-Circuit symbols are used in circuit diagrams which

show how a circuit is connected together. The

actual layout of the components is usually quite
different from the circuit diagram. To build a circuit
you need a different diagram showing the layout of
the parts on strip board or printed circuit board.
 Wires and Connections
Component Circuit Symbol Function of Component
- To pass current very easily from
Wire one part of a circuit to another.

- A 'blob' should be drawn where wires

are connected (joined), but it is
Wires joined sometimes omitted. Wires connected at
'crossroads' should be staggered slightly
to form two T-junctions, as shown on the
right.
- In complex diagrams it is often
necessary to draw wires crossing
Wires not joined even though they are not connected. I
prefer the 'bridge' symbol shown on
the right because the simple crossing
on the left may be misread as a join
where you have forgotten to add a
'blob'!
 Power Supplies
Component Circuit Symbol Function of Component
- Supplies electrical energy.
Cell The larger terminal (on the left) is
positive (+).
A single cell is often called a battery,
but strictly a battery is two or more
cells joined together.
Battery - Supplies electrical energy. A battery is
more than one cell.
The larger terminal (on the left) is
positive (+).

DC supply
- Supplies electrical energy.
DC = Direct Current, always flowing in
one direction.
 Power Supplies
Component Circuit Symbol Function of Component

AC supply - Supplies electrical energy.

AC = Alternating Current, continually
changing direction.

- A safety device which will 'blow' (melt) if the

Fuse current flowing through it exceeds a specified
value.

- Two coils of wire linked by an iron core.

Transformer Transformers are used to step up (increase)
and step down (decrease) AC voltages.
Energy is transferred between the coils by
the magnetic field in the core. There is no
electrical connection between the coils.

- A connection to earth. For many electronic

Earth circuits this is the 0V (zero volts) of the
(Ground) power supply, but for mains electricity and
some radio circuits it really means the earth.
It is also known as ground.
 Output Devices: Lamps, Heater, Motor, etc.
Component Circuit Symbol Function of Component

Lamp (lighting) - A transducer which converts electrical

energy to light. This symbol is used for a
lamp providing illumination, for example a
car headlamp or torch bulb.

- A transducer which converts electrical energy

Lamp (indicator) to light. This symbol is used for a lamp which is
an indicator, for example a warning light on a
car dashboard.

- A transducer which converts electrical

Heater energy to heat.

- A transducer which converts electrical

Motor energy to kinetic energy (motion).
 Output Devices: Lamps, Heater, Motor, etc.
Component Circuit Symbol Function of Component

Bell - A transducer which converts electrical

energy to sound.

- A transducer which converts electrical energy

Buzzer to sound.

- A coil of wire which creates a magnetic

Inductor field when current passes through it. It may
(Coil, Solenoid) have an iron core inside the coil. It can be
used as a transducer converting electrical
energy to mechanical energy by pulling on
something.
 Switches
Component Circuit Symbol Function of Component

Push Switch - A push switch allows current to flow only

when the button is pressed. This is the
(push-to-make) switch used to operate a doorbell.

- This type of push switch is normally closed

Push-to-Break (on), it is open (off) only when the button is
Switch pressed.
- SPST = Single Pole, Single Throw.
On-Off Switch An on-off switch allows current to flow only
(SPST) when it is in the closed (on) position.

2-way Switch - SPDT = Single Pole, Double Throw.

A 2-way changeover switch directs the flow
(SPDT) of current to one of two routes according to
its position. Some SPDT switches have a
central off position and are described as
'on-off-on'.
 Switches
Component Circuit Symbol Function of Component

Dual On-Off Switch - DPST = Double Pole, Single Throw.

A dual on-off switch which is often used to
(DPST) switch mains electricity because it can
isolate both the live and neutral
connections.
Reversing Switch - DPDT = Double Pole, Double Throw.
(DPDT) This switch can be wired up as a reversing
switch for a motor. Some DPDT switches have
a central off position.

- An electrically operated switch, for

Relay example a 9V battery circuit connected to
the coil can switch a 230V AC mains circuit.
NO = Normally Open, COM = Common,
NC = Normally Closed.
 Resistors
Component Circuit Symbol Function of Component
Resistor - A resistor restricts the flow of current, for
example to limit the current passing through an
LED. A resistor is used with a capacitor in a
timing circuit.
Some publications still use the old resistor
symbol:

Variable Resistor - This type of variable resistor with 2 contacts (a

rheostat) is usually used to control current. Examples
(Rheostat) include: adjusting lamp brightness, adjusting motor
speed, and adjusting the rate of flow of charge into a
capacitor in a timing circuit.
- This type of variable resistor with 3 contacts (a
Variable Resistor potentiometer) is usually used to control voltage. It
can be used like this as a transducer converting
(Potentiometer) position (angle of the control spindle) to an
electrical signal.

