CHAPTER 1

Diagrams

This is an area often overlooked or even ignored. The IEE Wiring

Regulations require that ‘diagrams, charts, tables or equivalent
forms of information are made available’ to the installer and
inspector and tester.

BS EN 60617 SYMBOLS
BS EN 60617 gives the graphical symbols that should be used in
all electrical/electronic diagrams or drawings. Since the symbols
fall in line with the International Electrotechnical Commission
(IEC) document 617, it should be possible to interpret non-UK
diagrams. Samples of the symbols used in this book are shown in
Figure 1.1.

Kind of current and voltage Mechanical controls

Direct current Mechanical coupling

Earth and frame connections

Alternating current
Earth or ground,
general symbol
 Positive polarity
Frame, chassis
 Negative polarity

FIGURE 1.1 BS EN 60617 Symbols.

1
2 Wiring Systems and Fault Finding For Installation Electricians

Lamps and signalling devices Lighting

Lighting outlet position,
Signal lamp, shown with wiring
general symbol
Lighting outlet on wall,
shown with wiring
Signal lamp, running to the left
flashing type
Lamp, general symbol
Indicator,
Luminaire, fluorescent,
electromechanical
general symbol

Bell With three fluorescent

tubes

Single-stroke bell 5 With five fluorescent

tubes
Projector, general
Buzzer symbol

Spotlight
Push-button with
restricted access
(glass cover, etc.) Floodlight

Time switch Emergency lighting

luminaire on special
circuit
Self-contained
emergency lighting
luminaire
Miscellaneous

Antenna  Fan, shown with wiring

Distribution centre, Intercommunication

shown with five instrument
conduits

Water heater, shown

with wiring

FIGURE 1.1 (Continued)

 Diagrams 3

Architectural and topographical installation plans and diagrams

Socket outlets Switches

Socket outlet (power),

general symbol Switch, general symbol

3 Switch with pilot light

Three outlets shown: Switch, two pole

two forms
Two-way switch,
single pole

With single-pole switch

Intermediate switch
Socket outlet (power)
with isolating
transformer, for
example shaver outlet Dimmer

Pull-cord switch,
Socket outlet
single pole
(telecommunications),
general symbol Push-button
Push-button with
Designations are used to distinguish different indicator lamp
types of outlets:
TP  Telephone FM  Frequency
M  Microphone modulation
 Loudspeaker TV  Television
TX  Telex

FIGURE 1.1 (Continued)

4 Wiring Systems and Fault Finding For Installation Electricians

Switchgear, control gear and protective devices

Contacts All-or-nothing relays

Make contact, normally Coil of a slow-releasing

open: also general relay
symbol for a switch
Coil of a slow-operating
Break contact relay
Coil of a relay
Change-over contact, unaffected by
break before make alternating current

Break contact with Coil of an alternating

spring return current relay

Push-button switch Coil of a mechanically

(non-locking) latched relay

Contactor, normally Actuating device of

open: three forms a thermal relay

Fuse and fuse switches

Fuse, general symbol

Contactor, normally Fuse with the supply

closed: three forms side indicated

Fuse switch

Fuse disconnector
Circuit breaker:
two forms Other forms for contacts and switches
Dotted lines denote alternative switch position

Change-over contact, 1 1 2 3 1 4
make before break 2 2 1 2 3

Make contact,
1 2
early to close 1 3 1 2
Break contact, 2 4
3 4 1 2
late to open
2 1 2
Make contact with
spring return 3
1 3 4

FIGURE 1.1 (Continued)

 Diagrams 5

DIAGRAMS
The four most commonly used diagrams are the block diagram,
interconnection diagram, the circuit or schematic diagram and the
wiring or connection diagram.

Block diagrams
These diagrams indicate, by means of block symbols with suitable
notes, the general way in which a system functions. They do not
show detailed connections (Figure 1.2a and b).

Personal
attack
button
Alarm
Alarm
control
sounder
panel
Sensors
infrareds
magnetic, etc.

(a)

Incoming Supply
Consumer
supply authority Meter
unit
cut-out

Final
(b) circuits

FIGURE 1.2 (a) Security system, (b) Intake arrangement for domestic
installation.

Interconnection diagrams
In this case, items of equipment may be shown in block form but
with details of how the items are connected together (Figure 1.3).
6 Wiring Systems and Fault Finding For Installation Electricians

1.0 mm2 twin 0.5 mm2 circular

with cpc cable twin flex
Ceiling Lampholder
rose

1.0 mm2 3-core

Two-way with cpc cable Two-way
switch switch

FIGURE 1.3 Two-way lighting system.

Circuit or schematic diagrams

These diagrams show how a system works, and need to pay no
attention to the actual geographical layout of components or
parts of components in that system. For example, a pair of con-
tacts which form part of, say, a timer may appear in a different and
quite remote part of the diagram than the timer operating coil that
actuates them. In this case some form of cross-reference scheme is
needed (e.g. T for the timer coil and T1, T2, T3, etc. for the asso-
ciated contacts).

It is usual for the sequence of events occurring in a system to be

shown on a circuit diagram from left to right or from top to bot-
tom. For example, in Figure 1.4, nothing can operate until the
main switch is closed, at which time the signal lamp comes on via
the closed contacts of the push-button. When the push is operated
the lamp goes out and the bell is energized via the push-button’s
top pair of contacts.

Wiring or connection diagrams

Here the diagrams show how a circuit is to be actually wired.
Whenever possible, especially in the case of control panels, they
should show components in their correct geographical locations.
 Diagrams 7

Main
switch Push-button

Battery Single-stroke
Lamp
bell


FIGURE 1.4

The wiring between terminals may be shown individually on sim-

ple diagrams, but with complicated systems such wiring is shown
in the form of thick lines with the terminating ends entering and
leaving just as if the wiring were arranged in looms. Clearly, Figure
1.5a and b are the wiring diagrams associated with the circuit
shown in Figure 1.4. Although Figure 1.5a would be simple to wire
without reference to the circuit diagram, Figure 1.5b would present
a problem as it is shown if Figure 1.4 were not available.

