Circuit Symbols

Circuit symbols in diagrams

Circuit symbols are used in circuit diagrams showing how a circuit is connected together. The
actual layout of the components is usually quite different from the circuit diagram.

A circuit diagram

Wire and connection symbols

Connects components and
passes current easily from
Wire
one part of a circuit to
another.
A 'blob' should be drawn
where wires are connected
(joined), but it is sometimes
omitted. Wires connected at
Wires joined
'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 even though they are
not connected. The simple
Wires not joined crossing on the left is correct
but may be misread as a join
where the 'blob' has been
forgotten. The bridge symbol
on the right leaves no doubt!

1
Circuit Symbols
Power supply symbols
Supplies electrical energy. The
larger line is positive (+). A
single cell is often called a
Cell
battery, but strictly speaking a
battery is two or more cells
joined together.
Supplies electrical energy. A
Battery battery is more than one cell.
The larger line is positive (+).
Converts light to electrical
Solar Cell energy.
The larger line is positive (+).
Supplies electrical energy.
DC supply DC = Direct Current, always
flowing in one direction.
Supplies electrical energy.
AC supply AC = Alternating Current,
continually changing direction.
A safety device which will
'blow' (melt) if the current
Fuse
flowing through it exceeds a
specified value.
Two coils of wire linked by an
iron core. Transformers are
used to step up (increase) and
step down (decrease) AC
Transformer 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
some electronic circuits this
symbol is used for the 0V
(zero volts) of the power
Earth (Ground) supply, but for mains
electricity and some radio
circuits it really means the
earth. It is also known as
ground.

2
Circuit Symbols
Output device symbols
A transducer which converts
electrical energy to light. This
symbol is used for a lamp
Lamp (lighting)
providing illumination, for
example a car headlamp or
torch bulb.
A transducer which converts
electrical energy to light. This
symbol is used for a lamp
Lamp (indicator)
which is an indicator, for
example a warning light on a
car dashboard.
A transducer which converts
Heater
electrical energy to heat.
A transducer which converts
Motor electrical energy to kinetic
energy (motion).

A transducer which converts

Bell
electrical energy to sound.

A transducer which converts

Buzzer
electrical energy to sound.

A coil of wire which creates a

magnetic field when current
passes through it. There may
be an iron core inside the coil.
Inductor, Coil, Solenoid It can be used as a transducer
converting electrical energy
to mechanical energy by
pulling on something
magnetically.

3
Circuit Symbols
Switch symbols
A push switch allows current
to flow only when the button
Push-to-make switch
is pressed. This is the switch
used to operate a doorbell.
This type of push switch is
normally closed = on, it is
Push-to-break switch
open = off only when the
button is pressed.
SPST = Single Pole, Single
Throw. Current flows only
SPST, on-off switch
when the switch is in the
closed =on position.
SPDT = Single Pole, Double
Throw. A 2-way changeover
switch directs the flow of
current to one of two routes
SPDT, 2-way switch
according to its position.
Some SPDT switches have a
central off position and are
described as 'on-off-on'.
DPST = Double Pole, Single
Throw. A dual on-off switch
which is often used to switch
DPST switch
mains electricity because it
can isolate both the live and
neutral connections.
DPDT = Double Pole,
Double Throw.
This switch can be wired up
DPDT switch
as a reversing switch for a
motor. Some DPDT switches
have a central off position.
An electrically operated
switch, for example a 9V
battery circuit connected to
the coil can switch an AC
Relay mains circuit. The rectangle
represents the coil.
NO = Normally Open,
COM = Common, NC = Normally
Closed.

4
Circuit Symbols
Resistor symbols
A resistor restricts the flow of
charge. Uses include limiting
the current passing through
Resistor an LED, and slowly charging
a capacitor in a timing circuit.
Some publications use the old
resistor symbol:
A rheostat has 2 contacts and
is usually used to control
current. Uses include
Rheostat variable resistor controlling lamp brightness or
motor speed and changing the
rate of flow of charge into a
capacitor in a timing circuit.
A potentiometer has 3
contacts and is usually used
to control voltage. It can be
Potentiometer variable
used like this as a transducer
resistor
converting position (angle of
the control spindle) to an
electrical signal.
A preset is operated with a
small screwdriver or similar
tool. It is designed to be set
when the circuit is made and
then left without further
Preset variable resistor
adjustment. Presets are
cheaper than standard
variable resistors so they are
sometimes used in projects to
reduce the cost.

