Electrical & Electronic Symbols

Aim: To study symbols used in electrical and electronic circuit diagrams.

Sl. No. Symbol Component name Meaning

1 Electrical Wire Conductor of electrical current

Dot indicates connection (used in

2 Connected Wires or joint
Electronics)

Intersection indicates connection (used

3 Wires are not connected
in Electrical)

Used for zero potential reference and

4 Earth or Ground
electrical shock protection.

5 Resistor (IEEE & IEC) Resistor reduces the current flow.

Adjustable resistor or potential divider -

6 Potentiometer (IEEE)
has 3 terminals.

Variable Resistor / Rheostat

7 Adjustable resistor - has 2 terminals.
(IEEE)

8 Preset Resistor

Capacitor is used to store electric

9 Capacitor charge. It acts as short circuit with AC
and open circuit with DC.

10 Polarized Capacitor Electrolytic capacitor

11 Variable Capacitor Adjustable capacitance

Coil / solenoid that generates magnetic

12 Inductor
field

13 Iron Core Inductor Coil wound on iron core

14 Variable Inductor Adjustable Inductance

1
15 AC Voltage Source Generates AC voltage

16 Cell Generates constant DC voltage

17 Battery A group of cells is called battery

Regulated Power Supply Adjustable linear RPS gives stabilized

18
(RPS) dc output voltage.

Measures dc voltage. Connected in

19 DC Voltmeter
parallel.

Measures ac voltage. Connected in

20 AC Voltmeter
parallel.

Measures dc current. Connected in

21 DC Ammeter
series.

Measures ac current. Connected in

22 AC Ammeter
series.

23 wattmeter Measures power.

24 Lamp / light bulb Lamp glows when current flows through

Diode allows current flow in one

25 Diode
direction only (Anode to Cathode).

Behaves as a diode when forward

26 Zener Diode biased, but acts as voltage regulator
when reverse biased.

Light Emitting Diode LED emits light when current flows

27
(LED) through it.

NPN Bipolar Junction Allows current flow when high potential

28
Transistor at base (middle)

2
 PNP Bipolar Junction Allows current flow when low potential
29
Transistor at base (middle)

Changes AC voltage from high to low or

30 Transformer
low to high.
The fuse disconnects when current is
31 Fuse above threshold. Used to protect circuit
from high currents.

32 Terminal

Switches:

SPST (Single Pole Single Throw) switch

SPDT (Single Pole Double Throw) switch or Two way switch

DPST (Double Pole, Single Throw)

DPDT (Double Pole Double Throw)

Triple Pole Single Throw (TPST) Switch

3
Logic Gates: