100+ Electrical & Electronic Circuit

Symbols
March 19, 2021 (https://www.electronicshub.org/author/elktros/)

Electrical symbols or electronic circuits are virtually represented by circuit diagrams.

There are some standard symbols to represent the components in a circuits. This
article gives some of the frequently used symbols for drawing the circuits. There are
many electrical and electronic schematic symbols are used to signify basic electronic
or electrical device. These are mostly we used for draw circuit diagrams.

Below are different kind of symbols we mentioned category wise. Hope this
information will helps to understand clearly.

Wires
Switches
Sources
Ground
Resistor
Variable Resistor
Capacitor
Inductors
Diodes
Transistor
Logic Gates
Amplifiers
Antenna
Transformer
Miscellaneous
 Electrical Symbols & Electronic Symbols
WIRES

Wires Connected Wires Unconnected Wires

Represents the connection of Represents two unconnected

Represents a conductor that two conductors. Dot shows the wires/conductors.
conducts electrical current. junction point.
Also called a power line or
electric line or wire.

Input Bus Line Output Bus Line Terminal

Represents a bus for input or Represents a bus for output or Represents start or end point
incoming data. outgoing data.
Bus Line

Represents a number of
conductors joined together to
form a bus wire.

SWITCHES

Push Button (Normally Open) Push Button (Normally Closed) SPST Switch

This switch is initially in ON

This switch is in ON state when state. This goes to OFF state Single pole single throw is
the button is pressed when it is released. abbreviated as SPST. This act
otherwise it is in OFF state. as ON/OFF switch. Poles defin
the number of circuits it can b
connected to and throws
defines the number of
positions that a pole connect
SPDT Switch DPST Switch DPDT Switch

Double pole single throw is Double pole double throw is

Single pole double throw is abbreviated as DPST. This the full form of DPDT. This ca
abbreviated as SPDT. This switch can drive two circuits at connect the four circuits by
switch allows the current to a time. changing the position.
flow in any one of the two
directions by adjusting its
position.

Relay Switch

This represents the relay

switch. This can control the AC
Loads using the DC voltage
applied to the coil.

SOURCES
AC Supply DC Supply Constant Current Source

This represents the DC power The symbol represents an

This represents AC supply in supply. It applies DC supply to independent current source
the circuit. the circuit. which delivers constant
current.

Controlled current Source Controlled Voltage Source Single Cell Battery

It is a dependent voltage This provides supply to the

It is a dependent current source. Usually depends on circuit.
source. Usually depends on other sources (voltage or
other sources (voltage or current).
current).
Multi Cell Battery

Combination of multiple single

cell batteries or a single large
cell battery. The voltage is
usually higher.

Wave Generators

Sinusoidal Generator Pulse Generator Triangular Wave

Represents pulse or square Represents triangular wave

Represents sine wave wave generator. generator.
generator.

GROUND SYMBOLS
Ground Signal Ground Chassis Ground

It is a reference point from It acts as a barrier between

It is equivalent to theoretical which the signal is measured. user and the circuit and
0V and is used as zero There may be several signal prevents electric shock.
potential reference. It is the grounds in a circuit due to the
potential of perfectly voltage drops in a circuit.
conducting earth.

RESISTOR SYMBOLS

Fixed Resistor

It is a device that opposes the

flow of current in a circuit.
These two symbols are used to
represent fixed resistor.

VARIABLE RESISTOR
Rheostat Preset Thermistor

It is a two terminal variable It is a mini variable resistor. It It is a temperature sensitive

resistor. They are generally is also called Trimmer Resistor resistor. They are used in
used to control the current in or Trim Pot. The resistance is temperature sensing, current
the circuit. Generally used in adjusted with rotary control limiting circuits, over-current
tuning circuits and power present on top of it with the protection circuits etc.
control applications like help of a screw driver. They are
heaters, ovens etc used to adjust the sensitivity of
the circuit like temperature or
light.
Varistor Magneto Resistor LDR

They are also called as They are also called as Photo

It is a Voltage Dependent Magnetic Dependent Resistors Resistors. The resistance of
Resistor. It has non-linear (MDR). The resistance of LDR varies with the intensity
current-voltage characteristics. magneto resistor varies the light incident on it. They
Generally used in circuit according to the external are generally used in light
protection from voltage surges magnetic field strength. They sensing applications.
and excessive transient are used in electronic
voltages. compass, ferrous material
detection, position sensors etc.

