Information Sheet

Basic Ladder Diagram Using Relay

Introduction
Ladder diagrams are specialized schematics commonly used to document industrial control logic systems.
They are called “ladder” diagrams because they resemble a ladder, with two vertical rails (supply power)
and as many “rungs” (horizontal lines) as there are control circuits to represent. If we wanted to draw a simple
ladder diagram showing a lamp that is controlled by a hand switch, it would look like this:

The “L1” and “L2” designations refer to the two poles of a 24 V supply unless otherwise noted. L1 is the “hot”
conductor, and L2 is the grounded (“neutral”) conductor.

Example
Coil Contact Common Normally Normally
Contact Open (NO) Close (NC)
2 1 1 with 3 1 with 4
7 8 8 with 6 8 with 5
1. Construction of simple ladder diagram.
 Push button switch
 Eight pin relay
A. Construct a ladder diagram that will energize the relay coil when we press the start push button and turn off
when we release the start push button.
CR1 = Relay
Coil 1
7
2

 For this ladder diagram the Relay Coil will only energize when you press or hold the start push
button.
 When you release start button the Relay Coil will immediately de-energize.
Note:
 Always label your components and contact to prevent confusion in actual wiring.
 This symbol means relay contact number where the wire is going to be connected.
2
 This is the symbol for relay coil but we need to write label inside it because in future we will use
many relay which has individual coil to prevent confusion.

B. Construct a ladder diagram that will keep the Relay Coil energize when we press the start push button even
we release the start push button and will stop when We press the stop push button.

2 7

1 3

 Now that we have holding contact (Jumper) on our ladder diagram, our Relay Coil will be energize if
we press the start push button.
 Once the Relay is energize, the normally open contact will close, because of that the current will
flow in the holding contact.
 Even we release start push button our Relay Coil will stay energize.
 The only way to turn off the Relay Coil is to press the stop push button.
Note:
CR1
Date Developed: Document No. MECH=CBLM001
July 2020
Develop by: Revision No. 00
Rommel A. Cortez

Mechatronics Servicing NC II
  Kindly notice the label on the relay NO contact, we need to practice writing label on ladder
diagram to prevent confusion when we are going to use many relay in one
ladder diagram
Relay Coil Common Normally Normally
Contact Contact Open (NO) Close (NC)
13 9 9 with 5 9 with 1
14 10 10 with 6 10 with 2
11 11 with 7 11 with 3
12 12 with 8 12 with 4

2. Construction of simple ladder diagram with Pilot Lamp (Light Indicator)

 Push button switch
 Fourteen pin relay
 Pilot Lamp (Light Indicator)

A. Construct a ladder diagram that has a green pilot lamp that will indicate that the relay coil is energize.

13 14

9 5

6
10
CR1

 When start push button is press, the Relay Coil will energize and the Green pilot lamp will light
up.
 The relay coil and the green pilot lamp is stay energize until we press stop button.
 Letter G inside the symbol of pilot lamp indicates the color. Example G for green, R for red and Y for
yellow.

B. Construct a ladder diagram that has a red pilot lamp that will light up if the circuit is not working and it
turn off when the start push button is being press.

13 14

9 5

10
2
CR1

 If the circuit is not working or on standby the red pilot lamp is light up.
 But when we push the start push button, the Relay Coil will energize and the normally close
contact (10 and 2) will open that causes the red pilot lamp to turn off.
 Then if we press stop push button the Relay Coil de-energize and the red pilot lamp will light
up again.
 Letter R inside the symbol of pilot lamp indicates the color. Example G for green, R for red and Y for
yellow.

Date Developed: Document No. MECH=CBLM001

July 2020
Develop by: Revision No. 00
Rommel A. Cortez

Mechatronics Servicing NC II
C. Construct a ladder diagram that has red pilot lamp that indicate that the circuit is off and a green pilot lamp
that indicate that the circuit is turned on

13
14

9 5

10 6
CR1

10 2
CR1

 If the circuit is not working or on standby the red pilot lamp is light up.
 But when we push the start push button, the Relay Coil will energize the red pilot lamp will
turn off and the green pilot lamp will turn on.
 Then if we press stop push button the Relay Coil de-energize and the red pilot lamp will light
up and the green pilot lamp will turn off.
 This kind of ladder diagram is common in our common house hold appliances and industrial machine, red
pilot lamp indicates that the machine is turned off and Green pilot lamp indicates that the machine
is running or turned on.

Date Developed: Document No. MECH=CBLM001

July 2020
Develop by: Revision No. 00
Rommel A. Cortez

Mechatronics Servicing NC II
 Self-Check
Direction: Construct a ladder diagram base on the situation given and label the contact of the relay being used.
You can used the space provided or the back page for the ladder diagram

1. Construction of simple ladder diagram.

 Push button switch
 Eight pin relay

A. Construct a ladder diagram that will energize the relay coil when we press the start push button and turn off
when we release the start push button.

B. Construct a ladder diagram that will keep the Relay Coil energize when we press the start push button even
we release the start push button and will stop when We press the stop push button.

2. Construction of simple ladder diagram with Pilot Lamp (Light Indicator)

 Push button switch
 Fourteen pin relay
 Pilot Lamp (Light Indicator)

A. Construct a ladder diagram that has a green pilot lamp that will indicate that the relay coil is energize.

B. Construct a ladder diagram that has a red pilot lamp that will light up if the circuit is not working and it turn off
when the start push button is being press.

C. Construct a ladder diagram that has red pilot lamp that indicate that the circuit is off and a green pilot lamp
that indicate that the circuit is turned on.

Date Developed: Document No. MECH=CBLM001

July 2020
Develop by: Revision No. 00
Rommel A. Cortez

Mechatronics Servicing NC II
 Date Developed: Document No. MECH=CBLM001
July 2020
Develop by: Revision No. 00
Rommel A. Cortez

Mechatronics Servicing NC II