Use of Electrical Symbols to Design Circuits

Understanding Electrical Symbols

Cell: It’s a source of electrical energy with a positive (+) and a negative (-) terminal. A single cell is often referred to as a battery, but technically a battery is two or more cells joined together.
Battery: This is a combination of two or more cells.
Switches: Switches can either be open (not passing current) or closed (passing current).
Lamp: This represents the output device in your circuit which are usually light bulbs.
Resistor: A resistor limits the flow of electric current. It could be a specific component like a lamp or a motor, or a standalone resistor used to control current.
Capacitor: Stores electrical charge and releases it when needed.
Diode: This allows current to flow in one direction only.
LED (Light Emitting Diode): A specific type of diode that emits light when current passes through it.
Transistor: Acts as a switch controlled by electric signal. Common in amplifying circuits.
Fuse: Designed to melt and ‘break’ the circuit if the current flowing through it is too high, providing safety.

Series Circuits: Components are connected end-to-end, so there’s only one path for the current to take.
Parallel Circuits: Components are connected side by side, providing multiple paths for the current.

Symbols are a universal language. They allow anyone who understands circuitry to interpret represented circuits.
This helps in troubleshooting and fixing electrical problems.

When drawing circuits, lines represent wires while symbols represent components.
The layout of drawn circuits can help in identifying a problem in the circuit.
Drawings must be neat and organized, making sure that the layout is logical.
Always use a ruler for drawing straight lines.

Understanding the symbols and the rules for drawing circuits is crucial for both circuit design and troubleshooting.