VCAA

Updated January 2013

ELECTRIC AND ELECTRONIC SYMBOLS

Component
group
sources

Component

VCE SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY AND VCE PHYSICS

Recommended symbol

Alternative symbols

Notes

cell

battery,
DC power supply

variable DC power
supply
AC power supply

resistors

VCAA

resistor

Alternative symbol now

regarded as outdated.

variable resistor,
potentiometer,
voltage divider

A variable resistor where

the variation is achieved by
use of a sliding contact.

variable resistor

A general symbol for a

variable resistor where the
means of variation is not
2

Updated January 2012

ELECTRIC AND ELECTRONIC SYMBOLS

Component
group

Component

VCE PHYSICS/VCE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Recommended symbol

Alternative symbols

Notes
specified.

light-dependent
resistor (LDR)

filament globe

thermistor

fuse

capacitors

(non-polarised)
capacitor

variable capacitor

VCAA

MARCH 2007

ELECTRIC AND ELECTRONIC SYMBOLS

Component
group

Component

VCE PHYSICS/VCE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Recommended symbol

Alternative symbols

Notes

polarised capacitor,
electrolytic capacitor

transformers

iron-cored
transformer
(one secondary
winding)
iron-cored
transformer
(one secondary
winding
centre-tapped)
iron-cored
transformer
(two secondary
windings)

diodes

junction diode

Additional alternative
symbols for all diodes
include those where the
single straight-line section
of the symbol is shown as a
heavier line.

Zener diode

VCAA

MARCH 2007

ELECTRIC AND ELECTRONIC SYMBOLS

Component
group

Component

VCE PHYSICS/VCE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Recommended symbol

Alternative symbols

Notes

photo diode

light-emitting diode
(LED)

diode bridge

There are alternative forms

using the other alternative
symbols for the junction
diode given above.

(Note that in an earlier version of

this table, this symbol was
incorrectly represented.)
VCAA

MARCH 2007

ELECTRIC AND ELECTRONIC SYMBOLS

Component
group

VCE PHYSICS/VCE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Component

transistors

Recommended symbol

Alternative symbols

npn transistor
C

Additional alternative
symbols for all transistors
include those where the
vertical straight-line section
of the symbol is shown as a
heavier line.
Both orientations of the
recommended symbol are
used depending on
whether the emitter (E) is at
the bottom or top.

B
E

pnp transistor
C

B
E

E
E
B

E
B
C

n-type junction field

effect D
transistor
G (NJFET)
G
S

D
S

p-type junction field

effect Dtransistor
G
G
(PJFET)
S

integrated
circuits
1
8
2

4 4 5 5

D
S

integrated circuit (IC)

1 1 8 8
2 2 7 7
3 3 6 6

Notes

This example shows an IC

with 8 connections. Others
occur, e.g. 14 and 16.
Under alternative symbols
identifying marks are
shown to indicate the
numbering of the

8
7

VCAA

3
4

MARCH 2007

ELECTRIC AND ELECTRONIC SYMBOLS

Component
group

Component

VCE PHYSICS/VCE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Recommended symbol

Alternative symbols

Notes
connections.
Other conventions show
only the connections used
in a given circuit, here 1, 3,
4, 7 and 8.

switches

single pole, single

throw (SPST) switch

single pole, double

throw (SPDT) switch

double pole, single

throw (DPST) switch

double pole, double

throw (DPDT) switch

normally open
(NO) switch

normally closed
VCAA

MARCH 2007

ELECTRIC AND ELECTRONIC SYMBOLS

Component
group

Component

VCE PHYSICS/VCE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Recommended symbol

Alternative symbols

Notes

(NC) switch

relay

meters
A

ammeter
AA

voltmeter
V

VV

galvanometer

The alternative symbol is

not recommended as it is
sometimes used to indicate
a generator.

VCAA

MARCH 2007

ELECTRIC AND ELECTRONIC SYMBOLS

Component
group

Component

VCE PHYSICS/VCE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Recommended symbol

Alternative symbols

cathode ray
oscilloscope (CRO)
CRO

Neither of these
encountered symbols is
widely used.

CRO

amplifiers

Notes

voltage amplifier

operational amplifier
(op amp)

transducers

On the alternative symbol

the two vertical connections
are shown when it is
connected to the power
supply.

motor

microphone

loudspeaker

VCAA

MARCH 2007

ELECTRIC AND ELECTRONIC SYMBOLS

Component
group

logic gates

Component

VCE PHYSICS/VCE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Recommended symbol

Alternative symbols

Notes

NOT or invert gate

1

OR gate
1

XOR (exclusive OR)

gate
=1

NOR gate
1

AND gate
&

NAND gate
&

VCAA

10

MARCH 2007

ELECTRIC AND ELECTRONIC SYMBOLS

Component
group

flip-flop

Component

VCE PHYSICS/VCE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Recommended symbol

Alternative symbols

Notes

T (toggle) flip-flop
Q

Q
T

T
Q
falling edge
triggered

external
connections

Q
rising edge
triggered

earth

aerial

circuit
connections

non-connected leads

Alternative symbol
regarded as outdated.

connected leads

dot for junction of

VCAA

11

MARCH 2007

ELECTRIC AND ELECTRONIC SYMBOLS

Component
group

Component

VCE PHYSICS/VCE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Recommended symbol

Alternative symbols

Notes

connected leads

VCAA

12

MARCH 2007