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

Lamp / light bulb

Generates light when current flows through

Lamp / light bulb

Diode / LED Symbols

Diode

Diode allows current flow in one direction only

(left to right).

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

Name

ground

equipotential
ity

Optocoupler / Opto-isolator

Optocoupler isolates connection to other board

Loudspeaker

Converts electrical signal to sound waves

Microphone

Converts sound waves to electrical signal

Electrical Symbol

Alternate Symbol

Function
Description
A connection to
earth. Used for
zero potential
reference and
electrical shock
protection.
Equipotentiality is
a symbol to
identify parts that
have the same

voltage (i.e. same

electrical
potential i.e.
equipotential).
Since
equipotential
surfaces all have
the same voltage,
you won't get
shocked if you
touch two such
surfaces (unless
of course you are
also touching
some OTHER part
that has a
different potential
from the first
two).
chassis

Connected to the
chassis of the
circuit.

battery

Supplies electrical
energy. A battery
is more than one
cell. It generates
constant voltage
and represents a
battery in an
equipment
package.

resister

A resistor
restricts the flow
of current, for
example to limit
the current
passing through
an LED. A resistor
is used with a
capacitor in a
timing circuit.

attenuator

A box with input

and control logic
on one side, and
output on the
other.

capacitor

A capacitor stores
electric charge. A
capacitor is used
with a resistor in
a timing circuit. It
can also be used
as a filter, to
block DC signals

but pass AC
signals.

accumulator

Accumulators are
designed to
increase or
relieve pressure
in the system.

antenna

A antenna is a
radio antenna
that can be made
of a simple wire,
with a center-fed
driven element.

loop antenna

A loop antenna is
a radio antenna
consisting of a
loop (or loops) of
wire, tubing, or
other electrical
conductor with its
ends connected to
a balanced
transmission line.

crystal

A crystal oscillator
uses the
mechanical
resonance of a
vibrating crystal
of piezoelectric
material to create
an electrical
signal with a very
precise frequency.

circuit
breaker

A circuit breaker
is an
automatically
operated
electrical switch
designed to
protect an
electrical circuit
from damage
caused by
overload or short
circuit.

fuse

A type of
sacrificial
overcurrent
protection device.
Represents low
voltage and
power fuses.

ideal source
generic
component
transducer

inductor

A coil of wire
which creates a
magnetic field
when current
passes through it.
It may have an
iron core inside
the coil. It can be
used as a
transducer
converting
electrical energy
to mechanical
energy by pulling
on something. It
is a passive twoterminal electrical
component used
to store energy in
a magnetic field.

half inductor

pickup head

pulse
saw tooch
step function

explosive
squib

sensing link
squib
squib igniter

Explosive squib is
often used on
stage and film to
trigger various
special effects.

surge
protectors

Surge protectors
protect your
electronics from
power surges in
your electrical
system.

instrument

For example, a
voltmeter is an
instrument used
for measuring
electrical
potential
difference
between two
points in an
electric circuit.
The wattmeter is
an instrument for
measuring the
electric power in
watts of any
given circuit.

material

delay
element

Delay element
provides a
specified delay
between
actuation of the
propellantactuated devices.

permanent
magnet

A permanent
magnet is a
material or object
that produces a
magnetic field.

magnet core

ferrite core

igniter plug

bell

The electric bell is

found in a normal
house doorbell,
and when
activated it makes
a ringing sound.

buzzer

An electrical
buzzer is similar
to the bell, but
instead of a single
tone or bell sound
it makes a
constant buzz
noise.

thermal
element
thermocoupl
e

thermopile
A transducer
which converts
electrical energy
to light, which is
used for a lamp
providing
illumination, for
example a car
headlamp or
torch bulb.

lamp

fluorescent
lamp

Switches

Switches
Important specifications are:- Voltage and amperage, functions and safety requirements, appearance.
Single pole single throw SPST

Single pole double throw SPDT

Multi pole

Double pole double throw DPDT or with off

position Double pole center off DPCO
For more poles replace D with number for
example 4PDT

Double pole double throw DPST

Push switch naturally off (N/O)

Push switch naturally connected (N/C)

Limit switch

Socket outlet

Two way switch

Intermediate switch

Switched socket outlet

Double switched socket outlet

Pull switch

A symbol for an on off switch 0 represents of 1 A symbol for an on off switch

represents on
The 0 and 1 are combined

Temperature switch (N/O)

Temperature switch (N/C)

Thermal overload (N/O)

Thermal overload (N/C)

Pressure switch

Flow switch

Push button

Float switch

Emergency switch NC
Often multi pole
May have locking mechanism

Rotational speed switch

illuminated

Float