WIRES AND CONNECTIONS

Electronic Component Wire

Wire Circuit Symbol

Circuit Symbol

Description

Used to connect one component to another.

Wires Joined One device may be connected to another through wires. This is represented by drawing blobs on the point where they are shorted. When circuits are drawn some wires may not touch others. This can only be shown by bridging them or by drawing them without blobs. But bridging is commonly practised as there will not arise any confusion.

Wires Joined Circuit Symbol

Unjoined Wires

Wires Not Joined Circuit Symbol

Power Supplies
Electronic Component Cell Used to provide a supply for a circuit.
Cell Circuit Symbol

Circuit Symbol

Description

Battery

Battery Circuit Symbol

A battery has more than a cell and is used for the same purpose. The smaller terminal is negative and the larger one is positive. Abbreviated as B. Used as a DC power supply, that is, the current will always flow in one direction.

DC Supply

DC Supply Circuit Symbol

AC Supply

Used as AC power supply, that is, the current will keep alternating directions.
AC Supply Circuit Symbol

Fuse

Fuse Circuit Symbol

Used in circuits where a probability of excessive current flows. The fuse will break the circuit if excessive current flows and saves the other devices from damage.

Transformer Used as an ac power supply. Consists of two coils, the primary and secondary that are linked together through an iron core. There is no physical connection between the two coils. The principle of mutual inductance is used to obtain power. Abbreviated as T. Used in electronic circuits to represent the 0 volts of the power supply. It can also be defined as the real earth , when it is applied in radio circuits and power circuits.

Transformer Circuit Symbol

Earth/Ground

Earth Circuit Symbol

Resistor
Electronic Component Resistor Circuit Symbol Description

Resistor Circuit Symbol

A resistor is used to restrict the amount of current flow through a device. Abbreviated as R. A rheostat is used to control the current flow with two contacts. Applicable in controlling lamp brightness, capacitor charge rate, etc. A potentiometer is used to control the voltage flow and has three contacts. Have applications in changing a mechanical angle change to an electrical parameter. Abbreviated as POT. Presets are low cost variable resistors that are used to control the charge flow with the help of a screw driver. Applications where the resistance is determined only at the end of the circuit design.

Rheostat

Rheostat Circuit Symbol

Potentiometer

Potentiometer Circuit Symbol

Preset

Preset Circuit Symbol

Capacitor
Electronic Circuit Symbol Component Capacitor Description

Capacitor Circuit Symbol

Capacitor is a device that is used to store electrical energy. It consists of two metals plates that are separated by a dielectric. It is applicable as a filter, that is, to block DC signals and allow AC signals. Abbreviated with the letter C. Capacitor can be used in a timer circuit by adding a resistor.

Capacitor Polarized

Capacitor-Polarised Circuit Symbol

Variable Capacitor
Variable Capacitor Circuit Symbol

Used to vary the capacitance by turning the knob. A type of variable capacitor is the trimmer capacitor that is small in size. The notations are all the same.

Diode
Electronic Component Diode Circuit Symbol Description

A diode is used to allow electric current to flow in only one direction. Abbreviated as D.
Diode Circuit Symbol

Light Emitting Diode (LED)

LED Circuit Symbol

LED is used to emit light when a current is passed through the device. It is abbreviated as LED. After a breakdown voltage, the device allows current to flow in the reverse direction as well. It is abbreviated as Z.
Zener Diode Circuit Symbol

Zener Diode

Photo Diode

Photodiode works as a photo-detector and converts light into its corresponding voltage or current.
Photo Diode Circuit Symbol

Tunnel Diode

Tunnel Diode is known for its high-speed operation due to its application in quantum mechanical effects.
Tunnel Diode Circuit Symbol

Schottky Diode

The Schottky Diode is known for its large forward voltage drop and hence has great applications in switching circuits.
Schottky Diode Circuit Symbol

Transistor
Electronic Component NPN Transistor This is a transistor with a layer of P-doped semiconductor fixed between two layers of N-doped semiconductors that act as the emitter and collector. Abbreviated as Q. Circuit Symbol Description

Transistor NPN Circuit Symbol

PNP Transistor This is a transistor with a layer of N-doped semiconductor fixed between two layers of P-doped semiconductors that act as the emitter and collector. Abbreviated as Q.

