CHAPTER 19

SCHEMATICS AND
WIRING DIAGRAMS
(CIRCUIT #1)
OBJECTIVES
After studying this chapter, the student will be able to:
Interpret schematic diagrams.
Interpret wiring diagrams.
Connect control circuits using schematic and wiring diagrams.
Discuss the operation of circuit #1.

Schematic and wiring diagrams are the written language When reading schematic diagrams, the following
of control circuits. Maintenance electricians must be rules should be remembered.
able to interpret schematic and wiring diagrams to in-
A. Read a schematic as you would a book—from top to
stall control equipment or troubleshoot existing control
bottom and from left to right.
circuits. Schematic diagrams are also known as line di-
agrams and ladder diagrams. Schematic diagrams show B. Contact symbols are shown in their de-energized or
components in their electrical sequence without regard off position.
to physical location. Schematics are used more than
C. When a relay is energized, all the contacts controlled
any other type of diagram to connect or troubleshoot a
by that relay change position. If a contact is shown
control circuit.
normally open on the schematic, it will close when
Wiring diagrams show a picture of the control
the coil controlling it is energized.
components with connecting wires. Wiring diagrams
are sometimes used to install new control circuits, but The three circuits shown in this and following
they are seldom used for troubleshooting existing cir- chapters are used to illustrate how to interpret the logic
cuits. Figure 19– 1A shows a schematic diagram of a of a control circuit using a schematic diagram.
start-stop, push-button circuit. Figure 19– 1B shows a Circuit #1, shown in Figure 19– 2A, is an alarm
wiring diagram of the same circuit. silencing circuit. The purpose of the circuit is to sound
 120 VOLTS ac
START
STOP OL
M

Figure 19– 1A Schematic diagram of a start-stop push-button station. (Source: Delmar/Cengage Learning.)

L1 L2 L3

OL

MOTOR

Figure 19– 1B Wiring diagram of a start-stop push-button station. (Source: Delmar/Cengage Learning.)

a horn and turn on a red warning light when the pres- Notice that no current can flow in the system because
sure of a particular system becomes too great. After the of the open pressure switch, PS.
alarm has sounded, the RESET button can be used to If the pressure rises high enough to cause pressure
turn the horn off, but the red warning light must remain switch PS to close, current can flow through the nor-
on until the pressure in the system drops to a safe level. mally closed S contact to the horn. Current can also flow
 L1 L2

PS S HORN

RESET
S

Figure 19– 2A Circuit #1. Alarm silencing circuit. (Source: Delmar/Cengage Learning.)

L1 L2

PS S HORN

RESET
S

Figure 19– 2B Pressure switch closes. (Source: Delmar/Cengage Learning.)

L1 L2

PS S HORN

RESET
S

Figure 19– 2C The alarm has been silenced but the warning light remains on. (Source: Delmar/Cengage Learning.)
through the red warning light. Current cannot, however, the coil of the relay when the RESET button is re-
flow through the normally open RESET button or the leased (Figure 19– 2C).
normally open S contact (Figure 19– 2B). The red warning light will remain turned on until the
If the reset button is pushed, a circuit is completed pressure switch opens again. When the pressure switch
through the S relay coil. When relay coil S energizes, opens, the circuit is broken and current flow through
the normally closed S contact opens and the normally the system stops. This causes the red warning light to
open S contact closes. When the normally closed S turn off, and it de-energizes the coil of relay S. When
contact opens, the circuit to the horn is broken. This relay S de-energizes, both of the S contacts return to
causes the horn to turn off. The normally open S con- their original position. The circuit is now back to the
tact is used as a holding contact to maintain current to same condition it was in in Figure 19– 2A.

Review Questions
1. Define a schematic diagram. 3. Referring to circuit #1 (Figure 19–2A), explain the
operation of the circuit if pressure switch PS was
2. Define a wiring diagram.
connected normally closed instead of normally open.