Otis Singleton
Circuit diagrams are crucial in electrical engineering, as they help electrical engineers understand the flow of electrical energy and the placement of wires and pipes. These diagrams use symbols to represent various electrical components, such as batteries, switches, and lamps. One of the most commonly used symbols in circuit diagramming is the circle, which can represent different components based on additional markings. For instance, a circle with two angled lines extending from it represents a ceiling fan, while a circle with a cross through it represents a bulb. Understanding these symbols is essential for builders and electricians to ensure proper installation and functionality of electrical systems.
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What You'll Learn
Common electrical symbols
Electrical symbols are standardised and universally recognised graphical representations of electrical and electronic components or devices. They are used for drawing schematic diagrams, also known as circuit diagrams, and are especially important for engineers, technicians, and electricians to understand and interpret electrical plans.
Some common electrical symbols include:
- Earth electrodes: Metal plates or other conducting elements of electricity that are partially buried in the earth to provide a reliable path for the fault current to the ground.
- Cells: Devices containing electrodes immersed in an electrolyte, used for generating current or for electrolysis.
- Batteries: Containers consisting of one or more cells, which convert chemical energy into electricity and act as a source of power.
- Resistors: Represented by zigzag lines, these reduce current flow in a circuit.
- Capacitors: Drawn as parallel lines, capacitors store energy in a circuit.
- Amplifiers: Amplifiers are denoted by triangles and increase the output signal in a circuit.
- Switches: A dollar sign ($) or the letter 'S' often represents a switch.
Additionally, curving dashed lines on a floor plan indicate the route of wiring throughout a house, connecting switches and fixtures. Symbols are also used to represent lighting fixtures, with half a circle shaded black to indicate an LED wall washer, and a diagonal slash across a circle or the letter 'R' to indicate a recessed light. Ceiling fans are represented by a circle with two angled lines or three blades extending from it.
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Blueprint symbols
Electrical blueprint symbols are a crucial aspect of any construction project, providing clear instructions for builders and electricians. While the installation of wiring and outlets is the electrician's job, builders should be aware of how these systems operate and where wires and pipes are placed to understand the future homeowner's experience. Here is a detailed guide to some commonly used blueprint symbols:
Circles:
A circle is a versatile symbol used to represent various electrical components. For instance, a circle with two parallel lines connecting it to the wall indicates a typical outlet or receptacle with two sockets. This symbol is often accompanied by abbreviations like GFCI, indicating a ground-fault circuit interrupter with a built-in circuit breaker to prevent electric shocks.
Half of a circle shaded black signifies an LED wall washer, and when paired with the letter "W," it indicates installation in a wet area like a bathroom. A diagonal slash across the circle or the letter "R" next to it designates recessed lighting.
Ceiling Fans:
Ceiling fans are often represented by a circle with two angled lines extending from it, symbolising the fan blades. Alternatively, a circle with three blades extending outward is also used to indicate a ceiling fan. Builders must pay attention to lighting and fan symbols to ensure proper blocking or framing member placement for support.
Switches:
Switches are commonly represented by a symbol resembling a dollar sign with a single vertical bar or simply the letter "S." If no additional notation is present, an "S" alone typically represents a basic, single-pole switch. However, contemporary homes may feature a wide variety of switches.
Wiring:
Curving dashed lines on a floor plan indicate the approximate route of wiring, connecting switches and fixtures. These lines provide builders with an understanding of how switches correspond to lights or other fixtures. The master electrician is responsible for determining the precise placement of wires.
Circuit Components:
When creating circuit diagrams, specific symbols are used to represent various components. Amplifiers are denoted by triangle shapes, capacitors by parallel lines, and resistors by zigzag lines. Electrical engineering students and professionals must be familiar with these shapes as they are universally employed in circuit diagrams.
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Wiring and outlets
Now, let's talk about wiring and outlets in more detail. When wiring an outlet, it's crucial to first check for any obstructions in the area where you'll be running the cable. Decide whether you'll be pulling power from an existing outlet, a new outlet, or directly from the breaker panel. It's important to ensure that adding a new device won't overload the circuit. The simplest approach is often to run cables to the attic, basement, or crawl space near the outlet or switch. Remember to turn off the electricity at the breaker panel before beginning any electrical work.
When it comes to the actual wiring process, there are a few methods you can use. One common practice is to use the screw terminals located on the sides of the device body. Another method is to use stab-in connectors on the back of the outlet, which are faster but not always recommended. To use screw terminals, start by loosening the terminal screws on the old outlet and disconnecting the wires. Typically, there are three wires: a black (hot) wire, a white (neutral) wire, and a green or bare (ground) wire. Inspect these wires for any damage and, if they're intact, use them to connect to the new outlet. If they're damaged, cut the ends off and strip about 3/4 inch of insulation to expose fresh copper.