Transistor PNP Circuit Symbol

Phototransistor The working of a phototransistoris similar to that of a bipolar transistor with a difference that it converts light into its corresponding current. The phototransistor can also act as a photodiode if the emitter is not connected. Like a transistor, a FET has three terminals, the Gate, Source and Drain. The device has an electric field that controls the conductivity of a channel of one type charge carrier in a semiconductor substance. The Junction Field Effect Transistor (JFET) is the simplest type of FET with applications in Switching and voltage variable resistor. In an N-channel JFET an N-type silicon bar has two smaller pieces of P-type silicon material diffused on each sides of its middle part, forming P-N junctions.

Phototransistor Circuit Symbol

Field Effect Transistor

Field Effect Transistor Circuit Symbol

N-Channel Junction FET

n-channel Junction Field Effect Transistor (JFET) Circuit Symbol

P-Channel Junction FET

p-channel Junction Field Effect Transistor (FET) Circuit Symbol

P-channel JFET is similar in construction to N-channel JFET except that P-type semiconductor base is sandwiched between two N-type junctions. In this case majority carriers are holes. Abbreviated as MOSFET. MOSFET is a three terminal device and is controlled by a gate bias. It is known for its low capacitance and low input impedance.

Metal Oxide Given Below Semiconductor FET Enhancement MOSFET

e-MOSFET Circuit Symbol

The enhancement MOSFET structure has no channel formed during its construction. Voltage is applied to the gate, so as to develop a channel of charge carriers so that a current results when a voltage is applied across the drain-source terminals. Abbreviated as e-MOSFET.

Depletion MOSFET

d-MOSFET Circuit Symbol

In the depletion-mode construction a channel is physically constructed and a current between drain and source is due to voltage applied across the drain-source terminals. Abbreviated as d-MOSFET. Description

Logic Gates
Gate AND Gate Standard Symbol IEC Symbol

AND GATE Symbol

AND Gate IEC Symbol

If all the inputs of an AND gate are HIGH, then the output will also be HIGH. If any one of them is LOW, the output will also be LOW.

NAND Gate

NAND Gate Symbol

NAND Gate IEC Symbol

Short form for NOT AND Gate. Of all the inputs are HIGH, the output will be LOW. If any one input is LOW, the output will be HIGH.

OR Gate

OR Gate Symbol

OR Gate IEC Symbol

If any one of the input is HIGH, the output will also be HIGH. If both inputs are LOW, the output will also be LOW.

NOR Gate

NOR Gate Symbol

NOR Gate IEC Symbol

Short form for NOT OR. If both inputs are LOW, the output will also be LOW. For other cases, the output will be HIGH.

EXOR Gate Short form for Exclusive NOR. If both inputs are either in LOW state r HIGH state, the output will be LOW. If both inputs are different, the output will be HIGH.

EX-OR Gate Symbol

EX-OR Gate IEC Symbol

EXNOR Gate

EX-NOR Gate Symbol

EX-NOR Gate IEC Symbol

Short form for Exclusive NOT OR. If both the inputs are the same, the output will be HIGH. If both are different, the output will also be different.

NOT Gate

NOT Gate Symbol

NOT Gate Symbol

Also known as the inverter Gate. There is only one input for this gate. If the input is HIGH, the output will be LOW. If the input is LOW, the output will be HIGH.

Meters
Electronic Component Voltmeter Voltmeter is used to measure the voltage at a certain point in the circuit.
Voltmeter Circuit Symbol

Circuit Symbol

Description

Ammeter

An Ammeter is used to measure the current that passes through the circuit at a particular point.
Ammeter Circuit Symbol

Galvanometer

A galvanometer is used to measure very small currents in the order of 1 milli ampere or less.
Galvanometer Circuit Symbol

Ohmmeter Resistance of the circuit is measured using an Ohmmeter.

