Electrical Symbols & Electronic Symbols
Electrical symbols and electronic circuit symbols are Digital / Common
used for drawing schematic diagram. Ground
The symbols represent electrical and electronic
components. Resistor Symbols
Table of Electrical Symbols
Symbol Component name Meaning Resistor (IEEE)
Wire Symbols Resistor reduces the
current flow.
Conductor of Resistor (IEC)
Electrical Wire
electrical current
Potentiometer (IEEE)
Connected Wires Connected crossing
Adjustable resistor -
has 3 terminals.
Wires are not Potentiometer (IEC)
Not Connected Wires
connected
Switch Symbols and Relay Symbols Variable Resistor /
Rheostat (IEEE)
Adjustable resistor -
Disconnects current has 2 terminals.
SPST Toggle Switch
when open Variable Resistor /
Rheostat (IEC)
Selects between two
SPDT Toggle Switch
connections
Trimmer Resistor Preset resistor
Pushbutton Switch Momentary switch -
(N.O) normally open Thermal resistor -
change resistance
Thermistor
when temperature
changes
Pushbutton Switch Momentary switch -
(N.C) normally closed
Photo-resistor -
Photoresistor / Light
change resistance
dependent resistor
DIP switch is used with light intensity
(LDR)
DIP Switch for onboard change
configuration
Capacitor Symbols
SPST Relay
Relay open / close Capacitor Capacitor is used to
connection by an store electric charge.
electromagnet It acts as short circuit
SPDT Relay with AC and open
Capacitor circuit with DC.
Close connection by
Jumper jumper insertion on
pins. Polarized Capacitor Electrolytic capacitor
Solder to close
Solder Bridge
connection Polarized Capacitor Electrolytic capacitor
Ground Symbols
Adjustable
Used for zero Variable Capacitor
capacitance
potential reference
Earth Ground
and electrical shock
protection. Inductor / Coil Symbols
Coil / solenoid that
Connected to the generates magnetic
Chassis Ground Inductor
chassis of the circuit field
Iron Core Inductor Includes iron Lamp / light bulb
Variable Inductor Lamp / light bulb
Power Supply Symbols Diode / LED Symbols
Diode allows current
Generates constant
Voltage Source flow in one direction
voltage Diode
only - left (anode) to
right (cathode).
Generates constant Allows current flow in
Current Source
current. one direction, but
also can flow in the
Zener Diode
reverse direction
AC Voltage Source AC voltage source when above
breakdown voltage
Electrical voltage is Schottky diode is a
generated by Schottky Diode diode with low
Generator voltage drop
mechanical rotation
of the generator
Varactor / Varicap Variable capacitance
Generates constant Diode diode
Battery Cell
voltage
Tunnel Diode
Generates constant
Battery
voltage
Light Emitting Diode LED emits light when
Generates voltage as (LED) current flows through
Controlled Voltage a function of voltage
Source or current of other
circuit element. Photodiode allows
Photodiode current flow when
Generates current as exposed to light
Controlled Current a function of voltage
Source or current of other Transistor Symbols
circuit element.
Allows current flow
Meter Symbols NPN Bipolar Transistor when high potential
at base (middle)
Measures voltage.
Has very high Allows current flow
Voltmeter resistance. PNP Bipolar Transistor when low potential at
Connected in base (middle)
parallel.
Made from 2 bipolar
Measures electric transistors. Has total
current. Has near Darlington Transistor
Ammeter gain of the product of
zero resistance. each gain.
Connected serially.
N-channel field effect
JFET-N Transistor
Ohmmeter Measures resistance transistor
P-channel field effect
Measures electric JFET-P Transistor
Wattmeter transistor
power
Lamp / Light Bulb Symbols N-channel MOSFET
NMOS Transistor
transistor
Generates light when
Lamp / light bulb
current flows through
Used to generate
P-channel MOSFET
PMOS Transistor Crystal Oscillator precise frequency
transistor
clock signal
Misc. Symbols Antenna Symbols
Motor Electric motor Antenna / aerial
Transmits & receives
radio waves
Change AC voltage
Transformer from high to low or Antenna / aerial
low to high.
Two wires simple
Electric bell Rings when activated Dipole Antenna
antenna
Logic Gates Symbols
Produce buzzing
Buzzer
sound
Outputs 1 when input
NOT Gate (Inverter)
is 0
Fuse The fuse disconnects
when current above
Outputs 1 when both
threshold. Used to AND Gate
inputs are 1.
protect circuit from
Fuse high currents.
Outputs 0 when both
NAND Gate inputs are 1. (NOT +
AND)
Bus
Outputs 1 when any
OR Gate
input is 1.
Contains several
Bus wires. Usually for
data / address. Outputs 0 when any
NOR Gate input is 1. (NOT +
OR)
Bus
Outputs 1 when
XOR Gate inputs are different.
Optocoupler isolates (Exclusive OR)
Optocoupler / Opto-
connection to other
isolator
board
D Flip-Flop Stores one bit of data
Converts electrical
Loudspeaker signal to sound
waves
Multiplexer / Mux 2 to
1
Converts sound Connects the output
Microphone waves to electrical to selected input
signal line.
Multiplexer / Mux 4 to
1
Operational Amplifier Amplify input signal
Connects selected
Demultiplexer /
output to the input
Demux1 to 4
Operates with line.
Schmitt Trigger hysteresis to reduce
noise.
Converts analog
Analog-to-digital
signal to digital
converter (ADC)
numbers
Converts digital
Digital-to-Analog
numbers to analog
converter (DAC)
signal
