Product Data

A Global Reference Guide for

Reading Schematic Diagrams

General. With the increasing emphasis on globalization, many industries are

now looking to all parts of the world to produce, market and sell their
products. Electrical manufacturers are no exception. Since the electrical
standards adopted by various nations may vary, the markings and symbols
used to describe electrical control products can also vary. Whether it is a
complex control system on a machine tool or a simple across-the-line motor
starter, the need to recognize and understand these symbols becomes more
important. It is possible that products from all parts of the world are being
used in any one facility.
The purpose of this document is to provide a simple cross-reference of
common schematic/wiring diagram symbols used throughout various parts of
the world. The graphical symbols were taken from the following standards:
BS 3939.
CENELEC EN 50 013.
DIN 40700 to 40717.

EEMAC E14-3.
IEC 617-1 to 617-8.
NEMA ICS 1.

The following tables describe the device and show the symbol by area of
usage.
Description

Capacitor

Magnetic Only
Circuit
Breaker

Thermalmagnetic

Coil

US / Canadian

International / British

German

Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Description

US / Canadian

International / British

German

or

Normally
Closed
Basic
Contacts

Normally Open

N.C., Timed
Closed

or

TC

N.C., Timed
Open

TO

N.O., Timed
Closed

TC

N.O., Timed
Open

TO

or

or

Time Delay
Contacts

or

or

Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Description

US / Canadian

International / British

German

Non-Fused

Disconnect
Switch

Fused

Fuse

Ground

Single Phase

M
1

M
1

Three Phase

M
3

M
3

Induction
Motor

Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Description

US / Canadian

International / British

German

Standard

Insert color code inside symbol

Insert color code next to symbol

Insert color code next to symbol

Lights,
Indicating
Push-To-Test

Insert color code inside symbol

Insert color code next to symbol

Insert function code inside symbol Insert function code inside symbol

Insert function code inside symbol

Meters

Thermal
Element

or

Overload Relay

Magnetic
Element

Illuminated

Push Button

Momentary
(N.C.)

Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Description

US / Canadian

International / British

German

Momentary
(N.O.)

Push Button

Mushroom
Head (N.C.)

Mushroom
Head (N.O.)

Resistor

2 Position

B
A

Letter
Sym
A
B

Position
1
2
X
X

Selector
Switch
1 2 3

3 Position

B
A

Letter Position
Sym 1 2 3
A
X
B
X

Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Description

Switches

US / Canadian

International / British

German

Float (N.C.)

Float (N.O.)

Flow (N.C.)

Flow (N.O.)

Foot (N.C.)

Foot (N.O.)

Limit (N.C.)

Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Description

US / Canadian

International / British

German

Limit (N.O.)

Switches

Pressure (N.C.)

Pressure (N.O.)

Temperature
(N.C.)

Temperature
(N.O.)

Current

or

Voltage

or

Transformer

Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Common Schematic Diagrams

Across-the-Line Non-Reversing Starters with Start Stop Push Buttons

Power Circuit

NEMA

IEC
L1

L2

L1

L3

L2

L3

M1

3
T1

T2

T3

Motor

Control Circuit
NEMA

95

IEC

96
21
O
L1

22

L2

Start
Stop

O.L.

M1

13

13

14

14

M
A2
2

M1
A1

Stop

Start

Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Common Schematic Diagrams

Across-the Line Non-Reversing Starters with Hand-Off-Auto

Selector Switch
Power Circuit

NEMA

IEC

L2

L1

L2

L3

L3
M1

3
T1

T2

T3

Motor

Control Circuit
NEMA

IEC

95
96

1-Auto
L1

L2

Hand
2 Off

O.L.
M

2-Off

13

23

3-Hand
14

Auto

21

22
A1
M1
A2

10

24

Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Common Schematic Diagrams

Across-the-Line Reversing Starters

Power Circuit

L1
3 Phase Lines

NEMA

L1

L2

L3

IEC

L2

L3
1

M1
2

T1

T2

M2

T3

Motor

Control Circuit
NEMA

95

IEC

96
21
O
L1

22

L2

For.
Stop

O.L.

13
R
14

F
2

13

14

13
M1

13
M2

14

14

Rev.
F
R
4

21

21

R
M1

M2
22

22

A1

A1

A2

A2

M2

M1

11

Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Common Schematic Diagrams

Combination Starter with Fused Disconnect Switch

Power Circuit

NEMA

IEC
L1

L2

L3

M1

L1

L2

L3

T1

T2

T3

Motor

Control Circuit
NEMA

IEC
95
96
21
O

L1

22

L2

Start

M1

O.L.

Stop

13

13

14

14

M
M
2

A2
3

M1
A1

Stop
Start

12

Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Common Schematic Diagrams

Manual Starter
1
Power Circuit

NEMA
L1

IEC
L2

L1

L2

L3

L3

I>

T1

T2

T3

I>

I>

M
3

Motor

13

Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

With offices in major cities worldwide.

WORLD HEADQUARTERS
Allen-Bradley
1201 South Second Street
Milwaukee, WI 53204 USA
Tel: (1) 414 3822000
Telex: 43 11 016
FAX: (1) 414 3824444

EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST/
AFRICA HEADQUARTERS
AllenBradley Europe B.V.
Amsterdamseweg 15
1422 AC Uithoorn
The Netherlands
Tel: (31) 2975/43500
Telex: (844) 18042
FAX: (31) 2975/60222

Publication 100-2.10 December 1992

Supersedes Publication 1002.10 September 1992

16

A subsidiary of Rockwell International, one of the worlds largest technology companies,

Allen-Bradley meets todays automation challenges with over 85 years of practical plant floor
experience. More than 11,000 employees throughout the world design, manufacture and apply
a wide range of control and automation products and supporting services to help our customers
continuously improve quality, productivity and time to market. These products and services not
only control individual machines, but also integrate the manufacturing process while providing
access to vital plant floor data that can be used to support decisionmaking throughout the
enterprise.

ASIA/PACIFIC HEADQUARTERS
AllenBradley (Hong Kong) Limited
Room 1006, Block B, Sea View Estate
2-8 Watson Road
Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 887-4788
Telex: (780) 64347
FAX: (852) 510-9436

CANADA HEADQUARTERS
AllenBradley Canada Limited
135 Dundas Street
Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5X1
Canada
Tel: (1) 519 6231810
FAX: (1) 519 6238930

LATIN AMERICA
HEADQUARTERS
Allen-Bradley
1201 South Second Street
Milwaukee, WI 53204 USA
Tel: (1) 414 3822000
Telex: 43 11 016
FAX: (1) 414 3822400

1992 Allen-Bradley Company

Printed in USA