ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS AND SYMBOLS
Supplies electrical energy.
WIRE AND CONNECTIONS
COMPONENT CIRCUIT SYMBOL FUNCTION
To pass current very easily
Wire from one part of a circuit to
another.
A 'blob' should be drawn
where wires are connected
(joined), but it is sometimes
omitted. Wires connected at
Wires joined
'crossroads' should be
staggered slightly to form two
T-junctions, as shown on the
right.
In complex diagrams it is
often necessary to draw
wires crossing even though
they are not connected. I
Wires not prefer the 'bridge' symbol
joined shown on the right because
the simple crossing on the
left may be misread as a join
where you have forgotten to
add a 'blob'!
POWER SUPPLIES
OUTPUT DEVICES: LAMPS, HEATER, MOTOR, ETC.
COMPONENT CIRCUIT SYMBOL FUNCTION
COMPONENT
Supplies electrical energy.
Cell The larger terminal (on the
left) is positive (+).
Supplies electrical energy. A
battery is more than one cell.
Battery
The larger terminal (on the
left) is positive (+).
DC Supply
DC = Direct Current, always
flowing in one direction.
Supplies electrical energy.
AC = Alternating Current,
AC Supply
continually changing
direction.
A safety device which will
'blow' (melt) if the current
Fuse
flowing through it exceeds a
specified value.
Two coils of wire linked by an
iron core. Transformers are
used to step up (increase)
and step down (decrease)
Transformer AC voltages. Energy is
transferred between the coils
by the magnetic field in the
core. There is no electrical
connection between the coils.
A connection to earth. For
many electronic circuits this
is the 0V (zero volts) of the
Earth power supply, but for mains
(Ground) electricity and some radio
circuits it really means the
earth. It is also known as
ground.
CIRCUIT
FUNCTION
SYMBOL
A transducer which converts
electrical energy to light. This
Lamp symbol is used for a lamp
(lighting) providing illumination, for
example a car headlamp or
torch bulb.
 A transducer which converts
electrical energy to light. This
Lamp symbol is used for a lamp
(indicator) which is an indicator, for
example a warning light on a
car dashboard.
A transducer which converts
Heater
electrical energy to heat.
A transducer which converts
Motor electrical energy to kinetic
energy (motion).
A transducer which converts
Bell
electrical energy to sound.
A transducer which converts
Buzzer
electrical energy to sound.
A coil of wire which creates a
magnetic field when current
passes through it. It may
Inductor have an iron core inside the
(Coil, coil. It can be used as a
Solenoid) transducer converting
electrical energy to
mechanical energy by pulling
on something.
SWITCHES
COMPONENT CIRCUIT SYMBOL FUNCTION
A push switch allows current
Push Switch
to flow only when the button
(push-to-
is pressed. This is the switch
make)
used to operate a doorbell.
This type of push switch is
Push-to-Break normally closed (on), it is
Switch open (off) only when the
button is pressed.
SPST = Single Pole, Single
Throw.
On-Off Switch
An on-off switch allows
(SPST)
current to flow only when it is
in the closed (on) position.
SPDT = Single Pole, Double
Throw.
A 2-way changeover switch
directs the flow of current to
2-way Switch
one of two routes according
(SPDT)
to its position. Some SPDT
switches have a central off
position and are described
as 'on-off-on'.
DPST = Double Pole, Single
Throw.
Dual On-Off A dual on-off switch which is
Switch often used to switch mains
(DPST) electricity because it can
isolate both the live and
neutral connections.
DPDT = Double Pole,
Double Throw.
Reversing
This switch can be wired up
Switch
as a reversing switch for a
(DPDT)
motor. Some DPDT switches
have a central off position.
An electrically operated
switch, for example a 9V
battery circuit connected to
the coil can switch a 230V
Relay
AC mains circuit.
NO = Normally Open, COM
= Common,
NC = Normally Closed.
RESISTORS A capacitor stores electric
charge. A capacitor is used
COMPONENT CIRCUIT SYMBOL FUNCTION with a resistor in a timing
Capacitor
A resistor restricts the flow of circuit. It can also be used as
current, for example to limit a filter, to block DC signals
the current passing through but pass AC signals.
Resistor A capacitor stores electric
an LED. A resistor is used
with a capacitor in a timing charge. This type must be
circuit. connected the correct way
This type of variable resistor Capacitor round. A capacitor is used
with 2 contacts (a rheostat) is polarised with a resistor in a timing
usually used to control circuit. It can also be used as
Variable current. Examples include: a filter, to block DC signals
Resistor adjusting lamp brightness, but pass AC signals.
(Rheostat) adjusting motor speed, and Variable A variable capacitor is used
adjusting the rate of flow of Capacitor in a radio tuner.
charge into a capacitor in a
timing circuit. This type of variable
This type of variable resistor capacitor (a trimmer is
with 3 contacts (a operated with a small
potentiometer) is usually Trimmer screwdriver or similar tool. It
Variable
used to control voltage. It can Capacitor is designed to be set when
Resistor
be used like this as a the circuit is made and then
(Potentiometer
transducer converting left without further
)
position (angle of the control adjustment.
spindle) to an electrical
signal. DIODES
This type of variable resistor CIRCUIT
(a preset) is operated with a COMPONENT FUNCTION
SYMBOL
small screwdriver or similar
tool. It is designed to be set A device which only allows
Variable when the circuit is made and Diode current to flow in one
Resistor then left without further direction.
(Preset) adjustment. Presets are LED
cheaper than normal variable A transducer which converts
(Light Emitting
resistors so they are often electrical energy to light.
Diode)
used in projects to reduce the
cost.
 A special diode which is
Zener Diode used to maintain a fixed
voltage across its terminals.
Photodiode A light-sensitive diode.
TRANSISTORS
COMPONENT CIRCUIT SYMBOL FUNCTION
A transistor amplifies current.
Transistor It can be used with other
NPN components to make an
amplifier or switching circuit.
A transistor amplifies current.
Transistor It can be used with other
PNP components to make an
amplifier or switching circuit.
Phototransistor A light-sensitive transistor.
Piezo A transducer which converts
Transducer electrical energy to sound.
An amplifier circuit with one
Amplifier input. Really it is a block
(general diagram symbol because it
symbol) represents a circuit rather
than just one component.
A device which is designed
Aerial to receive or transmit radio
(Antenna) signals. It is also known as
an antenna.
METERS AND OSCILLOSCOPE
COMPONENT CIRCUIT SYMBOL FUNCTION
A voltmeter is used to
measure voltage. The proper
Voltmeter name for voltage is 'potential
difference', but most people
prefer to say voltage!

An ammeter is used to
Ammeter
measure current.
AUDIO AND RADIO DEVICES
CIRCUIT A galvanometer is a very
COMPONENT FUNCTION sensitive meter which is
SYMBOL
Galvanometer used to measure tiny
A transducer which converts currents, usually 1mA or
Microphone less.
sound to electrical energy.
An ohmmeter is used to
measure resistance. Most
A transducer which converts Ohmmeter
Earphone multimeters have an
electrical energy to sound. ohmmeter setting.
An oscilloscope is used to
display the shape of
A transducer which converts Oscilloscope electrical signals and it can
Loudspeaker
electrical energy to sound. be used to measure their
voltage and time period.
SENSORS (INPUT DEVICES)
COMPONENT CIRCUIT SYMBOL FUNCTION
A transducer which converts
brightness (light to
resistance (an electrical
LDR
property).
LDR = Light Dependent
Resistor
A transducer which converts
temperature (heat) to
Thermistor
resistance (an electrical
property).