Electrical Symbols - Contacts and Field Devices

The following table provides the IEC and BS Electrical Symbols for contacts. We have included
the Normally Open and Normally Closed status for each contact.

Normally
Normally Open Close
Conta d
ct Conta
(N/O) ct
(N/C)
Change Over or Fused Switch
2 way Open
Conta Cont
ct act
Made position (N/O)

Limit Switch Limit Switch

(N/O) (N/C)

Flow Switch
Flow Switch
(N/C)
(N/O)

Time Delay
Time Delay
Flow Switch
(N/O)
(N/O)
Delay on
Delay on re-
Closing
opening
Thermal
Thermal
Switc
Switc
h
h
-Over
-Over
load
load
(N/C)
(N/O)

Temperature Temperature
Switc Switc
h h
(N/O) (N/O)

Pressure Pressure
Switc Switc
h h
(N/O) (N/C)

Electrical Symbols - Push-buttons and Lamps

The following table provides the commonly used electrical wiring schematic symbols for push-
buttons and lamps which comply with the IEC and BS Electrical Symbols. We have included the
Normally Open and Normally Closed status for each contact.
Normally Open Normally Closed
PB PB
(N/O) (N/C)

Emergency Stop
PB Emergency Stop
(N/O) PB
Indication (N/C)
Contact

Pull Switch Pull Switch

(N/O) (N/C)

Turn/Rotary Turn/Rotary
Switch Switch
(N/O) (N/C)

Lamp Lamp
(Standard) Standard

Lamp
Filament Lamp
(Flashing)

Light Emitting
Bell (Audible)
Diode (LED)

Siren (Audible) Buzzer (Audible)

Electrical Symbols - Coils and Relays

The following table provides the commonly used electrical wiring schematic symbols for coils and
relays which comply with the IEC and BS Electrical Symbols.

General Relay (DC

Contactor Coil
Supply)

Slow Operating Relay

Relay with AC Supply
- Delay On

Slow Release Relay - Mechanically Latched

Delay Off Relay

Electrical Symbols - Connectors

The following table provides the commonly used electrical wiring schematic symbols for
connectors which comply with the IEC and BS Electrical Symbols. These connectors include plug
and socket, coaxial, terminal and earth connectors.

Plug Male Socket (plug female)

Slow Operating
Coax Plug Male
Relay - Delay On

Wire Connections Wire Connections

(Two Wires) (crossed)

Wires Crossing (Not

Terminal Connector
Connected)
Terminal Block Earth Connection

Noiseless Earth Protective Earth

Chassis Earth Equipotentiality

Electrical Symbols - Semi Conductors

The following table provides the commonly used electrical wiring schematic symbols for Semi
Conductors including diodes, capacitors and transistors.

Diode Reverse
Diode
Blocking

Diode Reverse
Zener Diode
Conducting

Light Emitting
Capacitor
Diode (LED)

Transistor (PNP) Transistor (NPN)

Bi-directional
Triode Thyristor Diac
(Triac)

FORMULAS, EQUATIONS & LAWS

Symbolic:
E =VOLTS ~or~ (V = VOLTS)
P =WATTS ~or~ (W = WATTS)
R = OHMS ~or~ (R = RESISTANCE)
I =AMPERES ~or~ (A = AMPERES)
HP = HORSEPOWER
PF = POWER FACTOR
 kW = KILOWATTS
kWh = KILOWATT HOUR
VA = VOLT-AMPERES
kVA = KILOVOLT-AMPERES
C = CAPACITANCE
EFF = EFFICIENCY (expressed as a decimal)

DIRECT CURRENT
AMPS= WATTS÷VOLTS I=P÷E A=W÷V
WATTS= VOLTS x AMPS P=ExI W=VxA
VOLTS= WATTS ÷ AMPS E=P÷I V=W÷A
HORSEPOWER= (V x A x EFF)÷746
EFFICIENCY= (746 x HP)÷(V x A)
AC SINGLE PHASE ~ 1ø
AMPS= WATTS÷(VOLTS x PF) I=P÷(E x PF) A=W÷(V x PF)
WATTS= VOLTS x AMPS x PF P=E x I x PF W=V x A x PF
VOLTS= WATTS÷AMPS E=P÷I V=W÷A
VOLT-AMPS= VOLTS x AMPS VA=E x I VA=V x A
HORSEPOWER= (V x A x EFF x PF)÷746
POWERFACTOR= INPUT WATTS÷(V x A)
EFFICIENCY= (746 x HP)÷(V x A x PF)
AC THREE PHASE ~ 3ø
AMPS= WATTS÷(1.732 x VOLTS x PF) I = P÷(1.732 x E x PF)
WATTS= 1.732 x VOLTS x AMPS x PF P = 1.732 x E x I x PF
VOLTS= WATTS÷AMPS E=P÷I
VOLT-AMPS= 1.732 x VOLTS x AMPS VA=1.732 x E x I
HORSEPOWER= (1.732 x V x A x EFF x PF)÷746
POWERFACTOR= INPUT WATTS÷(1.732 x V x A)
EFFICIENCY= (746 x HP)÷(1.732 x V x A x PF)