Product Data

A Global Reference Guide for

Reading Schematic Diagrams

General. With the increasing emphasis on globalization, many industries are

now looking to all parts of the world to produce, market and sell their
products. Electrical manufacturers are no exception. Since the electrical
standards adopted by various nations may vary, the markings and symbols
used to describe electrical control products can also vary. Whether it is a
complex control system on a machine tool or a simple across-the-line motor
starter, the need to recognize and understand these symbols becomes more
important. It is possible that products from all parts of the world are being
used in any one facility.

The purpose of this document is to provide a simple cross-reference of

common schematic/wiring diagram symbols used throughout various parts of
the world. The graphical symbols were taken from the following standards:

BS 3939. EEMAC E14-3.

CENELEC EN 50 013. IEC 617-1 to 617-8.
DIN 40700 to 40717. NEMA ICS 1.

The following tables describe the device and show the symbol by area of
usage.

Description US / Canadian International / British German

Capacitor

Magnetic Only
Circuit
Breaker

Thermal-
magnetic

Coil

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 Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Description US / Canadian International / British German

or
Normally
Closed

Basic
Contacts

Normally Open or

or
N.C., Timed TC
Closed

N.C., Timed
or
Open TO

Time Delay
Contacts

N.O., Timed
or
Closed TC

N.O., Timed or
Open TO

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 Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Description US / Canadian International / British German

Non-Fused

Disconnect
Switch

Fused

Fuse

Ground

M M
Single Phase 1 1

Induction
Motor

Three Phase M M
3 3

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 Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Description US / Canadian International / British German

Standard

Insert color code inside symbol Insert color code next to symbol Insert color code next to symbol
Lights,
Indicating

Push-To-Test

Insert color code inside symbol Insert color code next to symbol

Meters

Insert function code inside symbol Insert function code inside symbol Insert function code inside symbol

Thermal
or
Element

Overload Relay

Magnetic
Element I I

Illuminated

Push Button

Momentary
(N.C.)

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 Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Description US / Canadian International / British German

Momentary
(N.O.)

Mushroom
Push Button Head (N.C.)

Mushroom
Head (N.O.)

Resistor

1 2 Letter Position 1 2 1 2
Sym 1 2
2 Position B
A X
A
B X

Selector
Switch
1 2 3 Letter Position
Sym 1 2 3
1 2 3 1 0 2
3 Position B A X
A B X

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 Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Description US / Canadian International / British German

Float (N.C.) V

Float (N.O.) V

Flow (N.C.)

Switches Flow (N.O.)

Foot (N.C.)

Foot (N.O.)

Limit (N.C.)

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 Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Description US / Canadian International / British German

Limit (N.O.)

Pressure (N.C.) p p

Switches Pressure (N.O.) p p

Temperature
(N.C.)

Temperature
(N.O.)

Current or

Transformer

Voltage or

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 Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Common Schematic Diagrams Across-the-Line Non-Reversing Starters with Start Stop Push Buttons

Power Circuit

NEMA IEC

L1 L2 L3
L1 L2 L3

1 3 5

M1

2 4 6
1 3 5

2 4 6

U V W

M
3
T1 T2 T3

Motor

Control Circuit

NEMA IEC 95

96

21
O
22
L1 L2
Start 13 13
Stop O.L. M1 I
M 14 14
M
A2
2 3 M1
A1

O Stop

I Start

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 Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Common Schematic Diagrams Across-the Line Non-Reversing Starters with Hand-Off-Auto

Selector Switch

Power Circuit

NEMA IEC

L1 L2 L3
1 L2 L3
1 3 5

M1

2 4 6
1 3 5

2 4 6

U V W

M
3

T1 T2 T3

Motor

Control Circuit

NEMA IEC 95

96

1-Auto
L1 L2 1 2 3 13
Hand 2-Off 23
O.L.
3-Hand
2 Off M
14 24
Auto

21

22

A1
M1
A2

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 Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Common Schematic Diagrams Across-the-Line Reversing Starters

Power Circuit

L1 L2 L3
3 Phase Lines
NEMA IEC

L1 L2 L3
1 3 5 1 3 5
M1 M2

2 4 6 2 4 6

1 3 5

2 4 6

U V W

M
T1 T2 T3
3

Motor

Control Circuit
NEMA IEC 95

96
21
O 22

L1 L2
For. 13 13
Stop R O.L. F R
6
F 14 13 14 13
F M1 M2
2 3 14 14
Rev.
F 21 21
7
R
R M2 M1
4 5 22 22
A1 A1
M1 M2
A2 A2

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 Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Common Schematic Diagrams Combination Starter with Fused Disconnect Switch

Power Circuit

NEMA IEC
L1 L2 L3

1 3 5

2 4 6

1 3 5

M1
2 4 6
1 3 5

2 4 6
L1 L2 L3
U V W

M
3

T1 T2 T3

Motor

Control Circuit

NEMA IEC

95

96

21
O
22

L1 L2 13 13
Start M1
Stop O.L. I
14 14
M
M A2
M1
2 3
A1

0 Stop

Start

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 Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

Common Schematic Diagrams Manual Starter

1

Power Circuit

NEMA IEC
L1 L2 L3
L1 L2 L3

1 3 5

I> I> I>

2 4 6

U V W

T1 T2 T3
M
3

Motor

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 Product Data
A Global Reference Guide for
Reading Schematic Diagrams

A subsidiary of Rockwell International, one of the worlds largest technology companies,

Allen-Bradley meets todays automation challenges with over 85 years of practical plant floor
experience. More than 11,000 employees throughout the world design, manufacture and apply
a wide range of control and automation products and supporting services to help our customers
continuously improve quality, productivity and time to market. These products and services not
only control individual machines, but also integrate the manufacturing process while providing
access to vital plant floor data that can be used to support decisionmaking throughout the
enterprise.
With offices in major cities worldwide.
WORLD HEADQUARTERS EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST/ ASIA/PACIFIC HEADQUARTERS CANADA HEADQUARTERS LATIN AMERICA
Allen-Bradley AFRICA HEADQUARTERS AllenBradley (Hong Kong) Limited AllenBradley Canada Limited HEADQUARTERS
1201 South Second Street AllenBradley Europe B.V. Room 1006, Block B, Sea View Estate 135 Dundas Street Allen-Bradley
Milwaukee, WI 53204 USA Amsterdamseweg 15 2-8 Watson Road Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5X1 1201 South Second Street
Tel: (1) 414 3822000 1422 AC Uithoorn Hong Kong Canada Milwaukee, WI 53204 USA
Telex: 43 11 016 The Netherlands Tel: (852) 887-4788 Tel: (1) 519 6231810 Tel: (1) 414 3822000
FAX: (1) 414 3824444 Tel: (31) 2975/43500 Telex: (780) 64347 FAX: (1) 519 6238930 Telex: 43 11 016
Telex: (844) 18042 FAX: (852) 510-9436 FAX: (1) 414 3822400
FAX: (31) 2975/60222

Publication 100-2.10 December 1992

Supersedes Publication 1002.10 September 1992 1992 Allen-Bradley Company Printed in USA

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