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 Home > EE Symbols > Basic Electrical and Electronic Symbols of EE Components &
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Basic Concepts EE Symbols Measuring Instruments

Basic Electrical and Electronic Symbols

of EE Components & Elements
 Electrical Technology 2  7 minutes read

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Important and Basic Electronic and Electrical Engineering

Symbols

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Resistor

Resistor is a passive electrical component that introduces resistance (opposes

the flow of current in it) in a circuit to reduce current, divide voltage or for
biasing other active components.

Inductor

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Inductor is a passive electrical component that stores energy in the form of

magnet field. It is basically an insulated wire wounded in a coil around a core. It
has inductive reactance that increases with the frequency thus they acts as a
short wire for direct current. They are used in frequency filter, chokes,
transformer & motors etc.

Capacitor

Capacitor is a passive electrical component that stores energy in the form of

electric field. It is made from metal plates with dielectric between them. Its
capacitive reactance decreases with frequency thus they block DC while acts
as shorted wire for high frequency signal. Almost every electronic component
incorporate a capacitor is some form. Some applications of capacitors are
filters, wave smoothing, noise filtering etc

Switch

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Switch is an electrical component that is used for breaking or making a circuit.

They are used for stopping the current flow in a circuit or start its conduction.

Changeover Switch

A changeover switch is as type of switch used for changing or directing the

current flow from one terminal to another terminal.

Push-Button

Push buttons are switches that consist of a button which enable us to make or
break the circuit by pressing it with finger. There are different types of push-
button switches e.g. some of them recover back to normal position after release
or after pressing the button again. They are used in many applications
depending on the requirement.

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Male Plug

It is an electrical connector that connects an electrical cord to a female plug to

complete an electrical circuit. it has two or three unshielded pins that inserts
into a socket or female plug of the same design.

Female Plug

The female plug is a connector that has two or three holes instead of pins. The
female plug at the end of an electrical cord is used for connecting it to a
matching male plug by inserting the pins of male plug into it.

Fuse

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Fuse is an electrical safety device that provides protection against overcurrent.

It has thin metal wire that melts due to heat produced by large current & breaks
the electrical connection to stop the current flow.

Electric Line

This symbol represents an electrical conductor such as cables, wires etc. in a

circuit schematics.

Ground

The ground in an electrical circuit represents a common reference point from

where the voltages are measure & it is the return path for all the currents.

Diode

Diode is an active electronic component made up of semiconductor. It is made

of N type & P type semiconductor material forming a PN junction. The junction
allows the current flow in only one direction. They are mainly used for
rectification.

DIAC

The name DIAC is made up of Diode AC switch. it is bi-directional

semiconductor device with the analogy of a two diodes connected in antiparallel
combinations. It can conduct current in both directions when the voltage
increases from its certain breakdown voltage limit. They are mostly used for
triggering the TRIAC by connecting it in series with its gate terminal.

Thyristor

Thyristor or SCR (Silicon controlled rectifier) is a 4 layered PNPN

semiconductor device. It has three terminals Anode, Cathode & Gate. Just like
a diode, It is a unidirectional device but with a gate control input for triggering
the SCR. It starts conduction when the line voltage increases above the forward
breakdown voltage or by applying current to the gate

TRIAC

The name TRIAC is made up of Triode for Alternating Current. it is a modified

version of SCR that can conduct and also control the current flow in both
directions. The gate input is used for triggering the conduction in each direction.
It can switch high AC current & voltages. They are used in dimmer applications
& motor speed control etc.

IC (Integrated Circuit)

It is a symbol of generic IC (integrated circuit). It is a small chip made up of

semiconductor material upon which multiple micro electrical components are
fabricated to perform specific task and reduce size.

Amplifier

Amplifier is an electronic circuit or device used to amplify or increase the

amplitude of a signal. This is a generic symbol for amplifier. There are different
types of amplifier that depends on electrical quantity it can amplify such as
voltage amplifier, current amplifier, power amplifier, radio frequency amplifier
etc.

Transistor

A transistor is a three terminal device made from semiconductor material. It is

used for switching or amplification of weak signals. This symbol represents a
BJT (bi-polar junction transistor) which is current controlled current device.

Vacuum Tube

A vacuum tube or electron tube is a sealed tight tube with vacuum and two
electrodes. There is a heating element between the electrodes that controls the
current flow between the electrodes just like a diode.