- This type of variable resistor (a preset) is

Variable Resistor operated with a small screwdriver or similar tool. It
is designed to be set when the circuit is made and
(Preset) then left without further adjustment. Presets are
cheaper than normal variable resistors so they are
often used in projects to reduce the cost.
 Capacitors
Component Circuit Symbol Function of Component
Capacitor - A capacitor stores electric charge. A
capacitor is used with a resistor in a
timing circuit. It can also be used as a
filter, to block DC signals but pass AC
Capacitor, signals.
- A capacitor stores electric charge. This type
polarized must be connected the correct way round. A
capacitor is used with a resistor in a timing
circuit. It can also be used as a filter, to block
DC signals but pass AC signals.
Variable
Capacitor - A variable capacitor is used in a radio
tuner.

- This type of variable capacitor (a trimmer)

Trimmer is operated with a small screwdriver or
Capacitor similar tool. It is designed to be set when
the circuit is made and then left without
further adjustment.
 Diodes
Component Circuit Symbol Function of Component
Rectifier - A device which only allows current
Diode to flow in one direction.

LED
Light Emitting - A transducer which converts electrical
energy to light.
Diode

Zener Diode - A special diode which is used to

maintain a fixed voltage across its
terminals.

Photodiode - A light-sensitive diode.

 Transistors
Component Circuit Symbol Function of Component
Transistor NPN - A transistor amplifies current. It can
be used with other components to
make an amplifier or switching
circuit.

- A transistor amplifies current. It can be

Transistor PNP used with other components to make an
amplifier or switching circuit.

Phototransistor
- A light-sensitive Transistor.
 Audio and Radio Devices
Component Circuit Symbol Function of Component
Microphone - A transducer which converts sound to
electrical energy.

Earphone - A transducer which converts electrical energy

to sound.

- A transducer which converts electrical

Loudspeaker energy to sound.

- A transducer which converts electrical

Piezo Transducer energy to sound.

- A device which is designed to receive or

Aerial transmit radio signals. It is also known as an
antenna.
(Antenna)
- An amplifier circuit with one input. Really it
Amplifier is a block diagram symbol because it
represents a circuit rather than just one
(general symbol) component.
 Meters and Oscilloscope
Component Circuit Symbol Function of Component
Voltmeter - A voltmeter is used to measure voltage.
The proper name for voltage is 'potential
difference', but most people prefer to say
voltage!

Ammeter - An ammeter is used to measure current.

- A galvanometer is a very sensitive meter

Galvanometer which is used to measure tiny currents,
usually 1mA or less.

- An ohmmeter is used to measure

Ohmmeter resistance. Most multimeters have an
ohmmeter setting.

- An oscilloscope is used to display the

Oscilloscope shape of electrical signals and it can be
used to measure their voltage and time
period.
 Sensors (input devices)
Component Circuit Symbol Function of Component

- A transducer which converts brightness

LDR (light) to resistance (an electrical
property).
LDR = Light Dependent Resistor

Thermistor - A transducer which converts temperature

(heat) to resistance (an electrical property).
 Logic Gates

Logic gates process signals which represent true (1, high, +Vs,
on) or false (0, low, 0V, off).
For more information please see the Logic Gates page.
There are two sets of symbols: traditional and IEC (International
Electrotechnical Commission).
 Logic Gates
Type Traditional IEC Symbol Function of Gate
Gate Symbol
- A NOT gate can only have one input.
NOT The 'o' on the output means 'not'. The
output of a NOT gate is the inverse
(opposite) of its input, so the output is true
when the input is false. A NOT gate is also
called an inverter.
AND - An AND gate can have two or more inputs.
The output of an AND gate is true when all its
inputs are true.

- A NAND gate can have two or more

NAND inputs. The 'o' on the output means 'not'
showing that it is a Not AND gate. The
output of a NAND gate is true unless all
its inputs are true.

OR - An OR gate can have two or more inputs. The

output of an OR gate is true when at least one
of its inputs is true.
 Logic Gates
Type Traditional IEC Symbol Function of Gate
Gate Symbol
NOR - A NOR gate can have two or more
inputs. The 'o' on the output means 'not'
showing that it is a Not OR gate. The
output of a NOR gate is true when none of
its inputs are true.

EX-OR - An EX-OR gate can only have two inputs.

The output of an EX-OR gate is true when its
inputs are different (one true, one false).

- An EX-NOR gate can only have two

EX-NOR inputs. The 'o' on the output means 'not'
showing that it is a Not EX-OR gate. The
output of an EX-NOR gate is true when its
inputs are the same (both true or both
false).