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Common Electrical Symbols
This is not a definitive list of all symbols used in electrical identification, but merely a
guide to some of the more commonly used symbols. Due to the number of variants
used, there may have several symbols in this reference chart for the same type of
equipment - these can vary dependent upon drawing package used. It is important to
note that exact reference should always be sought from drawing producer to avoid
errors.
Location Symbols for General Installations
Machine, general symbol
* function etc
Load, general symbol
* details
Motor starter, general symbol
* Indicates type etc.
Socket-outlet, general symbol
Twin Socket-outlet, general symbol
1 gang un switched socket-outlet
2 gang un switched socket-outlet
1 gang switched socket-outlet
1 gang switched socket-outlet
Units 1-6 Ambrose Buildings, Broombank Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 9QJ
VAT Reg: 598 6371 75 Company Reg: 3191383
Location Symbols for General Installations
2 gang switched socket-outlet
2 gang switched socket-outlet
Connection unit – fused as specified
Switched connection unit – fused as specified
Switch, general symbol
Switch, general symbol double pole
1 gang 1 way switch
1 gang 2 way switch
2 way switch, single pole
2 gang switch
3 gang switch
Units 1-6 Ambrose Buildings, Broombank Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 9QJ
VAT Reg: 598 6371 75 Company Reg: 3191383
Location Symbols for General Installations
Dimmer switch
Intermediate switch
Intermediate switch
Pull switch, single-pole
Push button
Push button with neon indicator
Clock, general symbol
Time switch
Time clock
Key operated switch
Cooker control unit
Units 1-6 Ambrose Buildings, Broombank Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 9QJ
VAT Reg: 598 6371 75 Company Reg: 3191383
Location Symbols for General Installations
Thermostat
Bell (Audible)
Buzzer (Audible)
Siren (Audible)
Horn
Telephone handset, general symbol
Lamp (Standard)
Lamp Standard
Filament Lamp
Lamp (Flashing)
Lighting outlet position - general symbol
Units 1-6 Ambrose Buildings, Broombank Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 9QJ
VAT Reg: 598 6371 75 Company Reg: 3191383
Location Symbols for General Installations
Fluorescent luminaire
(rows indicate number of tubes)
Wall mounted luminaire
Self - contained emergency lighting luminaire
Emergency lighting luminaire (or special
circuit)
Spot light
Flood light
Wall mounted fitting
Socket outlet (power) with isolating
transformer – eg shaver outlet
Water heater
Extract fan
Units 1-6 Ambrose Buildings, Broombank Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 9QJ
VAT Reg: 598 6371 75 Company Reg: 3191383
Location Symbols for General Installations
Projector general symbol
Distribution board or consumer unit
Connection or junction box
Socket Outlet
(telecommunications)
General Symbols
Designated as follows:
TP - Telephone
M - Microphone
FM - Frequency Modulation
TV - Television
TX - Telex
- Loudspeaker
Units 1-6 Ambrose Buildings, Broombank Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 9QJ
VAT Reg: 598 6371 75 Company Reg: 3191383
Common Schematic Drawing Symbols
Switch
Switch- fuse
Fuse-switch
Isolator (Disconnector), general symbol
Disconnector - fuse (fuse combination unit)
Fuse - disconnector
Switch - disconnector
Switch - disconnector - fuse (fuse
combination unit)
Fuse - switch - disconnector
Capacitor, general symbol
Inductor, coil, winding or choke
Inductor, coil, winding or choke with
magnetic core
Semi Conductor Diode - general symbol
Units 1-6 Ambrose Buildings, Broombank Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 9QJ
VAT Reg: 598 6371 75 Company Reg: 3191383
Common Schematic Drawing Symbols
Microphone
Loudspeaker
Antenna, general symbol
Machine, general symbol
* Function M=Motor G=Generator
Generator, general symbol
Indicating instrument, general symbol
* function V = Voltmeter A = Ammeter etc.
