Circuit Symbol

What are Circuit Symbols and why are these Schematic Symbols Used?

Circuit symbols are symbols, signs or pictogram of electronic components to represent electrical and electronic components and devices schematic diagram of an electronic circuit. Even though these symbols can be different in different countries, there are some common standards set byIEC and ANSI to represent electronic components.

These electronic circuit symbols are used in circuit diagrams to explain how a circuit is interconnected.

NOTE: The original layout of electronic components is different from the circuit diagram. To build an actual electronic circuit we need different diagram showing the layout of the parts on printed circuit board.

Below are circuit symbols of most common electronic components:

• AC Current Circuit Symbol
  

  AC Current Circuit Symbol
• DC Current Circuit Symbol
  

  DC Current Circuit Symbol
• Capacitor Circuit Symbol
  

  Capacitor Circuit Symbol
• Coil Circuit Symbol
  

  Coil Circuit Symbol
• Crystal Circuit Symbol
  

  Crystal Circuit Symbol
• Resistor Circuit Symbol
  

  Resistor Circuit Symbol
• Diode Circuit Symbol
  

  Diode Circuit Symbol
• LED Circuit Symbol
  

  LED Circuit Symbol
• Transistor Circuit Symbol
  

  Transistor Circuit Symbol
• Fuse Circuit Symbol
  

  Fuse Circuit Symbol
• Regulator Circuit Symbol
  

  Regulator Circuit Symbol

Other Electronic Components Symbols

Circuit Symbols of Electronic Components

Circuit Symbol of Resistor – American-style resistor (a), rheostat (variable resistor) (b), and potentiometer (c), IEC-style resistor

Circuit Symbol of Capacitor – Capacitor, Capacitor, polarized; Capacitor, variable

Circuit Symbol of Transistor – NPN transistor, PNP transistor, n-channel junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET), p-channel junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET), Field-effect transistor

Circuit Symbol of Diode – Diode, Zener diode, Tunnel diode, Schottky diode, Light Emitting Diode (LED), Photodiode, Varicap

Circuit Symbol of Vacuum Tube – Vacuum tube diode, Vacuum tube triode, Vacuum tube tetrode, Vacuum tube pentode

Circuit Symbol of Switch – Switch, Single Pole/Single Throw (SPST), Switch, Single Pole/Double Throw (SPDT), Switch, Double Pole/Double Throw (DPDT)

Circuit Symbols – Single cell, multi-cell battery, Inductor, Transformer with center tap, Silicon-controlled rectifier, Fuse, Phone jack