Tapped resistor Attenuator Memristor

It is a device used to lower the The resistance of memristor i

A wire-wound type fixed power of a signal. They are varied according to the
resistor with one or more made from simple voltage direction of flow of charge.
terminals along its length. dividers and hence can be Memristors can be used in
Generally used in voltage classified in the family of the signal processing,
divider applications. resistors. logic/computation, non-volat
memory etc.

CAPACITOR SYMBOLS
Non Polarized Capacitor Polarized Capacitor Electrolytic Capacitor

Capacitor stores the charge in Polarized capacitors are small Almost all electrolytic
the form of electrical energy. in size but have high capacitors are polarized and
These two symbols are used capacitance. They are used in hence used in DC circuits
for non-polarized capacitor. DC circuits. They can be used
Non-polarized capacitors are as filters, for bypassing or
big in size with small passing low frequency signals.
capacitance. They can be used
in both AC and DC circuits.

Feed through Capacitor Variable Capacitor

They provide low impedance The capacitance of the variable

path to ground for high capacitor can be adjusted by
frequency signals turning the knob. They are
widely used to adjust the
frequency , that is for tuning.
INDUCTORS

Iron Core Inductor Ferrite Core Inductors Center Tapped Inductors

Core material, in this type of These are used in coupling of

These are used as substitutes inductors is made of ferrite signals,
to ferrite core inductors. material. These are mostly
Ferrite core or Ferromagnetic used to suppress the
inductors have high interference of
permeability and require air electromagnetic waves.
gap to reduce it. Iron
powdered core inductors have
this air gap integrated.
Variable Inductors

Movable ferrite magnetic core

variable inductors are most
common. The inductance is
varied by sliding the core in or
out of the coil.

DIODES

Pn Junction Diode Zener Diode Photodiode

In forward bias condition, it Photodiode detects the light

A PN junction diode allows the acts as normal diode and energy and converts it into
current to flow only in forward allows current. It also allows current or voltage by a
bias condition. These diodes current to flow in reverse bias mechanism called
can be used in clipping and condition when the voltage photoelectric effect. These ar
clamping circuits , as rectifiers reaches a certain break-down used in CD players , Cameras
in dc circuits etc. point. Generally used in etc.
voltage regulator and over
voltage protection circuits.
Led Varactor Diode Shockley Diode

Varactor diode is called varicap This is a four layer diode. This

Light emitting diode is similar or variable capacitance diode. had fast switching operation
to PN junction diode but they The capacitance of this diode and hence is used in switchin
emit energy in the form of light varies according to the applied applications.
instead of heat. These are input voltage. This is used in
mostly used in indication , frequency controlled
lightening applications. oscillators , frequency
multipliers etc.

Schottky Diode Tunnel Diode Thyristor

This is also known as Esaki It consists of four layers of

It represents Schottky diode. It diode.It can switch very fastly alternating P and N materials
has low forward voltage drop and can perform well in micro They act as bistable switches
and it can switch rapidly. Used wave frequency range. This is and are used in circuits wher
in voltage clamping, rectifiers, used in oscillator circuits and high voltages and currents ar
reverse current and discharge micro wave circuits. involved.
protection
Constant Current Diode Laser Diode

Also called as Current Limiting The laser diode is similar to

Diode or Current Regulating light emitting diode. The active
Diode. It limits the current to a region is formed in intrinsic
specified maximum value. region in PIN structure. Laser
diodes find its applications in
laser printing, laser scanning
etc.

TRANSISTOR SYMBOLS

NPN PNP

It is made of combination of N-
It is made of combination of P- type semiconductor between
type semiconductor between two P-type semiconductors. It
two N-type semiconductors. It is switched ON when the base-
is switched ON when the base- emitter junction is reverse
emitter junction is forward biased. These are used for
biased. They are commonly amplifying and switching
used for amplifying and applications.
switching applications.
N- Channel JFET P-Channel JFET

P-Channel JFET is made by p-

N-channel JFET is made by n- type silicon bar which forms
type silicon bars which form two PN junctions at the side.
two PN junctions at the side. Majority charge carriers here
Majority charge carriers here are holes.
are electrons.