Sensors (input devices)

A transducer which converts
brightness (light) to resistance
LDR
(an electrical property).
LDR = Light Dependent Resistor
A transducer which converts
Thermistor temperature (heat) to resistance
(an electrical property).

5
Circuit Symbols
Capacitor symbols
A capacitor stores electric
charge. It can be used with a
resistor in a timing circuit, for
smoothing a supply (it
provides a reservoir of
Capacitor, unpolarized charge) and can be used as a
filter (blocking DC signals
but passing AC signals).
Unpolarized capacitors
usually have small values,
less than 1µF.
A capacitor stores electric
charge. Polarized capacitors
must be connected the correct
Capacitor, polarized
way round. They usually have
larger values, 1µF and
greater. See above for uses.

A variable capacitor is used

Variable capacitor
in a radio tuner.

This type of variable

capacitor is designed to be set
Trimmer variable capacitor when a circuit is made and
then left without further
adjustment.

Diode symbols
A device which allows
Diode current to flow in only one
direction.
A transducer which converts
Light Emitting Diode electrical energy to light.
Usually abbreviated to LED.
A Zener diode can be used to
Zener diode
maintain a fixed voltage.

Photodiode A light-sensitive diode.

6
Circuit Symbols
Meters and Oscilloscope
Measures voltage. The proper
name for voltage is 'potential
Voltmeter
difference' but voltage is
more widely used.

Ammeter Measures current.

A very sensitive meter used

Galvanometer to measure tiny currents,
usually 1mA or less.
Measures resistance. Most
Ohmmeter multimeters have an
ohmmeter setting.
An oscilloscope is used to
display the 'shape' of
electrical signals - showing
Oscilloscope
how they vary with time. It
can be used to measure
voltage and time periods.

Transistor symbols
A transistor amplifies current
and can be used with other
components to make an
amplifier or switching circuit.
Transistor NPN
This symbol is for a bipolar
junction transistor (BJT), the
type you are most likely to
use at first.
A transistor amplifies current
and can be used with other
components to make an
amplifier or switching circuit.
Transistor PNP
This symbol is for a bipolar
junction transistor (BJT), the
type you are most likely to
use at first.

7
Circuit Symbols

Phototransistor A light-sensitive transistor.

Audio and Radio symbols

A transducer which converts

Microphone
sound to electrical energy.

A transducer which converts

Earphone
electrical energy to sound.

A transducer which converts

Loudspeaker
electrical energy to sound.

A transducer which converts

Piezo Transducer
electrical energy to sound.

An amplifier circuit with one

input. Really this is a block
Amplifier (general symbol) diagram symbol because it
represents a circuit rather
than just one component.

A device to receive or
Aerial (Antenna) transmit radio signals. It is
also known as an antenna.

Logic gate symbols

Logic gates process signals which represent true (1, high, +Vs, on) or false (0, low, 0V, off). For
more information please see the page on logic gates. The symbols shown here are the traditional
ones for logic gates as these are the most widely used symbols.

8
Circuit Symbols
A NOT gate can only have
one input. The 'o' on the
output means 'not'. The
output of a NOT gate is the
NOT
inverse (opposite) of its input,
so the output is true when the
input is false. A NOT gate is
also called an inverter.
An AND gate can have two
or more inputs. The output of
AND
an AND gate is true when all
its inputs are true.
A NAND gate can have two
or more inputs. The 'o' on the
output means 'not' showing
NAND that it is a Not AND gate. The
output of a NAND gate is
true unless all its inputs are
true.
An OR gate can have two or
more inputs. The output of an
OR
OR gate is true when at least
one of its inputs is true.
A NOR gate can have two or
more inputs. The 'o' on the
output means 'not' showing
NOR that it is a Not OR gate. The
output of a NOR gate is true
when none of its inputs are
true.
An EX-OR gate can only
have two inputs. The output
EX-OR of an EX-OR gate is true
when its inputs are different
(one true, one false).
An EX-NOR gate can only
have two inputs. The 'o' on
the output means 'not'
showing that it is a Not EX-
EX-NOR
OR gate. The output of an
EX-NOR gate is true when its
inputs are the same (both true
or both false).