Introduce
There are many types of resistors, and different types of resistors have corresponding models. Resistors can be divided into: Fixed resistor, Heater resistor, Variable resistors, Rheostat, Preset resistor, Photo resistor or Light dependent resistor, Varistor or Voltage dependent resistor, NTC thermistor, PTC thermistor, Magneto resistor or Magnetic dependent resistor, etc.
The resistor symbols used in different countries and regions are also different. This article will explain the different types of resistor symbols in detail based on the resistor symbol standards of the International Electrotechnical Commission and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers.
Resistor Symbol | Collection Basic Electronic Component Symbol
Resistor International Standard Symbol
Resistor Symbols There are generally two standards for representing symbols for resistors, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Either one is acceptable, but the rectangular box version is superior to the zigzag version used in the United States and Asia, according to the institute. And the IEC 60617 standard is the international standard for these resistor symbols.
The IEEE symbol for a resistor is a zigzag line as shown below. The number of peaks at the top is 4 and the number of peaks below is 3, so there are a total of 7 peaks in the symbol.
The IEEE symbol for a resistor
Fixed Resistor Symbol
Fixed resistors are a type of linear resistors. If the value of a resistor is fixed, the resistor is called a fixed resistor. The value of a fixed resistor cannot be changed like a variable resistor because its value is determined at the time of manufacture. The figure below shows the symbol for a fixed resistor.
Fixed resistor IEC international symbol
.png "Fixed resistor IEEE symbol - ANSI (US)")
Fixed resistor IEEE symbol - ANSI (US)
Heater Resistor Symbol
heating element resistor symbol
Rheostat Symbol
A rheostat is a variable resistor with a single rotating knob or slider for resistance adjustment. In circuit diagrams, a rheostat is depicted as a resistor symbol with an arrow-like line and a diagonal line through it. The diagonal line indicates that it is a variable resistor with a single control element.
Variable Resistors IEC international symbol
Variable Resistors IEEE symbol
Potentiometer Symbol
It usually resembles a resistor symbol but with an arrow or a triangle at the center of the resistor element, indicating a variable resistance.
A potentiometer, often used for voltage division and precise adjustments, is represented by a resistor symbol with an arrow-like line protruding from the middle. This arrow signifies the variable wiper arm used to select the resistance value along the resistor's length.
Potentiometer IEC international symbol
Potentiometer IEEE international symbol
Trimming Potentiometer Symbol
The key feature of this symbol is the presence of the arrow or triangle within the resistor element, signifying that it's a variable resistor that can be adjusted or "trimmed" to a specific resistance value. Trimming potentiometers are often used for precise adjustments and calibration in electronic circuits.
The symbol for a Trimming Potentiometer (also known as a Trimpot or Trimmer Potentiometer) in electronic circuit diagrams is typically represented as follows:
Trimming potentiometer IEC international symbol
Potentiometer IEEE international symbol
Preset Resistor Symbol
Preset resistors are adjustable resistors with a fixed range of resistance values that can be fine-tuned during circuit calibration or setup.
The symbol for a Preset Resistor Symbol in electronic circuit diagrams is typically represented as follows:
Preset resistor IEC international symbol
Preset resistor IEEE international symbol
Photo Resistor or Light Dependent Resistor Symbol
The symbol for a photoresistor, also known as a light-dependent resistor (LDR), represents its function as a light-sensitive component that changes its resistance based on the amount of incident light. In circuit diagrams, the symbol for a photoresistor is typically represented as follows:
Photoresistor (LDR) Symbol:
The symbol resembles a standard resistor symbol, which consists of a zigzag or squiggly line inside a rectangle.
The direction of the arrowhead within the symbol may indicate the dependence of resistance on light intensity. For example, if the arrowhead points toward the light-sensitive portion, it signifies that the resistance decreases as light intensity increases.
The unique feature of the photoresistor symbol is the addition of two arrows pointing toward the resistor, indicating its photosensitive nature. As the amount of light falling on a photoresistor changes, its resistance changes accordingly, making it an important component in light sensing applications and automatic control systems.
Photo resistor or Light dependent resistor IEC international symbol
Photo resistor or Light dependent resistor IEEE international symbol
Varistor or Voltage Dependent Resistor Symbol
The symbol for a varistor, also known as a voltage-dependent resistor (VDR), is used to represent its function as a voltage-sensitive component that exhibits nonlinear resistance characteristics.
The unique feature of the varistor symbol is that it indicates its voltage dependence. Varistors are commonly used to protect electronic circuits from voltage surges or transient overvoltages by rapidly changing their resistive characteristics in response to voltage changes.
Varistor or Voltage dependent resistor resistor IEC international symbol
Varistor or Voltage dependent resistor resistor IEEE symbol
NTC Thermistor Symbol
The NTC thermistor symbol helps to identify the thermistor within a circuit and indicates its property of changing resistance inversely with temperature.
The symbol for a Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistor in electronic circuit diagrams is typically represented as follows:
NTC thermistor IEC international symbol
NTC thermistor IEEE symbol
PTC Thermistor Symbol
The PTC Thermistor symbol indicates that PTC thermistors have a positive temperature coefficient, which means that their resistance increases as temperature increases.
The symbol for a Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) thermistor in electronic circuit diagrams is typically represented as follows:
PTC Thermistor IEC international symbol
PTC Thermistor IEEE symbol
Magneto Resistor or Magnetic Dependt Resistor Symbol
The Magneto Resistor or Magnetic dependt resistor(MDR) symbol indicates that the resistance of a magnetoresistor is affected by changes in magnetic field strength.
The symbol for a Magneto-Resistor or Magnetic Dependent Resistor in electronic circuit diagrams is typically represented as follows:
Magneto Resistor or Magnetic dependt resistor IEC international symbol
Magneto Resistor or Magnetic dependt resistor IEEE symbol
Conclusion
Resistor symbols in circuit diagrams provide engineers and hobbyists with a visual representation of these versatile components. Understanding these symbols is critical to effectively incorporating variable resistors into circuit designs and applications that require precise resistance adjustment.
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