Ohmmeter Circuit Symbol

Oscilloscope

An oscilloscope is used to measure the voltage and time period of signals along with their shape display.
Oscilloscope Circuit Symbol

Sensors
Electronic Component Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)
LDR Circuit Symbol

Circuit Symbol

Description

It is abbreviated as LDR. Light Dependent Resistor is used to convert light into its corresponding resistance. Instead of directly measuring the light, it senses the heat content and converts it onto resistance. Instead of directly measuring the light, a thermistor senses the heat content and converts it into resistance. Abbreviated as TH.

Thermistor

Thermistor Circuit Symbol

Switches
Electronic Component Push Switch Circuit Symbol Description This is an ordinary switch that passes current only upon pressing.

Push Switch Circuit Symbol

Push to Break Switch The push to break switch is usually kept in the ON state (closed). It turns to OFF state (open) only when the switch is pressed.

Push to Break Switch Circuit Symbol

Singe Pole Single Throw Switch Also known as the ON/OFF switch. This switch allows the flow of current only when it is kept ON. Abbreviated as SPST. Also known as the 2-way switch. It can be also called as an ON/OFF/ON switch as it has an OFF position in the center. The switch causes the flow of current in two directions, depending on its position. It can be abbreviated as SPDT. Abbreviated as DPST. Can also be called as a dual ON-OFF switch. This is used to isolate between the live and neutral connections in the main electrical line. Abbreviated as DPDT. The switch uses a central OFF position and is applied as reversing switch for motors.

On Off Switch (SPST) Circuit Symbol

Single Pole Double Throw Switch

2-Way Switch (SPDT) Circuit Symbol

Double Pole Single Throw Switch

Dual On-Off Switch (DPST) Circuit Symbol

Double Pole Double Throw Switch

DPDT Circuit Symbol

Relay

Relay is abbreviated as RY. This device can easily switch a 230 Volt AC mains circuit. It has three switching stages called Normally Open (NO). Normally Closed (NC), and Common (COM).

Relay Circuit Symbol

Audio and Radio Devices

Electronic Component Microphone Circuit Symbol Description

This device is used for converting sound to its corresponding electrical energy. Abbreviated as MIC.
Microphone Circuit Symbol

Earphone

Does the reverse process of microphone and converts electrical energy into sound.

Earphone Circuit Symbol

Loudspeaker

Does the same operation as an earphone, but converts an amplified version of the electrical energy into its corresponding sound.
Loudspeaker Circuit Symbol

PiezoTransducer
PiezoTransducer Circuit Symbol

It is a transducer that converts electrical energy into sound.

Amplifier

Used to amplify a signal. It is mainly used to represent a whole circuit rather than just one component.
Amplifier Circuit Symbol

Aerial

This device is used to transmit/receive signals. Abbreviated as AE.

Aerial Circuit Symbol

Output Devices
Electronic Component Lighting Lamp Circuit Symbol Description

This is used to provide light for the output.

Lamp Circuit Symbol

Indicator Lamp

Used to convert electrical energy into light. The best example is the warning light on a car dashboard.
Lamp Indiator Circuit Symbol

Heater

This transducer is used to change electrical energy into heat.

Heater Circuit Symbol

Inductor

Inductor Circuit Symbol

Inductor is used to produce a magnetic field when a certain current is passed through a coil of wire. The wire is coiled on a soft iron core. Have applications in motors, and tank circuits. Abbreviated as L. This device is used to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. Can be used as a generator as well. Abbreviated as M.

Motor

Motor Circuit Symbol

Bell

Used to produce a sound as the output, according to the electrical energy produced as the input.
Bell Circuit Symbol

Buzzer

It is used to produce an output sound corresponding to the electrical energy in the input.
Buzzer Circuit Symbol