Electrical Symbols & Electronic Symbols
Electrical symbols and electronic circuit symbols are used for drawing schematic
diagram.
The symbols represent electrical and electronic components.
Table of Electrical Symbols
Symbol Component name Meaning
Wire Symbols
Electrical Wire Conductor of electrical current
Connected Wires Connected crossing
Not connected Wires Wires are not connected
Switch Symbols and Relay Symbols
SPST Toggle Switch Disconnects current when open
SPDT Toggle Switch Selects between two connections
Pushbutton Switch (N.O) Momentary switch - normally open
Pushbutton Switch (N.C) Momentary switch - normally closed
DIP Switch DIP switch is used for onboard configuration
SPST Relay
Relay open / close connection by an
electromagnet
SPDT Relay
Jumper Close connection by jumper insertion on pins.
Solder Bridge Solder to close connection
Ground Symbols
Used for zero potential reference and electrical
Earth Ground
shock protection.
Chassis Ground Connected to the chassis of the circuit
Digital / Common Ground
Resistor Symbols
Resistor (IEEE)
Resistor reduces the current flow.
Resistor (IEC)
Potentiometer (IEEE)
Adjustable resistor - has 3 terminals.
Potentiometer (IEC)
Variable Resistor / Rheostat
(IEEE)
Adjustable resistor - has 2 terminals.
Variable Resistor / Rheostat
(IEC)
Capacitor Symbols
Capacitor Capacitor is used to store electric charge. It
acts as short circuit with AC and open circuit
Capacitor with DC.
Polarized Capacitor Electrolytic capacitor
Polarized Capacitor Electrolytic capacitor
Variable Capacitor Adjustable capacitance
Inductor / Coil Symbols
Inductor Coil / solenoid that generates magnetic field
Iron Core Inductor Includes iron
Variable Inductor
Power Supply Symbols
Voltage Source Generates constant voltage
Current Source Generates constant current.
AC Voltage Source AC voltage source
Electrical voltage is generated by mechanical
Generator
rotation of the generator
Battery Cell Generates constant voltage
Battery Generates constant voltage
Generates voltage as a function of voltage or
Controlled Voltage Source
current of other circuit element.
Generates current as a function of voltage or
Controlled Current Source
current of other circuit element.
Meter Symbols
Measures voltage. Has very high resistance.
Voltmeter
Connected in parallel.
Measures electric current. Has near zero
Ammeter
resistance. Connected serially.
Ohmmeter Measures resistance
Wattmeter Measures electric power
Lamp / Light Bulb Symbols
Lamp / light bulb
Lamp / light bulb Generates light when current flows through
Lamp / light bulb
Diode / LED Symbols
Diode allows current flow in one direction only
Diode
(left to right).
Allows current flow in one direction, but also
Zener Diode can flow in the reverse direction when above
breakdown voltage
Schottky Diode Schottky diode is a diode with low voltage drop
Varactor / Varicap Diode Variable capacitance diode
Tunnel Diode
Light Emitting Diode (LED) LED emits light when current flows through
Photodiode allows current flow when exposed
Photodiode
to light
Transistor Symbols
Allows current flow when high potential at base
NPN Bipolar Transistor
(middle)
Allows current flow when low potential at base
PNP Bipolar Transistor
(middle)
Made from 2 bipolar transistors. Has total gain
Darlington Transistor
of the product of each gain.
JFET-N Transistor N-channel field effect transistor
JFET-P Transistor P-channel field effect transistor
NMOS Transistor N-channel MOSFET transistor
PMOS Transistor P-channel MOSFET transistor
Misc. Symbols
Motor Electric motor
Change AC voltage from high to low or low to
Transformer
high.
Electric bell Rings when activated
Buzzer Produce buzzing sound
Fuse The fuse disconnects when current above
threshold. Used to protect circuit from high
Fuse currents.
Bus
Contains several wires. Usually for data /
Bus
address.
Bus
Optocoupler / Opto-isolator Optocoupler isolates onnection to other board
Loudspeaker Converts electrical signal to sound waves
Microphone Converts sound waves to electrical signal
Operational Amplifier Amplify input signal
Schmitt Trigger Operates with hysteresis to reduce noise.
Analog-to-digital converter
Converts analog signal to digital numbers
(ADC)
Digital-to-Analog converter
Converts digital numbers to analog signal
(DAC)
Used to generate precise frequency clock
Crystal Oscillator
signal
Antenna Symbols
Antenna / aerial
Transmits & receives radio waves
Antenna / aerial
Dipole Antenna Two wires simple antenna
Logic Gates Symbols
NOT Gate (Inverter) Outputs 1 when input is 0
AND Gate Outputs 1 when both inputs are 1.
Outputs 0 when both inputs are 1. (NOT +
NAND Gate
AND)
OR Gate Outputs 1 when any input is 1.
NOR Gate Outputs 0 when any input is 1. (NOT + OR)
Outputs 1 when inputs are different. (Exclusive
XOR Gate
OR)
D Flip-Flop Stores one bit of data
Multiplexer / Mux 2 to 1
Connects the output to selected input line.
Multiplexer / Mux 4 to 1
Demultiplexer / Demux 1 to
Connects selected output to the input line.
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