ELECTRONIC SYMBOLS

GRADE 10 STE
WIRES
Wires
Represents a conductor that
conducts electrical current. Also
called a power line or electric
line or wire.

Connected Wires
Represents the connection of
two conductors. Dot shows the
junction point.

Unconnected Wires
Represents two unconnected
wires/conductors.

Terminal
Represents start or end point.

SWITCHES
Push Button (Normally Open)
This switch is in ON state when
the button is pressed otherwise
it is in OFF state.

Push Button (Normally Closed)

This switch is initially in ON
state. This goes to OFF state
when it is released.

SPST Switch
Single pole single throw is
abbreviated as SPST. This acts as
ON/OFF switch. Poles define
the number of circuits it can be
connected to and throws
defines the number of positions
that a pole connects.
SPDT Switch
Single pole double throw is
abbreviated as SPDT. This switch
allows the current to flow in any
one of the two directions by
adjusting its position.
DPST Switch
Double pole single throw is
abbreviated as DPST. This switch
can drive two circuits at a time.
 DPDT Switch
Double pole double throw is the
full form of DPDT. This can
connect the four circuits by
changing the position.

SOURCES
AC Supply
This represents AC supply in the
circuit.

DC Supply
This represents the DC power
supply. It applies DC supply to
the circuit.

Constant Current Source

The symbol represents an
independent current source
which delivers constant current.

Controlled current Source

It is a dependent current
source. Usually depends on
other sources (voltage or
current).
 Controlled Voltage Source
It is a dependent voltage
source. Usually depends on
other sources (voltage or
current).

Single Cell Battery

This provides supply to the
circuit.

Multi Cell Battery

Combination of multiple single
cell batteries or a single large
cell battery. The voltage is
usually higher.

GROUND SYMBOLS
Ground
It is equivalent to theoretical 0V
and is used as zero potential
reference. It is the potential of
perfectly conducting earth.

Signal Ground
It is a reference point from
which the signal is measured.
There may be several signal
grounds in a circuit due to the
voltage drops in a circuit.
 Chassis Ground
It acts as a barrier between user
and the circuit and prevents
electric shock.

RESISTORS
Fixed Resistor
It is a device that opposes the
flow of current in a circuit.
These two symbols are used to
represent fixed resistor.

Thermistor
It is a temperature sensitive
resistor. They are used in
temperature sensing, current
limiting circuits, over-current
protection circuits etc.

LDR
They are also called as Photo
Resistors. The resistance of LDR
varies with the intensity of the
light incident on it. They are
generally used in light sensing
applications.
CAPACITOR
Non-Polarized Capacitor
Capacitor stores the charge in
the form of electrical energy.
These two symbols are used for
non-polarized capacitor. Non-
polarized capacitors are big in
size with small capacitance.
They can be used in both AC
and DC circuits.
Polarized Capacitor
Polarized capacitors are small in
size but have high capacitance.
They are used in DC circuits.
They can be used as filters, for
bypassing or passing low
frequency signals.

Electrolytic Capacitor
Almost all electrolytic
capacitors are polarized and
hence used in DC circuits
 Variable Capacitor
The capacitance of the variable
capacitor can be adjusted by
turning the knob. They are
widely used to adjust the
frequency, that is for tuning.

INDUCTORS
Iron Core Inductor
These are used as substitutes to
ferrite core inductors. Ferrite core or
Ferromagnetic inductors have high
permeability and require air gap to
reduce it. Iron powdered core
inductors have this air gap
integrated.

Ferrite Core Inductors

Core material, in this type of
inductors is made of ferrite
material. These are mostly used to
suppress the interference of
electromagnetic waves.

Variable Inductors
Movable ferrite magnetic core
variable inductors are most
common. The inductance is varied
by sliding the core in or out of the
coil.
 DIODES
Junction Diode
A junction diode allows the current
to flow only in forward bias
condition. These diodes can be
used in clipping and clamping
circuits, as rectifiers in dc circuits
etc.

Zener Diode
In forward bias condition, it acts as
normal diode and allows current. It
also allows current to flow in
reverse bias condition when the
voltage reaches a certain break-
down point. Generally used in
voltage regulator and over voltage
protection circuits.
Photodiode
Photodiode detects the light energy
and converts it into current or
voltage by a mechanism called
photoelectric effect. These are used
in CD players , Cameras etc.

LED
Light emitting diode is similar to PN
junction diode but they emit energy
in the form of light instead of heat.
These are mostly used in indication,
lightening applications.

TRANSISTOR
NPN (Negative-Positive-Negative)
It is made of combination of P-type
semiconductor between two N-type
semiconductors. It is switched ON
when the base-emitter junction is
forward biased. They are commonly
used for amplifying and switching
applications.
 PNP (Positive-Negative-Positive)
It is made of combination of N-type
semiconductor between two P-type
semiconductors. It is switched ON
when the base-emitter junction is
reverse biased. These are used for
amplifying and switching
applications.

AMPLIFIERS
Basic Amplifier
An amplifier is a device that
amplifies a relatively small input
signal i.e. it increases the power of
the signal. They are used in
communication systems, audio
devices etc.

Operational Amplifier
Operational Amplifier (Op Amp) is a
voltage amplifier with very high gain.
The input is differential. They are
used in instrumentation devices,
signal processing, control systems
etc.

ANTENNA
Antenna
This symbol belongs to Aerial or
Antenna. It converts electrical
power into radio waves. It is used in
wireless communication to transmit
or receive the signals.

Loop Antenna
Loop antenna is named after its
loop like shape of wire or another
electrical conductor. They are used
as receiving antennas in low
frequency range.
 Dipole Antenna
It is most widely used antenna.
Generally used in set-top TV,
shortwave transmission and FM
receivers

TRANSFORMER
Transformer
Transformer is the basic element
that transfers energy in one circuit
to the other circuit through
electromagnetic induction. They are
generally used in electric power
applications to increase or decrease
the voltage of AC current.

Iron Core
Uses a piece of magnetic material
as core. Generally, Ferro magnetic
metals like iron are used. The core
has high permeability and is used
to confine the magnetic field.

Center Tapped
The center tapped transformer has
its secondary winding divided into
two parts with same number of
turns in each part. This results in
two individual output voltages
across two-line ends. Used in
rectifier circuits.
Step Up Transformer
The no. of turns in secondary
winding is more than that of
primary winding. The output
voltage is higher than input
voltage. Significantly used in
inverters.
 Step Down Transformer
The no. of turns in secondary
winding is less than that of primary
winding. The output voltage is
lesser than input voltage. It is
widely used in low power
applications.

MISCELLANEOUS
Buzzer
This is sound producing device. This
produces buzz sound when the
voltage is applied.

Loud Speaker
This is also an audio device. The
electrical signal is converted into
sound signal here.

Light Bulb
The symbol represents the light
bulb. The bulb glows when required
voltage is applied.

Motor
This converts the electric energy to
mechanical energy.
Fuse
Symbol represents the fuse that
protects the circuit from over
current.

Crystal Oscillator
Used to generate clock signal of
very precise frequency.