How to Make a Schematic Diagram

All electronic circuits can be expressed as a schematic diagram.

Learning how to draw electrical schematics diagrams can be difficult, especially if you aren't sure what the various symbols represent. Any electrical circuit can be expressed through a schematics diagram, and they enable electricians and users to troubleshoot a circuit theoretically before they go into the actual circuit. There are different symbols in schematics diagrams for the various components, such as conductors, resistors, capacitors and batteries. Learning how to express these and other components of a circuit is the best way to learn how to make a schematics diagram.

Instructions

1. Draw all wires as straight lines. Technically, a wire is referred to as a "conductor," and these are shown by straight lines, which usually connect components to one another. Draw a dot at the connection point on the diagram if two wires connect to each other. Draw one wire arching over the other if the wires cross but do not connect. Use wires to link one part of your circuit to another.

2. Add in the battery symbol where needed. Batteries are shown by four alternating long and short lines which run parallel to each other, with a short line at one end and a long one at the other. Draw the symbol so the short outer line is at the same side as the negative end of the battery. Draw direct current -- DC power -- symbols as two circles with a space between them. Label the circles "+" and "-" to show the positive and negative sides of the power supply. The alternating current symbol is similar, but with a "~" symbol between the circles, and no labels for positive and negative charges.

3. Place the resistor symbol where required on the diagram. The old resistor symbol is simply a jagged line, and many people still use this symbol on schematics diagrams. The new resistor symbol is a rectangle. Either of these symbols is acceptable to use, because the old symbol has survived through various publications.

4. Draw switches in where required. The basic symbol for a switch is two circles with a line coming from one of them at a 30-degree angle. The diagonal line represents a conductor that is not connecting with the remainder of the circuit. This break in the circuit, encased in two circles, is used to show a switch.

5. Learn the symbols for the other components your circuit needs. There are many different symbols used in schematic diagrams, and it would be difficult to commit them all to memory straight away. Just learn the ones you need for your diagram. For example, a heater is shown by a long rectangle split up into four equal squares, and an indicator light is shown by a circle with a cross inside it.

References

• Think Quest: Schematic Diagrams
• Think Quest: Resistors

Resources

• The Electronics Club: Circuit Symbols