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
FUNCTION: Light dependent resistor (LDR), also called Photoconductive cells or photocells is a special type of resistor that
varies its resistance with the intensity of the light falling on. Its thus a two-terminalinput transducer (sensor) which
converts brightness (light) to resistance (electrical quantity). A multimetercan be used to find the resistance in darkness
and bright light, these are the typical results for a standard

LDR:
 Darkness: maximum resistance, about 10MΩ
 In normal room lighting: about 5 kΩ
 Very bright light (sunlight): minimum resistance, about 100Ω.

USES OF LDR
 May be used to measure light intensity and/or to control lighting.
 to switch on automatically street lighting
 And security alarms.
THERMISTORS
Physical Appearance Circuit or Schematic Symbol Draw Schematic Symbol

FUNCTION: The thermistor is a thermal resistor i.e. is a temperature sensitive resistor whose resistance value change
with changes in operating temperature. It’s thus, a two-terminal input transducer which converts heat energy to
electrical energy. There are two types of thermistors namely, positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTC) and
negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTC). If a thermistor has a PTC, its resistance increases as the operating
temperature increase and for NTC, its resistance increases as the operating temperature decreases.

USES OF THERMISTOR
 Typical applications include electronic thermometers and thermostatic control circuits for furnaces.
 A thermistor is also used to monitor the water temperature of a motor car.
 Thermistors may be used in circuits to control current and to measure or control temperature.
VARISTORS:
Physical Appearance Circuit or Schematic Symbol Draw Schematic Symbol

FUNCTION: Varistors also known as voltage dependent resistors (VDR’s) are semiconductor devices which have very high
resistances when the voltage across the varistors is below the breakdown value. However, when the voltage across a
varistor (either polarity) exceeds the rated value, the resistance of the device suddenly becomes very small, allowing
charge to flow.
USES OF VARISTORS
Varistors are used in sensitive circuits, such as those in computers, to ensure that if the voltage suddenly exceeds a
predetermined value, the varistor will effectively become a short circuit to the unwanted signal, thereby protecting the
rest of the circuit from excessive voltage.
 It provides protection of circuits.
 It provides transient suppression in inductive and transformer switching circuits.
RESISTOR DESIGNATION.
There are several techniques to mark the resistance values on the body of a resistor. The following methods are used
to mark the resistance values on the body of the resistor. These are:
 The resistance value is printed on the body of the resistor
 The value of the resistance is printed on the body of the resistor as a series of numbers or number and letter R.
 The value of the resistance is printed on the body of the resistor as a code using colour bands. The colour coding
techniques is the

COLOUR CODING OF RESISTOR

The resistance and tolerance specifications for fixed resistors are usually printed on the body of the resistor.
Colour coding is a system in which colours are used to indicate the values and tolerance of a resistor. The use of colour
bands or stripes is the most widely system for colour resistors as shown in table 1. In this system of colour coding, bands
or stripes of different colours are used to identify the value of resistance and tolerance ratings.
There are two common system of colour code designation:
 A four bands system
 And a five band system

The four bands system of colour code is more popular and widely used.

(a) Colour code for fixed resistors

 And a five band system
Table 1
Colour Significant Multiplier Tolerance
figure
Black 0 10°=x1
Brown 1 10¹=x10 ±1
Red 2 10²=x100 ±2
Orange 3 10³=x1 000=1K
Yellow 4 10⁴=x10 000 = 10K
Green 5 10⁵=x1 00 000 = 100K
Blue 6 10⁶=x1 000 000 = 1M
Voilet 7 10⁷=x10 000 000 = 10M
Grey 8 10⁸=x100 000 000 = 100M
White 9 10⁹=x1 000 000 000 = 1G
Gold --- 10⁻¹=x10 000 = 10K ±5
Silver --- 10⁻²=x1 00 000 = 100K ± 10
No --- --------- ± 20
Colour

