Looking for schematic symbol reference - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 07:22:56 am
content: Howdy,I've been looking through a couple of schematics as preliminary research before some hacking, but some of the symbols are unfamiliar to me.Can someone recommend a resource with picture -> description -> function translation please?Aaron.

author: dr_p
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 07:44:08 am
content: Google images search "electronic symbols"there is an android app calledElectrodroidthat among others, has a schematic symbols librarybut you can also post some symbols that you don't know and people will advise on those.Cheers!

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 03:05:50 pm
content: Thanks.If it was as easy as a google image search I wouldn't have wasted anybody's time. (Unless I missed a gem in there somewhere, then sorry)I have used electrodroid, and it isn't useless, but it's not what I'm talking about either.Somebody (a bunch of you?) knows a website with a pretty comprehensive list of symbols. Surely?

author: dcel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 03:53:23 pm
content: Post a pic of the schematic so we can see what you are looking for help on.Chris

author: ampdoctor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 07:57:56 pm
content: Quote from: dcel on November 08, 2013, 03:53:23 pmThat would be the best advice. Most schematic symbols are pretty standardized. Opamps, discrete semi's, resistors, capacitors, various gates, etc. In total I would bet there's less than 100 symbols that anybody would ever reasonably have to deal with unless it's a real oddball.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2013, 08:16:46 pm
content: Quote from: ampdoctor on November 08, 2013, 07:57:56 pmYeah, I think you are correct.Code:AntennaBatteryCapacitor, BipolarCapacitor, PolarizedCapacitor, VariableCellCrystalDekatronDIACDiode, Constant CurrentDiode, PNDiode, SchottkyDiode, TunnelDiode, TVSDiode, VaractorDiode, ZenerFuseGas Discharge TubeGate, ANDGate, BufferGate, ORGate, XORGate, "NOT" SymbolInductorLamp, IncandescentLamp, Gas Discharge (Neon)LEDMicrophoneMotorPhotodiodePhototransistorPotentiometerPUTRelayResistorResistor, VariableSCRSpeakerSwitchThermistorThyratronThyristor, GTOTransistor, BJT NPNTransistor, BJT PNPTransistor, BJT NPN SchottkyTransistor, BJT PNP SchottkyTransistor, N-IGBTTransistor, P-IGBTTransistor, N-JFETTransistor, P-JFETTransistor, N-MOSFET DepletionTransistor, N-MOSFET EnhancementTransistor, P-MOSFET DepletionTransistor, P-MOSFET EnhancementTransformerTRIACUJTVacuum Tube, CRTVacuum Tube, DiodeVacuum Tube, KlystronVacuum Tube, Magic EyeVacuum Tube, PentodeVacuum Tube, PhotomultiplierVacuum Tube, TetrodeVacuum Tube, TriodeVaristorThat's 66 and I definitely included some oddballs. Any more?

author: JOERGG
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2013, 01:25:26 am
content: This could be a starting point for youhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_symbolTake also a look at the external links on the bottom of the side.Be aware of, that there are different standards, for the symbols, around the world.

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 09, 2013, 02:31:24 am
content: Quote from: JOERGG on November 09, 2013, 01:25:26 amBetter, but incomplete. Whatisuseful though, are the links to the definitions. With hind sight this should have been the first place I looked.Quote from: dcel on November 08, 2013, 03:53:23 pmI will, but if I just get told I will not learn.

author: Hideki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2013, 03:22:36 am
content: Your problem here isn't really the symbols but the people who drew that schematic (in Eagle). It is possible to make decent looking schematics with that program, but many of the existing symbols are rather bad and/or really weird or based on some odd (or at least less commonly seen) german way of drawing things. Too bad most people don't bother to make their own or mess up badly when they try.The filled in rectangles are supposed to be transformer windings.You will find the same basic schematic on page 13 of the user manual. It looks a whole lot better there, but the symbol for the IGBTs still look wrong.While not the most confusing schematic I have ever seen, it does rank high up on the ugly schematic list.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2013, 03:38:15 am
content: Hmm. It would have taken me a minute to figure out the IGBTs too. Once you realize what they are, it's obvious that they are just weirdly drawn IGBTs, but at a first glance they look more like sideways tea kettles....That's a truly bad schematic. Why do they all seem to be drawn in Eagle?No reference designators, some parts are missing values even (the comparators/drivers/whatever they are, the IGBTs, thesecond power symbol from the leftnever mind - it's the only one, the diodes, the transformers and the fuse). I'm not even 100% sure what the signal/power path is here. How ghastly.

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 09, 2013, 04:05:39 am
content: Quote from: Hideki on November 09, 2013, 03:22:36 amThis is reassuring!You are right. Page 13 of the manual is much clearer. (RTFM) For anyone interested it ishere(Warning:PDF)I was trying to find a more general resource for use in the future though. I was looking at the datasheets for the ICs and they're not straight forward either.