Enhancement MOSFET Depletion MOSFET

The enhancement mode The depletion mode has

MOSFET has positive gate negative gate operation. This
operation. It induces negative decreases the width of the
charges into the n-channel and depletion layer.
thus number of negative
charges increases, enhancing
the channel conductivity.
Phototransistor Photo Darlington Darlington Transistor

Photo Darlington Transistor is This configuration produces

The photo transistor converts similar to phototransistor with high current gain. They are
the light energy falling on it to very high gain and sensitivity used in power regulators,
its corresponding electrical output stages of audio
energy. This can be used in amplifiers, display drivers etc
light sensing applications.Base
is left disconnected as light is
used to enable the flow of
current.

LOGIC GATES

And Gate Or Gate Nand Gate

The OR gate implements It is complement of AND gate

This is the basic gate and it logical disjunction.The output The output is low only when
implements logical is high if any one of the inputs both the inputs are high,
conjunction. The output of the is high. otherwise it is high.
AND gate is high, only if both
the inputs are high otherwise
both are low.
Nor Gate Not Gate Exor

NOR gate is a not OR gate. Inverter or NOT gate

Output of this gate is high, if implements logical negation. This gate implements exclusiv
both the inputs are Low, This gate inverts the input. OR logic. The output of this
otherwise it is High. gate is high ,if both the inputs
are different.

Exnor Buffer Tri-State Buffer

This gate implements negation It is an audio signaling device.

of EXOR logic. The output of Generally used in alarms, Similar to a normal buffer bu
this gate is high , only if the timers and for confirmation with a control signal. In case o
two inputs are identical. messages. active high buffer, it operates
normally only when control
signal is 1. In case of active lo
buffer, it operates normally
only when control signal is 0.
Flip Flop

Flip flop is the also

a memory element but this is a
synchronous device. The figure
below shows the basic D-flip-
flop.

AMPLIFIERS

Basic Amplifier Operational Amplifier

Operational Amplifier (Op

An amplifier is a device that Amp) is a voltage amplifier with
amplifies a relatively small very high gain. The input is
input signal i.e. it increases the differential. They are used in
power of the signal. They are instrumentation devices, signal
used in communication processing, control systems etc
systems, audio devices etc

ANTENNA
Antenna Loop Antenna Dipole Antenna

Loop antenna is named after It is most widely used

This symbol belongs to Aerial its loop like shape of wire or antenna.Generally used in se
or Antenna. It converts other electrical conductor. top TV, shortwave
electrical power into radio They are used as receiving transmission and FM receiver
waves. It is used in wireless antennas in low frequency
communication to transmit or range.
receive the signals.

TRANSFORMER

Transformer Iron Core Center Tapped

Uses a piece of magnetic The center tapped transform

Transformer is the basic material as core. Generally has its secondary winding
element that transfers energy Ferro magnetic metals like iron divided into two parts with
in one circuit to the other are used. The core has high same number of turns in eac
circuit through permeability and is used to part. This results in two
electromagnetic induction. confine the magnetic field. individual output voltages
They are generally used in across two line ends. Used in
electric power applications to rectifier circuits.
increase or decrease the
voltage of AC current.
Step Up Transformer Step Down Transformer

The no. of turns in secondary

The no. of turns in secondary winding is less than that of
winding is more than that of primary winding. The output
primary winding. The output voltage is lesser than input
voltage is higher than input voltage. It is widely used in low
voltage. Significantly used in power applications.
inverters.

MISCELLANEOUS

Buzzer Loud Speaker Light Bulb

This is also an audio device. The symbol represents the

This is sound producing device. The electrical signal is light bulb. The bulb glows
This produces buzz sound converted into sound signal when required voltage is
when the voltage is applied. here. applied.
Motor Fuse

Symbol represents the fuse

This converts the electric that protects the circuit from
energy to mechanical energy. over current.

Crystal Oscillator ADC DAC

Analog to Digital converter is Digital to Analog converter is

Used to generate clock signal used convert analog signals used to convert digital code t
of very precise frequency. (usually voltage) to digital analog signals.
values.
Thermocouple

It is used to measure
temperature.