Electronic symbol
Electronic symbols are graphical representations used to depict electronic components, devices, and circuits in circuit diagrams and schematics. These symbols help engineers, technicians, and hobbyists communicate and understand the design and functionality of electronic circuits. Electronic symbols should be intuitive, allowing users to grasp their meaning at a glance. It's essential to understand these symbols when reading or creating circuit diagrams to design and troubleshoot electronic circuits.
A reference designator is a component label on a schematic diagram to identify and differentiate between components. It usually consists of a letter indicating the type of component (e.g., "R" for resistor, "C" for capacitor, "D" for diode) followed by a unique number, such as "R1," "C2," or "D3".
The symbols are standardized, and various organizations, such as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), provide guidelines for their use. The standards are not always strictly adhered to.
Examples of electronic symbols
The following is a selection of some of the most common symbols.
| Component | Reference designator | Unit | Symbol | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resistor, IEEE and IEC style | R | Ohm |  |
|
| Potentiometer, IEEE and IEC style | RV | Ohm |  |
|
| Trimmer resistor, IEC style | RT | Ohm |  | |
| Capacitor | C | Farad |  | |
| Polarised capacitor | C | Farad |  | |
| Variable capacitor | CV | Farad | .svg) | |
| Trimmer capacitor | CT | Farad | .svg) | |
| Inductor | L | Henry |  | |
| Magnetic core inductor | L | Henry |  | |
| Transformer with two secondary windings | T | — |  | |
| Quartz crystal | X or XTAL | Herz |  | |
| Diode | D | — |  |
 |
| Schottky diode | D or SD | — |  |
 |
| Zener diode | Z or D | — |  |
 |
| Varactor diode | VD or D | — |  |
 |
| LED | D or LED | — |  |
 |
| NPN bipolar junction transistor | Q | — | .svg) |
 |
| PNP bipolar junction transistor | Q | — | .svg) |
 |
| N-channel JFET | Q | — |  | |
| P-channel JFET | Q | — |  | |
| Operational Amplifier | U (for any IC) | — |  | |
| Microphone, IEEE and IEC style | MIC | Ohm |  |
 |
| Loudspeaker | LS or SPKR | Ohm |  | |
| Single cell and battery | B or BAT | Volt |  |
 |
| Incandescent light bulb | L or FIL | Watt |  | |
| Voltmeter and ammeter | V and A |  |
 | |
| Push-to-make switch, push-to break switch, IEEE style | SW (with type) | — |  |
 |
| SPST and SPDT switch | SW (with type) | — |  |
 |
| DPST and DPDT switch | SW (with type) | — |  |
 |
| DPST and DPDT relay | K (with type) | — |  |
 |
| TS and TRS jack socket | TS and TRS | — |  |
 |
| DC barrel connector, positive tip | J | — |  | |
| Voltage source and current source | V and I | — |  |
 |
| Fuse, IEEE and IEC style | F | Amp |  |
 |
| Antenna | A | — |  | |
| Earth | GND or EARTH | — |  | |
| Chassis ground | GND or CHASSIS | — |  | |
| Wires crossing and junction | — | — |  |
 |
External links
- Electronic symbol, Wikipedia
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