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Introduction to Electrical and Electronic Symbols

Electrical and electronic symbols are the universal language of the engineering and technology world. They serve as essential tools for professionals, engineers, technicians, and hobbyists to communicate, design, and understand electrical and electronic systems. In this blog post, we will explore the most common electrical and electronic symbols, their meanings, and their applications.

Electrical Symbols

1. Basic Electrical Symbols:

• Resistor: Represents a passive two-terminal electrical component used to limit the flow of electric current.
• Capacitor: A device used to store and release electrical energy.
• Inductor: Symbolizes a coil of wire that generates a magnetic field when current flows through it.

1. Switches:

• SPST (Single-Pole, Single-Throw) Switch: A simple on/off switch.
• SPDT (Single-Pole, Double-Throw) Switch: A switch with one input and two possible outputs.
• DPDT (Double-Pole, Double-Throw) Switch: A switch with two inputs and two possible outputs.

1. Connectors:

• Terminal Block: Used to connect wires together.
• Fuse: Represents a protective device that interrupts electrical flow in the event of overcurrent.
• Ground Symbol: Denotes a connection to ground, typically for safety.

1. Power Sources:

• Battery: Represents a voltage source.
• AC Voltage Source: Represents an alternating current power source.
• DC Voltage Source: Represents a direct current power source.

Electronic Symbols

1. Diodes:

• Light Emitting Diode (LED): Indicates a diode that emits light when current flows through it.
• Zener Diode: Represents a diode that maintains a constant voltage across its terminals.
• Schottky Diode: Symbolizes a diode with low voltage drop.

1. Transistors:

• NPN Transistor: Denotes a bipolar junction transistor with an N-type material between two P-type materials.
• PNP Transistor: Represents a bipolar junction transistor with a P-type material between two N-type materials.
• Field Effect Transistor (FET): Symbolizes a transistor that controls current flow using an electric field.

1. Integrated Circuits:

• Operational Amplifier (Op-Amp): Represents an electronic amplifier with two input terminals and one output terminal.
• Microcontroller: Symbolizes a compact computer on a single chip, used for controlling electronic systems.
• Digital Logic Gates: Include symbols for AND, OR, NOT, XOR, and other logic gates.

1. Sensors:

• Temperature Sensor: Represents a device used to measure temperature.
• Photoresistor: Symbolizes a light-dependent resistor.
• Proximity Sensor: Denotes a sensor that detects the presence or absence of an object.

Applications

Understanding these symbols is crucial for a wide range of applications:

1. Circuit Design: Engineers and designers use symbols to create and represent electrical and electronic circuits.
2. Troubleshooting: Technicians rely on these symbols to diagnose and repair electrical and electronic systems.
3. Education: Students and enthusiasts learn about electrical and electronic systems by studying these symbols.
4. Manufacturing: Electronics manufacturers use these symbols in the production of devices and components.

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
	Earth Ground	Used for zero potential reference and electrical 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)
	Trimmer Resistor	Preset resistor
	Thermistor	Thermal resistor – change resistance when temperature changes
	Photoresistor / Light dependent resistor (LDR)	Photo-resistor – change resistance with light intensity change
Capacitor Symbols
	Capacitor	Capacitor is used to store electric charge. It acts as short circuit with AC and open circuit with DC.
	Capacitor
	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
	Generator	Electrical voltage is generated by mechanical rotation of the generator
	Battery Cell	Generates constant voltage
	Battery	Generates constant voltage
	Controlled Voltage Source	Generates voltage as a function of voltage or current of other circuit element.
	Controlled Current Source	Generates current as a function of voltage or current of other circuit element.
Meter Symbols
	Voltmeter	Measures voltage. Has very high resistance. Connected in parallel.
	Ammeter	Measures electric current. Has near zero resistance. Connected serially.
	Ohmmeter	Measures resistance
	Wattmeter	Measures electric power
Lamp / Light Bulb Symbols
	Lamp / light bulb	Generates light when current flows through
	Lamp / light bulb
	Lamp / light bulb
Diode / LED Symbols
	Diode	Diode allows current flow in one direction only – left (anode) to right (cathode).
	Zener Diode	Allows current flow in one direction, but also 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	Photodiode allows current flow when exposed to light
Transistor Symbols
	NPN Bipolar Transistor	Allows current flow when high potential at base (middle)
	PNP Bipolar Transistor	Allows current flow when low potential at base (middle)
	Darlington Transistor	Made from 2 bipolar transistors. Has total gain 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
	Transformer	Change AC voltage from high to low or low to high.
	Electric bell	Rings when activated
	Buzzer	Produce buzzing sound
	Fuse	The fuse disconnects when current above threshold. Used to protect circuit from high currents.
	Fuse
	Bus	Contains several wires. Usually for data / address.
	Bus
	Bus
	Optocoupler / Opto-isolator	Optocoupler isolates connection 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 (ADC)	Converts analog signal to digital numbers
	Digital-to-Analog converter (DAC)	Converts digital numbers to analog signal
	Crystal Oscillator	Used to generate precise frequency clock signal
⎓	Direct current	Direct current is generated from constant voltage level
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.
	NAND Gate	Outputs 0 when both inputs are 1. (NOT + AND)
	OR Gate	Outputs 1 when any input is 1.
	NOR Gate	Outputs 0 when any input is 1. (NOT + OR)
	XOR Gate	Outputs 1 when inputs are different. (Exclusive 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 4	Connects selected output to the input line.

Conclusion

Electrical and electronic symbols are the building blocks of modern technology. They enable us to communicate complex circuit designs, troubleshoot issues, and understand the inner workings of electronic systems. Whether you’re an electrical engineer, a hobbyist, or just someone interested in technology, having a good grasp of these symbols is essential for success in the field of electronics.