“C” for capacitors, “R” for resistors, “L” for Inductors, etc.

There are many different types of transformers, but they will all use the letter “T”. There are many different types of transistor symbol graphics, but all transistors will typically be assigned a reference designator that begins with the letter “Q”. For example, if more than one resistor is added to a schematic, they will be labeled with reference designators R1, R2, R3, etc.Įach component in the design will have a unique reference designator.ĭifferent symbols are used for different component types, but keep in mind that different symbol graphics can share the same class designation. These letters are called “class designators”, however, few people use that term because once the components in each class are numbered, it becomes the “reference designator”. The letters BT, S, and DS in the schematic shown above are labels that help identify the component type. Anyone who knows how to interpret the schematic can build the circuit it represents by connecting a battery, a switch and a lamp together with wire or any other form of conductive material. In the schematic shown above, the symbol next to the BT represents a battery, the symbol next to the S represents a switch, and the one next to DS represents a display or a lamp. The building blocks of schematic diagrams are called symbols, which represent a component or function, and the lines between them represent electrical connections. Anyone who understands basic circuit theory can explain the following schematic:Ī very simple schematic diagram, consisting of a battery, a switch, and a lamp. Here is a brief introduction to how schematics work, with some useful tips and guidelines to keep in mind as you design them. Here’s the official definition from IPC-T-50 (Terms and Definitions): Schematics are a universal “language” for recording and sharing electronic ideas. You may have never thought about it, but anyone who understands electronics can look at your schematic and understand your idea, no matter what language they speak! Schematics are drawings or diagrams that are used to communicate electronic ideas to others.

Altium schematic