Electronic Circuit Symbols

jojo
November - 9 - 2011
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In electronic circuits, there are many electronic symbols that are used to represent or identify a
basic electronic or electrical device. They are mostly used to draw a circuit diagram and are
standardized internationally by the IEEE standard (IEEE Std 315) and the British Standard (BS
3939). NO changes can be brought by the user on any electronic symbol, but the user is free to
bring any changes in the architectural drawings like power source and lighting.
Electronic Symbols
The symbols for different electronic devices are shown below. Click on each link given below to
view the symbols. Apart from the circuit symbols, each device is also designated a short name.
Though these names are not approved as standard notations, they are commonly used by most
people. These designations are also given in the list.
Wires | Power Supplies | Resistor | Capacitor |Diode | Transistor | Logic Gates | Meters |
Sensors | Switches | Audio and Radio Devices | Output Devices

Wires
Electronic
Component

Circuit Symbol

Description

Wire
Used to connect one component to another.
Wire Circuit Symbol
Wires Joined
One device may be connected to another
through wires. This is represented by drawing
blobs on the point where they are shorted.
Wires Joined Circuit Symbol

Unjoined
Wires

Wires Not Joined Circuit

Symbol

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.

Power Supplies
Electronic
Component

Circuit Symbol

Description

Cell
Used to provide a supply for a circuit.
Cell Circuit Symbol
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.

DC Supply
Used as a DC power supply, that is, the current
will always flow in one direction.
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

Transformer Circuit Symbol

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.

Earth/Ground

Earth Circuit Symbol

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.

Circuit Symbol

Description

Resistor
Electronic
Component
Resistor

Resistor Circuit Symbol

A resistor is used to restrict the amount of

current flow through a device. Abbreviated as
R.

Rheostat

Rheostat Circuit Symbol

A rheostat is used to control the current flow

with two contacts. Applicable in controlling
lamp brightness, capacitor charge rate, etc.

Potentiometer

Potentiometer Circuit
Symbol

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.

Preset

Preset Circuit Symbol

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.

Capacitor
Electronic
Component

Circuit Symbol

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

Capacitor Polarized

Capacitor can be used in a timer circuit by

adding a resistor.
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

Circuit Symbol

Description

Diode
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 is used to emit light when a current is

passed through the device. It is abbreviated
as LED.
LED Circuit Symbol

Zener Diode
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
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

Circuit Symbol

Description

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.
Transistor NPN Circuit Symbol
PNP Transistor

Transistor PNP Circuit Symbol

This is a transistor with a layer of Ndoped semiconductor fixed between two

layers of P-doped semiconductors that act
as the emitter and collector. Abbreviated
as Q.

Phototransistor

Phototransistor Circuit Symbol

Field Effect
Transistor

Field Effect Transistor Circuit

Symbol

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.
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
Metal Oxide
Semiconductor
FET

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.

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.

Given Below
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.

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
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.
d-MOSFET Circuit Symbol

Logic Gates
Gate

Standard Symbol

IEC Symbol

Description

AND
Gate

AND GATE Symbol

AND Gate IEC Symbol

NAND
Gate

NAND Gate Symbol

NAND 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.

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

EXOR
Gate

EX-OR Gate Symbol

EX-OR Gate IEC Symbol

EXNOR
Gate

EX-NOR Gate Symbol

EX-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.

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.

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

Meters

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.

Electronic
Component

Circuit Symbol

Description

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

Circuit Symbol

Description

LDR Circuit Symbol

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.

Light
Dependent
Resistor (LDR)

Thermistor

Thermistor Circuit Symbol

Instead of directly measuring the light, a

thermistor senses the heat content and
converts it into resistance. Abbreviated as
TH.

Switches
Electronic
Component

Circuit Symbol

Description

Push Switch
This is an ordinary switch that passes
current only upon pressing.
Push Switch Circuit Symbol
Push to Break
Switch

Push to Break Switch Circuit

Symbol
Singe Pole
Single Throw
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.

Also known as the ON/OFF switch. This

switch allows the flow of current only when

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

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.

DPDT Circuit Symbol

Relay

Relay Circuit Symbol

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).

Audio and Radio Devices

Electronic
Component

Circuit Symbol

Description

Microphone
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

It is a transducer that converts electrical

energy into sound.

PiezoTransducer Circuit
Symbol
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

Circuit Symbol

Lighting
Lamp

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.

Motor
This device is used to convert electrical energy
into mechanical energy. Can be used as a
generator as well. Abbreviated as M.
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