Schematic Symbols

Standard symbols to represent electrical

components
Example: mp3 FM Transmitter
 Wire

● Used to connect your

different electrical
components together.

● Drawn as straight lines

● A dot is sometimes used to

show were two wires are
electrically connected.

● An arch is used to show two

wires overlapping but not
electrically connected.
 Battery (DC Power Supply)

● Used to power your circuit

● Labeled with the voltage

● Created using different

metals in some type of
chemical solution.

● The longer line is the

positive one.
 AC Power Supply

● Used to power your circuit

● Created by power plant

using a generator.

● Labeled with the voltage and

sometimes frequency
 Resistor

● Used limit the amount of

electricity getting to certain
parts of your circuit.

● Usually made of carbon and

its resistance is determined
by length and thickness of
carbon core.

● Labeled with amount of

resistance.
 Variable Resistor

● Used limit the amount of

electricity getting to certain
parts of your circuit.

● Often constructed from a

nichrome wire of variable
length.

● User is able to vary the

amount of resistance.

● Labeled with amount of

resistance maximum
 Capacitor

● Used to store electrical

charge or energy.

● Constructed of two
conductors separated by an
insulator.

● Labeled with amount of

Farads.
 Capacitor

● Used to store electrical

charge or energy.

● Constructed of two
conductors separated by an
insulator.

● Labeled with amount of

Farads.
 Solenoid

● Used to store magnetic

energy.

● Coil of wires that often has

an iron core.

● Labeled with amount of

Henrys.
 Fuse

● Used to protect a circuit

against too much current.

● It doesn't slow down the

current, but it breaks if
maximum current is
exceeded.

● Labeled with maximum

allowable current.
 Grounds

● Can absorb or emit large

amounts of charge with out
becoming significantly
charged.

● In a home it can be a pipe or

the third prong of an outlet.

● In a car it could be the frame

or the engine block.
 Antenna

● Use to broadcast or receive

electromagnetic signals.

● Usually a wire or strong

metallic object.
 Transistor

● Used as an
electronic switch
or to magnify an
electrical signal.

● Labeled with a
code that can be
looked up to
learn about the
transistor's
properties.
 Speaker

● Used to convert
electrical energy
into sound
energy

● Labeled with
resistance and
maximum
power.
 Light

● Used to convert
electrical energy
into light energy

● Labeled with
power under
standard
operating
conditions.
 Switch

● Used to activate
a circuit or to
reroute
electricity
through a circuit.
 Voltmeter

● Used to
measure the
voltage lost in
an electrical
device. V
● Connected
across the
object you are
testing.
 Current Meter

● Used to
measure the
current flowing
through an
electrical device A
● Connect in line
with the object
you are testing.