AND Gate

These symbols represent AND Gate in different system such as ANSI, IEC &
NEMA. The AND Gate performs the logical inclusive conjunction (True output
only if all True inputs). It provides output of logic “HIGH” only when it’s all inputs
are logic “HIGH” and provides logic “LOW” for any logic “LOW” at input.

OR Gate

ANSI, IEC & NEMA representation for OR Gate respectively. The OR Gate
performs the logical inclusive disjunction (True output for any True input)’.The
output of OR gate is logic “HIGH” when any input is logic “HIGH”. The output
becomes logic “LOW” when all of its inputs are logic “LOW”.

NAND Gate

The NAND Gate is the Inverse of AND gate or “NOT of AND” gate. Its output is
logic “High” for logic “LOW” at any input & it is logic “LOW” when all inputs are
logic “HIGH”.

NOR Gate

NOR Gate is Negative or inverse of OR gate or “NOT of OR” gate. Its output is
logic “HIGH” when all inputs are logic “LOW” & it is logic “LOW” for logic “High”
at any input.

NOT Gate

A NOT Gate also known as logic Inverter, is a single input single output logic
gate. It inverts the input logic. The output is logic “LOW” for input logic “HIGH” &
it is logic “HIGH” for input logic “LOW”.

7 Segment Display

Seven segment displays is made of 7 LEDs in specific pattern. It is used for

displaying decimal numerals and English alphabets. However it can be
designed to display numerous characters

Ammeter

Ammeter or ampere meter is a measurement instrument used to measure the

current flow in a power line. It is connected in series with the line through which
the current need to be measured.

Voltmeter

Voltmeter or voltage meter is also a measurement instrument used for

measuring the voltage between two points on a circuit. it is always connected in
parallel to the points of measurement.

Ohmmeter

Ohm meter or resistance meter is a measurement instrument used for

measuring the resistance of any component. Ohmmeter can be used for
checking connectivity in a wire.

Frequency Meter

A frequency meter is used for measuring the frequency of a periodic signal such
as the frequency of an alternating current in a power line. There are different
types of frequency meters depending on its range.

Wattmeter

A wattmeter is used for measuring the electrical power supplied through a

power line. The unit of electrical power is watt thus the name.

Electric Clock

This symbol represents a clock that is power by electricity in an electrical circuit

schematic.

Electrical Counter

This is the symbol used for a generic counter for counting a specific quantity
such as energy unit counter. The asterisk is replaced with the symbol of that
quantity to represent it.

Recording Instrument

This is a recording or measurement instrument to record a specific quantity and

the asterisk is replaced by the symbol of that quantity.

Antenna

An antenna or aerial is an electrical transducer that converts the electrical

signal into radio frequency & vice versa. An antenna can transmit and receive a
signal.

Speaker

A speaker is an electrical transducer that converts the electrical signal into the
an audio signal that can be heard by listeners (waves).

Microphone

A microphone is a transducer that converts the audio signal into an electrical

signal that can be processed by any electrical circuit.

Light Bulb

A light bulb is an electrical device used to convert the electrical energy into light
energy.

Direct Current

Direct current (DC) is flows of electric charge that does not change its direction.
It is unidirectional that flows in a single direction. A battery or a solar cell is a
prime source of direct current.

Alternating Current

Alternating current (AC) is the flow of electric charge that changes its directions
periodically. AC current is used in power transmission over long distance.

Positive Polarity

The plus sign in an electrical circuit schematic shows the positive terminal of
potential. The positive terminal is at higher potential than the negative
(reference) terminal.

Negative Polarity

The minus sign represents the negative terminal of a potential where the
potential is relatively low as compared to the positive terminal. A battery has
both positive & negative terminal.

Piezoelectric Crystal

Piezoelectric crystal is a quartz crystal that produces electrical pulses known as

clock signal when connected with an oscillator circuit.

Relay

A relay is an electrical switch that has a set of control terminal & contact
terminals. The control temrinals is operated by a single or multiple control
signals to switch the contact terminals. They are used for switching relatively
high power circuits using low power signals.

Transformer

A transformer is a stationary electrical machine that transfers the electrical

energy between two circuit with increasing or decreasing the levels of voltage
and current keeping the frequency constant.

Electric Motor

This is a generic symbol used for electrical motors in any electrical schematic
designs. A motor is an electrical machine that converts electrical energy into
mechanical energy.
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