Circuit diagram
Relevance of circuit diagrams
A circuit diagram is the electrical engineering equivalent of the procedural flow diagram.
Circuit diagrams are used to show the flow of electricity through a circuit. They can be used to show how a circuit works or to troubleshoot and find problems in an existing circuit.
A simple circuit diagram consists of symbols representing the different components, such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors. These symbols are usually arranged in an orderly fashion. Different colours can be used to represent different types of components (e.g., red for resistors).
Electrical schematics are abstracted representations. The main purpose of wiring diagrams is to illustrate the components and their connections. This purpose comes into play, for example, when objects are disconnected in order to carry out maintenance measures on them without danger (in this case, without voltage).
Relevant standards for the creation of circuit diagrams
For the creation of circuit diagrams, so-called circuit symbols are used in the form of graphic symbols, which are specified in IEC 60617, among others. Lines between individual circuit symbols represent conductive connections.
Information on circuit diagrams
Circuit diagrams can contain further information in addition to the graphic representations: It makes sense to provide the individual components of the electrical system with a plant designation according to IEC 81346, so that the electrical engineering department and the mechanical department of the company speak a common language: If the system designations are interdisciplinary homogeneous, simple communication between the departments can be ensured.