(b) Letter and digit code for resistors

Table 2
FOUR-BAND COLOUR CODE

Fig.1.
 Band (a) gives the first number(first digit) of the component value,
 band (b) the second number(second digit),
 band (c) multiplier i.e. the number of zeros to be added after the first two numbers
 Band (d) the resistor tolerance.
If the bands are not clearly oriented towards one end, first identify the tolerance band and turn the resistor so that this is
towards the right before commencing to read the colour code as described. Reading from left to right, the first band
closest to the edge gives the first digit in the numerical value of resistance. The next band indicates the second digit. The
third band is the multiplier (i.e. the numbers of zeros to add after the first two digits). Let’s consider a colour coded resistor
as shown in figure 1.3.
In fig. 1-2 the first stripe is orange for 3 and the next stripe green for 5. The red multiplier in the third stripe means add
two zeros to 25, or “this multiplier is 100. The result can be illustrated as follows:

Orange Green Red Silver

3 5 x100 ± 10% = 3500Ω ± 10%

Therefore the resistance value is3500Ω or 3.5kΩ ± 10%.

In fig. 1-3 shows that black for the third band means is a multiplier of one (x1) or “do not add any zeros to the first two
digits”. Since this resistor has red, green, and black stripes, the resistances value is 25Ω.
SMALL VALUE RESISTORS (LESS THAN 10 OHM)

The standard colour code cannot show values of less than 10Ω. To show these small values two special colours are used
for the third band:
 gold which means × 0.1
 and silver which means × 0.01.
The first and second bands represent the digits as normal.
For example 1: red, green, gold, silver bands represent 25 × 0.1 = 2.5Ω ± 10% as shown in fig. 1-3.

For example 2: green, blue, silver bands represent 56 × 0.01 = 0.56Ω ± 20%

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN ELECTRONICS

Where the numerical value of a component includes a decimal point, it is standard practice to include the
Prefix for the multiplication factor in place of the decimal point, to avoid accidental marks being mistaken
for decimal points.
The abbreviation R means x 1
K means x 1000
M means x 1 000 000
G means x 1 000 000 000
Therefore,
a 4.7 kΩ resistor would be abbreviated to 4k7Ω,
a 5.6 Ω resistor to 5R6Ω
a 6.8MΩ resistor to 6M8Ω.
0.56 Ω resistor to R56Ω

TOLERANCE OF RESISTORS (FOURTH BAND OF COLOUR CODE)

The tolerance of a resistor is shown by the fourth band of the colour code. Tolerance is the amount by which the
actual values of the resistance differ from the colour coded value, usually given in percentage.
For instance, 100Ω resistor with a 5% tolerance will have 5% above or below the coded value. This resistance value will be
somewhere between 95 and 105Ω.the calculations are as follows:
5% of 100Ω is 0.05 x 100 = 5Ω.
For +5%, the value is
100 + 5 = 105Ω
For -5%, the value is
100 – 5 = 95Ω

The tolerance band indicates the maximum tolerance variation in the declared value of resistance.
Example. Between what two values should a resistor with colour coding brown-black-brown-silver lie?
From Table1, brown-black-brown-silver indicates
10×10, i.e. 100Ω, with a tolerance of ±10%
This means that the value could lie between
(100 − 10% of 100)Ω
And (100 + 10% of 100)Ω
i.e. brown-black-brown-silver indicates any value between 90Ω and 110ΩZ
FIVE-BAND COLOUR CODE
With these types of resistor, the first three colours stripes (band) indicate the first three digits, followed by the decimal
multiplier in the fourth band and the tolerance in the fifth band. In the fifth band, the colours brown, red, green, blue, and
violet represent the following tolerances:

Band (a) gives the first number (1st digit) of the component value,
 band (b) the second number(2nd digit),
 band (c) the third number(3rd digit),
 band (d) the number of zeros to be added after the three two numbers and
 Band (e) the resistor tolerance
Let’s consider a colour coded resistor as shown in figure 1.6.
 Fig 1.6.
As shown in fig. 1-6.First band, yellow correspond to 4 in table 1, blue is 6, black is 0. These first three colours indicate
the resistance value. The fourth band is the multiplier (numbers of zeros to be added to the first three digits) or this
multiplier is 1000. The fifth band, i.e. brown indicate the tolerance which is 1% Hence the resistor with colour coding
yellow, blue black, orange, brown will have a resistance value of 460kΩ ±1%.