Form new hooks at the end of the wires using needle-nose pliers or a wire stripper, then connect them to the new outlet. The black or red wire typically goes to the brass-colored screw (hot), the white wire to the silver-colored screw (neutral), and the green or bare wire to the green screw (ground). Wrap the hook around the screw in a clockwise direction and push the outlet back into the electrical box, securing it with screws. Outlets must be grounded, so connect the circuit's ground wire to the device's ground screw.
It's important to note that GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) outlets are slightly different. They have two sets of terminals, one marked LINE and the other marked LOAD. GFCI outlets can provide protection for all downstream devices or just themselves. If you want to protect downstream devices, use both the LINE and LOAD terminals, following the manufacturer's wiring diagram. If protection is only needed for the outlet itself, use only the LINE terminals.
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Circuit diagrams
A circuit diagram is a graphical representation of an electrical circuit. It uses standardized symbolic representations to show the components and interconnections of the circuit. The symbols used in circuit diagrams are outlined in the international standard IEC 61082-1. Circuit diagrams are often drawn with the same standardized title block and frame as other engineering drawings.
There are two main types of circuit diagrams: pictorial circuit diagrams and schematic diagrams. Pictorial circuit diagrams use simple images of components, while schematic diagrams use symbols to represent the components and their interconnections. The presentation of the interconnections between circuit components in a schematic diagram does not necessarily correspond to the physical arrangements in the finished device.
When creating a circuit diagram, it is important to understand the common electrical engineering symbols and what they represent. Here are some of the most commonly used symbols:
- Electric cell: Represented by long and short parallel lines, with the long line indicating the positive terminal and the short line indicating the negative terminal.
- Battery: Consists of multiple electric cells connected together, represented by two or more electric cell symbols arranged in a series.
- Switch: Represented by a line with a gap or break in it. When the switch is closed, the gap is bridged, indicating the flow of current.
- Wire joint: Indicated by a dot or a small solid circle where two or more wires intersect or connect, signifying an electrical connection.
- Light bulb or lamp: Represented by a circle with a cross inside it, signifying the filament or light-emitting part of the bulb.
- Resistor: Represented by a zigzag line, used to limit the flow of electric current in a circuit.
- Variable resistor: Represented by a resistor symbol with an arrow or diagonal line passing through it, indicating that the resistance value can be adjusted.
- Inductor: Represented by a coil-shaped symbol, consisting of several loops or turns of wire.
- Capacitor: Parallel lines that store energy in the system.
- Amplifier: Triangle shapes that increase the output signal in the circuit.
- Transistor: Used to indicate amplification or switches of power. There are three main types: bipolar junction transistors (BJTs), junction gate field-effect transistors (JFETs), and metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs).
- Relay: Forms switches in the electrical circuit. There are four main types of relay symbols: Single Pole Single Throw (SPST), Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT), Double Pole Single Throw (DPST), and Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT).
- Voltmeter: A measuring instrument used to measure voltage, represented by a circle with the letter "V" inside.
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Capacitors, amplifiers, and resistors
In electrical engineering, amplifiers, capacitors, and resistors are fundamental components of circuits. Amplifiers, denoted by triangles in circuit diagrams, increase the output signal in a circuit. Capacitors, represented by parallel lines, store energy in a system, while resistors, depicted as zigzag lines, reduce current flow. These symbols are universal and essential for electrical engineering students to recognize.
Capacitors are two-terminal passive linear devices that store electric charge. They are characterized by their ability to generate electric fields due to voltage differences. In circuits, they are often used alongside resistors to create filters, which shape the response of the circuit by delaying voltage and modifying current. This combination of capacitors and resistors is particularly common in audio amplification applications, where they act as low and high pass filters.
Resistors are another type of passive electronic component with two or more terminals. They are designed to exhibit dominant properties at low frequencies and are crucial for controlling current flow and voltage differences in circuits. The resistance of a resistor is influenced by its length, radius, and surface area, which must be sufficient to dissipate the maximum expected power. Resistors can take various forms, from flat, thermally bonded devices to long wires wound in coils.
Amplifiers play a critical role in increasing the output signal of a circuit. While resistors and capacitors can be used in conjunction with amplifiers, they do not create gain. Instead, active devices like transistors are required to produce gain in amplifier circuits. Understanding the unique roles of amplifiers, capacitors, and resistors is essential for designing and troubleshooting electronic systems.
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