INTRODUCTION

Engineering graphics is a fundamental communication medium used by technically trained people

worldwide to design, construct, and operate structures, machines, or products. It is a unique language
which is indispensable in generating, forming, reading, and transmitting ideas.

THE DISCIPLINES OF ENGINEERING GRAPHICS

There are three (3) main disciplines of engineering graphics. these are
1) Architectural,
2) Mechanical, and
3) Electrical/ Electronic graphics
The electrical/ electronics graphics is sub-divided into:
a) Electrical graphics and
b) Electonic graphics
• Electrical graphics is a branch of engineering graphics which deals with generation, transmission, and distribution of
electrical power for residential, commercial, and industrial users. Industrial users include lighting and power
installation such as {heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)}, and most type of equipment operation. All
electrical graphics students should know basic electrical graphical symbols including switches, batteries, fuses, and
circuit breakers. Cable and wiring drawings with there colour coding and wire connectors should also be presented.
• Electronics graphics is the processing and control of electrical energy in small amount. These
component that control and process electrical energy include transistors, diodes, resistors,
inductors, capacitors, relays etc

The Electrical/ Electronic graphics is delivered under the following four (4) topics.
1) DRAFTING PRACTICES: This deals with how symbols or diagrams are drawn e.g.
 Diagram titles states the type of diagram or component.
 Drawing sizes, and format are also specified by regulatory body and all electrical/electronics symbols/circuit are
represented by IEEE regulations. describes drawing sheet size and layout.
 Lettering size and font are specified.
2) SYMBOLS
This is a geometrical design representing an electrical or electronic device or component. Symbols can be a letter or a
device representing a quantity or devices.

3) DIAGRAMS
This shows how two or more elect/electronic components/devices are interconnected to form a circuit or to show
signal flow and their functions without showing the physical size, shapes or location of these component. Diagrams are
usually used in performing design calculation, selection of components.
type of diagrams used in engineering
a) Block Diagrams
b) Layout Diagrams
c) Schematic Diagrams (elementary diagrams)
d) Wiring Diagrams or Connection Diagrams
e) Logic Diagram
This shows how two or more elect/electronic components/devices are interconnected to form a circuit or to show signal
flow and their functions without showing the physical size, shapes or location of these component. Diagrams are usually
used in performing design calculation, selection of componets.
type of diagrams used in engineering
a) Block Diagrams
b) Layout Diagrams
c) Schematic Diagrams (elementary diagrams)
d) Wiring Diagrams or Connection Diagrams
e) Logic Diagram
4) STANDARDS

All things in engineering have a standard or rules, so also graphics has its rules either by IEEE or ANSI. These are
governing bodies charged with standardizing on how electrical and electronic components are design/represented. The
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) has its own regulation and guidelines on how to draft circuits,
wiring colour codes.
Other regulatory bodies are;
 American National Standard Institute (ANSI)
 International Standards Organization (ISO)
 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
 Electronic Industry Of America (EIA)
 International Electro Technical Commission (IEC).
 National Electrical Code (NEC)
 National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)

IDENTIFICATION OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC SCHEMATIC SYMBOLS

Electrical /electronic circuits are normally made up of individual component. Having knowledge of these components,
their symbol and reference is very important.
In order to understand the functioning of an electrical or electronic circuit, you must be able to "read" the schematic
diagram of that circuit.
1. SYMBOLS. The schematic diagram uses symbols to represent the components used to make up a circuit. Symbols are
used to indicate conductors, resistors, switches, motors, transistors, and other electrical and electronic parts.
Components in a circuit schematic are generally represented by such a symbol and/or a letter designator.

2. CONDUCTORS. Basic to any schematic diagram is the use of straight lines to indicate conductors. The conductors
interconnect the components of the circuit. Conductors often cross paths with one another in the circuit. This may occur
with or without their making electrical contact. Figure 1-1 illustrates the typical methods for crossing conductors within
a schematic diagram.

Figure 1-1. Crossing Conductors.

A ‘blob’ ( ) should be draw where wire is connected (joined).
There are many types of conductors used in electrical and electronic circuits. They may range from the thin layers of
metal foil used in printed-circuit boards to heavy cables used in power transmission.

CABLE
Physical Appearance Circuit or Schematic Symbol Draw Schematic Symbol

FUNCTION: Cables generally consist of two or more conductors, usually in the same insulation jacket.