In either case an alphanumeric (A1, GY56, f7, etc.) reference sys-

tem is highly desirable, not only for ease of initial wiring, but also
for fault location or the addition of circuitry at a later date. Both
circuit and wiring diagrams should be cross-referenced with such a
system (Figure 1.6a–c).

Note how, in Figure 1.6c, each termination is referenced with the

destination of the conductor connected to it. Also note how much
more easily a circuit diagram makes the interpretation of the cir-
cuits function.

CIRCUIT CONVENTION
It is probably sensible at this point to introduce the reader to
circuit convention. This is simply a way of ensuring that circuit
8 Wiring Systems and Fault Finding For Installation Electricians

Lamp

Push-button

Bell

 
Main switch
Battery
(a)

Lamp Bell Push-button

 
Battery Main switch
(b)

FIGURE 1.5

diagrams are more easily interpreted, and is achieved by drawing

such diagrams in a de-energized state known as normal.

Hence, if we take a new motor starter out of its box, all of the
coils, timers, overloads and contacts are said to be in their normal
position. Figure 1.7a–d (see page 10) illustrate this convention as
applied to relays and contactors.

Note that, provided diagrams follow this accepted convention, it

is unnecessary to label contacts normally open (N/O) or normally
closed (N/C).
 Diagrams 9

Push (P)
Switch (SW)

1 2 1 2
B
3 4
1 Single-
Battery (B)
stroke
Lamp (L)
bell
B 2 (SS)

(a)

L P
4 3
2 1 
SS

2 1

2
1
  SW

B
(b)

L SS P
43 P1
2 1  
21 P3

B SS P4 L2 P2 L1 SS SW2

L2 SW1 B P1
B B
  1 2

B SW
(c)

FIGURE 1.6 Schematic and wiring diagrams.

10 Wiring Systems and Fault Finding For Installation Electricians

Relay coil, Relay coil,

general AC

Contactor or Relay coil,

relay coil general

(a)

N/O N/C N/O N/O N/C N/O N/C

Supply or

(b) Common C C
RA1 N/O

Supply RA
RB C

N/O N/O
RB1
RA2 N/C
(c) (d)

FIGURE 1.7 Contactor and relay conventions.

CONSTRUCTING AND INTERPRETING

CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS
In order to construct or interpret a circuit/schematic diagram of the
controls of a particular system, it is necessary to understand, in broad
principles, how the system functions. A logical approach is needed,
and it may take the novice some while before all ‘clicks’ into place.

Here is an example to consider.

Electronic valet
You work hard every day and return home late every evening.
When you come in you look forward to a smooth scotch, a
 Diagrams 11

sit down and then a relaxing soak in a hot bath. If you were
acquainted with electrical control systems you could arrange for
these little luxuries to be automated as shown in Figure 1.8.

T2
KS
TC1 1 3
DD1
2 FS
T1
Supply TC T DD BFU

FIGURE 1.8 Electronic valet.

The system components are as follows:

TC Typical 24h time clock: TC1 is set to close at 2100 h.

KS Key switch operated by front door key: momentary action, contacts open
when key is removed.
T Timer which can be set to close and open contacts T1 and T2 as required.
DD Drinks dispenser with a sprung platform on which the glass sits. When
energized, DD will dispense a drink into the glass.
When the glass is removed, the platform springs up closing contacts 1 and
3 on DD1.
DD1 Changeover contacts associated with DD.
FS Normally closed float switch, which opens when the correct bath water
level is reached.
BFU (bath filling unit): electrically operated hot water valve.

Let us now follow the system through:

1. At 9.00 pm or 2100 h the N/O contact TC1 on the time

clock TC closes, giving supply to one side of the key switch
and to the timer contact T1.
2. You arrive home and open the door with the key, which
closes the N/O spring-return contacts on KS, thus
12 Wiring Systems and Fault Finding For Installation Electricians

energizing the timer T. The drinks dispenser DD is also

energized via its own N/C contacts DD1 (1 and 2).
3. The timer T (now energized) instantly causes its own N/O
contacts T1 to close, allowing supply to be maintained to
T and DD via T1 (this is called a ‘hold-on’ circuit) when the
key is removed from the key switch KS. N/O timer contacts
T2 are set to close in say, 10 min. By the time you reach the
lounge DD has poured your scotch.
4. When you remove the glass from the dispenser, DD1
contacts 1 and 2 open, and 1 and 3 close, de-energizing the
dispenser and putting a supply to one side of the 10 min
timed contacts T2.
5. You can now sit down, relax and enjoy your drink, knowing
that shortly, contacts T2 will close and energize the bath
filling unit BFU via the N/C float switch FS.
6. When the bath level is correct, the float switch FS
opens and de-energizes BFU. You can now enjoy your
bath.
7. One hour, say, after arriving home, the timer T will have
completed its full cycle and reset, opening T1 and T2 and
thus restoring the whole system to normal.

This system is, of course, very crude. It will work but needs some
refinement. What if you arrive home early – surely you need not
stay dirty and thirsty? How do you take a bath during the day with-
out using the door key and having a drink? What about the bath
water temperature? And so on. If you have already begun to think
along these lines and can come up with simple solutions, then cir-
cuit/schematic diagrams should present no real problems to you.

Quiz controller
Here is another system to consider. Can you draw a circuit/sche-
matic diagram for it? (A solution is given at the end of the book.)