corporate office in New York City.

Switch
Disconnects the current when open. We're showing a simple SPST (single-pole single-
throw) toggle switch, but there are variations for SPDT, pushbutton, dip, relay, and
more.

Capacitor
A capacitor symbol shows two terminals running into plates. The curved plate indicates
that the capacitor is polarized. The curved side has lower voltage. A small plus sign can
be added to the straight side indicating the positive pin.

Fuse
A fuse protects electrical circuits by stopping the flow of current when the intensity of
current exceeds a set value. It does this by melting a special wire.

Antenna
A device, rod, or wire designed to capture radio and electromagnetic waves into
electrical signals and vice versa.

Inductor
An inductor is also called a coil or reactor. The coils store energy in a magnetic field or
flux. An inductor symbol looks like a series of looped coils.

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Transformer
A transformer is two or more coils coupled by magnetic induction. It helps keep the
frequency and reduce tension in an AC circuit.
Motor
A motor is a device that can transform electric energy into mechanical energy.

Source
Represents the power source for your electronics. This symbol represents a direct
current (DC). To represent AC current, you'd replace the plus and minus sign with a
wave.

Battery
Batteries are represented on a schematic with a pair of disproportionate, parallel lines.
The number of lines indicates the number of series cells in the battery.

Diode
A diode only allows current to flow in one direction. It's always polarized with an anode
(A, positive) and cathode side (C, negative).

Light Emitting Diode (LED)

A diode LED is a standard diode symbol with two small arrows showing the emission of
light.
(https://www.smartdraw.com/circuit-diagram/electrical-symbols.htm)

Electricity Glossary and Terms

Ampere - The ampere is the standard unit of measure of electric current. It is sometimes
written as amp.
Alternating current (AC) - An electric current that reverses direction on a periodic basis.
It is widely used to transport power on power lines.
Battery - A device that stores and produces electricity from chemical cells.

Capacitor - A basic electrical component that stores electric charge. Capacitors are
made from two electrical conductors separated by an insulator.

Conductor - A material that allows the free flow of electric charge. Copper wiring is the
most widely used electrical conductor.

Coulomb's law - A law of physics that describes the electrostatic interaction between
charged particles.

Diode - An electronic component that only allows current flow in one direction.

Direct current (DC) - A type of current that only flows in one direction (unlike AC which
periodically reverses direction).

Electric charge - This is a basic characteristic of matter that is based on the balance of
protons (positive charge) and electrons (negative charge). The standard unit for electric
charge is the coulomb.
Electric circuit - An electric circuit is a collection of electronic components connected by
a conductive wire that allows for electric current to flow.

Electric current - Electric current is the flow of electric charge through a material. The
standard unit for electric current is the ampere.

Electric potential - The electric potential is the difference in electrical charge between
two points in a circuit. It is also called the voltage. The standard unit for electric potential
is volts.

Electromagnetism - The interaction between magnetic fields and electric currents.

Electron - A basic subatomic particle found in all atoms, electrons carry electricity by
flowing from one atom to the next in a conductive material.

Farad - The standard unit of measure for capacitance.

Henry - The standard unit of measure for inductance.

Inductor - A basic passive electrical component that resists changes in electric current.
Inductors are generally made by winding or coiling a wire, sometimes around a
magnetic core. The unit of measure for an inductor is the Henry.

Insulator - A material in which an electronic charge does not flow freely and does not
conduct the flow of electric current.

Magnetic field - The magnetic influence produced by electric currents and magnetic
materials.

Ohm - The standard unit of measure for resistance.

Ohm's law - A law of physics that describes the relationship between voltage, current,
and resistance using the equation V = IR.

Resistor - A basic electronic component that prevents the flow of electric current.

Semiconductor - A material that behaves between a conductor and an insulator

depending on the conditions. Silicon is a widely used semiconductor in electronics.

Static electricity - The build up of an electric charge on the surface of an object. The
charge remains in one area rather than flowing to another area.
Transformer - An electrical component that transfers electrical energy using inductive
coupling between two winding circuits.
Transistor - A semiconductor device used in an electric circuit to regulate current flow to
act as a gate, switch, or amplifier for electronic signals.

Volt - The standard unit of measure for electric potential (voltage).

Watt - The standard unit of measure used for electric power.

(https://www.ducksters.com/science/physics/electricity_glossary_and_terms.php)