COAXIAL CABLE
Physical Appearance Circuit or Schematic Symbol Draw Schematic Symbol

FUNCTION: Coaxial cable is a special purpose, shielded cable used to connect antennas to receives or
transmit. These cables are used for television receiver.
FLAT RIBBON FORM
Physical Appearance Circuit or Schematic Symbol Draw Schematic Symbol

FUNCTION: Much of the cable used with digital electronic system is produced in a flat ribbon form.``
3. BASIC COMPONENTS. There are several hundreds of different types of electrical and electronic components in use
today. However, three components are widely used in a wide variety of applications.
These three components are found in most circuit schematics of any complexity. The three components are
(a) resistors; (b) capacitors; and (c) inductors.

A. RESISTORS.
The resistor is a two terminals component which introduces a specific resistance into circuit. Resistance is the opposition
to current flow. The resistor can conduct current in both directions.
FUNCTION: The resistors are used mainly for two purposes namely: To limits or controls the amount of electric current
flowing through a circuit, and to provide the desired amounts of voltage in circuits. In addition to the symbol, the
resistor is generally labelled by the Letter "R".
There are two types of resistors, they are:
 Fixed resistor
 Variable resistor

FIXED RESISTOR
Physical Appearance Circuit or Schematic Symbol Draw Schematic Symbol
The fixed resistors are of the following types:
 Carbon composition resistors
 Thin film resistors
 Thick film resistors
 Wire wound resistors

VARIABLE LINEAR RESISTOR

Variable resistors are designed so that their resistance value can be varied from zero to a specified value. It can be used
as a three terminal as well as a two terminal device. Mostly they are used as a three terminal device.
There are mainly three types of variable resistors. They are
1. Potentiometer
2. Rheostat
3. Presets
POTENTIOMETER
Physical Appearance Circuit or Schematic Symbol

FUNCTION: A potentiometer is a three terminals variable resistor. Its function is to vary or control voltage in a circuit.
Its outer terminals (1&2) are fixed and the middle terminal (com) is variable. The variation is provided by a wiper
connected to a control shaft. When the control shaft is moved, the wiper moves over a resistive element. This movement
provides a continuous variation in resistance between the middle terminal and either of the outer terminals. The
potentiometer is reference with letter “POT”.

USES OF A POTENTIOMETER
 POTs are used for controlling the signal level of a circuit and not the power of the circuit
 Volume control on TV’s and other audio equipment’s.
 Used in joysticks as a position transducer.
 TRIAC switching applications.
 Voltage divider circuits.
 Tone control
 Linearity and brightness controls in radio and television receiver.
 Control the volume (loudness) in an amplifier circuit.

RHEOSTAT
Physical Appearance Circuit or Schematic Symbol

FUNCTION: A rheostat is also a 2-terminal variable resistor connected in series with a load. Its function
is to vary or control current flowing through a circuit. The potentiometer may also be used as a rheostat.
The wiper is tied to one end terminal thus making it a two terminal resistor like the rheostat. See figure
below

Potentiometer used as a rheostat

USES OF A RHEOSTAT
 adjusting lamp brightness,
 adjusting motor speed,
 adjusting the rate of flow of charge into a capacitor in a timing circuit.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POTENTIOMETER AND RHEOSTAT

 A potentiometer is a three terminal variable resistor, while a rheostat is a two terminal variable resistor.
 A potentiometer can be used as a rheostat but a rheostat cannot be used as a potentiometer.
 Potentiometers are often used to vary voltage and rheostats are used to vary current.
 Potentiometer ends are connected across voltage source while rheostat is connected in series with load and voltage
source.
PRESET
Physical Appearance Circuit or Schematic Symbol

FUNCTION: This type of variable resistor (a preset) is operated with a small screwdriver or similar tool. It is designed to
be set when the circuit is made and then left without further adjustment. Presets are cheaper than normal variable
resistors so they are often used in projects to reduce the cost.

TAPPED RESISTOR
Physical Appearance Circuit or Schematic Symbol
FUNCTION: A tapped resistor is normally a wire wound type.it may have one or more terminals along its
length. Tapped resitors are normally used for voltage divider applications.

LIGHT DEPENDENT RESISTOR (LDR) OR (PHOTOCELL)

Physical Appearance Circuit or Schematic Symbol