scope:

This American National Standard is a revision and expansion of American National Standard Graphic Symbols for Electrical and Electronics Diagrams, Y32.2-1970 (IEEE Std 315-1971).

A variety of specialized symbols originally used for aircraft applications have been added to make this standard more comprehensive. To improve coordination with IEC publication 117, IEC approved versions of capacitor, transformer, delay, associated conductors and specialized ground symbols have been added as alternates to those long used and standardized in the United States. A number of small changes have made the existing material more closely parallel to IEC Publication 117. Symbols have been added to cover additional devices in the photo sensitive semiconductor and specialized semiconductor fields, as well as for an electronic flash lamp. Known errors have been corrected and some items have been clarified.

The reference designation class letters were revised to include the added new device symbols and to clarify the DS and LS categories. "D" is now listed as an alternate to the common "CR" for the common semiconductor diode family of devices.

All of the symbols are designed so that their connection points fall on a modular grid. This should help those who use a grid basis for the preparation of diagrams. By proper enlargement of the symbols the usual coordinate-grid sizes can be matched. Most symbols appearing in this standard were reproduced form original drawings prepared for the Mergenthaler Diagrammer.

A substantial effort has been made to have this American National Standard compatible with approved International Electronical Commission (IEC) Recommendations (IEC Publication 117, in various parts). Electrical diagrams are a factor in international trade; the use of one common symbol language ensures a clear presentation and economical diagram preparation for a variety of users. Members of the preparing committee have been active in transmitting USA viewpoints to the cognizant IEC Technical Committee.

Alternative symbols are shown only in those cases where agreement on a common symbol could not be attained at this time. It is hoped that the number of alternative symbols will be reduced in future editions.

The symbols in this standard represent the best consensus that can be attained at this time. Standardization, however, must be dynamic, not static, and any solution of a problem should be tested through use and revised if necessary. It is anticipated that the contents of this standard will be modified as future needs dictate; such modifications will be made available through the issuance of approved supplements. Suggestions for improvement are welcomed. They should be addressed to:

Secretary, IEEE Standards Board

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

345 East 47 Street

New York, N.Y. 10017

This standard has been prepared by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standards Coordinating Committee for Letter and Graphic Symbols (SCC 11), acting for the Y32.2 Task Group on Graphic Symbols for Electrical and Electronics Diagrams of the American National Standards Committee Y32, Graphic Symbols and Designations. There has been close cooperation between the industry and DOD representatives to provide one standard that can be universally used, rather than separate documents with their tendency to differ in various respects. While credit for this accomplishment is due all participants and the organizations they represent, particular mention is given to the U.S. Department of Defense, without whose strong support in reaching the objective-standard symbols acceptable to both industry and the military departments-the effort would not have succeeded.

This standard is complemented by a number of related standards listed in Section 23.

This standard provides a list of graphic symbols and class designation letters for use on electrical and electronics diagrams.

Graphic symbols for electrical engineering are a shorthand used to show graphically the functioning or interconnections of a circuit. A graphic symbol represents the function of a part in the circuit.¹ Graphic symbols are used on single-line (one-line) diagrams, on schematic or elementary diagrams, or, as applicable, on connection or wiring diagrams. Graphic symbols are correlated with parts lists, descriptions, or instructions by means of designations.

The class designation letter portion of a reference designation is for the purpose of identifying an item by category or class, using a class letter as defined in Section 22 of this standard. The assignment of the reference designation should be in accordance with American National Standard Reference Designations for Electrical and Electronics Parts and Equipment, Y32.16-1975 (IEEE Std 200-1975).