Integrating instrument or Energy meter
* function Wh = Watt-hour
VArh = Volt ampere reactive hour
Lamp, or signal lamp, general symbol
Light Emitting Diode (LED)
Units 1-6 Ambrose Buildings, Broombank Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 9QJ
VAT Reg: 598 6371 75 Company Reg: 3191383
Common Schematic Drawing Symbols
Plug Male Socket (plug female)
Coax Plug Slow Operating Relay -
Male Delay On
Wire
Wire Connections
Connections
(crossed)
(Two Wires)
Wires
Crossing (Not Terminal Connector
Connected)
Terminal
Earth Connection
Block
Noiseless
Protective Earth
Earth
Chassis Earth Equipotentiality
Ammeter
Voltmeter
Selector Switch
Circuit (N/O) Normally Open
Breaker (N/C) Normally Closed
Contactor
Contactor
(N/O)
(N/C)
Units 1-6 Ambrose Buildings, Broombank Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 9QJ
VAT Reg: 598 6371 75 Company Reg: 3191383
Common Schematic Drawing Symbols
Limit Switch Thermal Overcurrent
Mechanical
Voltage Transformer
Interlock
Potentiometer Solenoid Valve
Normally open Normally Closed
Contact Contact
(N/O) (N/C)
Change Over or Fused Switch Open
2 way Contact Contact
Made position (N/O)
Limit Switch Limit Switch
(N/O) (N/C)
Flow Switch Flow Switch
(N/O) (N/C)
Time Delay
Time Delay
(N/O)
(N/O)
Delay on
Delay on re-opening
Closing
Thermal Switch - Thermal Switch -
Overload Overload
(N/O) (N/C)
Temperature
Temperature Switch
Switch
(N/C)
(N/O)
Pressure Switch Pressure Switch
(N/O) (N/C)
Units 1-6 Ambrose Buildings, Broombank Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 9QJ
VAT Reg: 598 6371 75 Company Reg: 3191383
Common Schematic Drawing Symbols
Normally Open PB
(N/O)
Normally Closed PB
(N/C)
Emergency Stop PB
(N/O)
Indication Contact
Emergency Stop PB
(N/C)
Pull Switch
(N/O)
Pull Switch
(N/C)
Turn/Rotary Switch
(N/O)
Turn/Rotary Switch
(N/C)
Contractor Coil
Relay with AC Supply
Slow Release Relay
Delay Off
General Relay
(DC Supply)
Units 1-6 Ambrose Buildings, Broombank Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 9QJ
VAT Reg: 598 6371 75 Company Reg: 3191383
Common Schematic Drawing Symbols
Slow Operating Relay
Delay On
Mechanically Latched Relay
Diode
Diode Reverse Conducting
Diode Reverse Blocking
Zener Diode
Transistor
(PNP)
Transistor (NPN)
Light Emitting Diode (LED)
Capacitor
Bidirectional Triode Thyristor (Triac)
Units 1-6 Ambrose Buildings, Broombank Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 9QJ
VAT Reg: 598 6371 75 Company Reg: 3191383
Common Schematic Drawing Symbols
Diac
Three-phase winding - Star
Changer, general symbol
Converter, general symbol
Notes:
(1) If the direction of change is not obvious, it
may be indicated by an arrowhead on the
outline of the symbol.
(2) A symbol or legend indicating the input or
output quantity, waveform etc. may be inserted
in each half of the general symbol to show the
nature of change.
Rectifier
Inverter
Primary cell - longer line positive, shorter line
negative
Battery
Fuse link, rated current in amperes
This is not a definitive list of all symbols used in electrical identification, but merely a
guide to some of the more commonly used symbols. Due to the number of variants
used, there may have several symbols in this reference chart for the same type of
equipment - these can vary dependent upon drawing package used. It is important to
note that exact reference should always be sought from drawing producer to avoid
errors.
Units 1-6 Ambrose Buildings, Broombank Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 9QJ
VAT Reg: 598 6371 75 Company Reg: 3191383