Example 1.1.
Find the colour code for the following resistor: 120Ω ±5%.
Solution: given resistor is120Ω ±5%.
We know that, in this problem, the first significant figure is 1, second digit is 2 and the multiplying factor is 10. Hence
from the table 1.
1 2 x10 ±5%

Brown Red Brown Gold

Therefore, the colour for 120Ω ±5% resistor is Brown, Red, brown and Gold.
Example 1.2.
Find a colour code for the resistor 27KΩ ±20%.
Solution: we known that 27 KΩ = 27000Ω. in this problem, the first significant figure is 2, second digit is 7 and the
multiplier is 1000. Hence from the table 1.
2 7 x 1000 ±20%

Red Violet Orange plain

Therefore, the colour code for 27KΩ ±20% resistor is Red, Violet, Orange and No colour.
Example 1.3.
Find the resistance and the tolerance rating for the following colour code: yellow- Violet- Black- Silver.
Solution. Yellow Violet Black Silver.

Therefore the resistance value is 47 x 1 = 47Ω Ω±10%

Example 1.4.
Determine the value and tolerance of a resistor having a colour coding of: orange-orange-silver-brown.
The first two bands, i.e. orange-orange, give 33 from Table1.
The third band, silver, indicates a multiplier of 10-2 from Table.1, which means that the value of the resistor
is 33×10−2
=0.33Ω
The fourth band, i.e. brown, indicates a tolerance of ±1% from Table1. Hence a colour coding of orangeorange-silver-
brown represents a resistor of value
0.33Ω with a tolerance of ±1%

Example 1.5.
Determine the value and tolerance of a resistor having a colour coding of: brown-black-brown.
The first two bands, i.e. brown-black, give 10 from Table 1.
The third band, brown, indicates a multiplier of 10 from Table 1, which means that the value of the resistor
is 10×10=100Ω
There is no fourth band colour in this case; hence, from Table 1, the tolerance is ±20%. Hence a colour
coding of brown-black-brown represents a resistance value of 100Ω with a tolerance of ±20%
written as 100Ω ±20%

Example 1.6.
Determine the value and tolerance of a resistor having a colour coding of: orange-green-red-yellow-brown.
Orange-green-red-yellow-brown is a five-band fixed resistor and from Table1, indicates: 352×104 Ω with a
tolerance of ±1%
352 × 104Ω= 3.52 × 106Ω, i.e. 3.52MΩ
Hence orange-green-red-yellow-brown indicates
3.52MΩ ±1%

LETTER AND DIGIT CODE FOR RESISTORS

Another way of indicating the value of resistors is the letter and digit code shown in Table 2.
Thus, for example,
R33M = 0.33Ω ± 20%
4R7K = 4.7Ω ± 10%
390RJ = 390Ω ± 5%
Tolerance is indicated as follows for the letter and digit code:
F = ± 1%, J = ± 5%, M = ± 20%
G = ± 2%, K = ± 10%
Tolerances may be indicated by adding a letter at the end of the printed code.
Therefore
 A 4.7 kΩ resistor with a tolerance of 2% would be abbreviated to 4 k7G.
 A 5.6Ω resistor with a tolerance of 5% would be abbreviated to 5R6J.
 A 6.8MΩ resistor with a 10% tolerance would be abbreviated to 6M8K.
Example 1.7.
Determine the value of a resistor marked as 6K8F.
From Table 2, 6K8F is equivalent to: 6.8 kΩ ±1%
Example 1.8.
Determine the value of a resistor marked as 4M7M.
From Table 2, 4M7M is equivalent to: 4.7MΩ ± 20%

Example 1.9.
Determine the letter and digit code for a resistor having a value of 68 kΩ ±10%.
From Table 2, 68 kΩ ±10% has a letter and digit code of: 68KK
Using both tables to solve more problems
EXAMPLE ONE
A resistor is colour coded yellow, violet, red, gold. Determine the value of the resistor.
Band (a) – yellow has a value of 4.
Band (b) – violet has a value of 7.
Band (c) – red has a value of 2.
Band (d) – gold indicates a tolerance of 5%.
The value is therefore 4700Ω ±5%.
This could be written as 4.7 kΩ ±5% or 4k7J

EXAMPLE TWO
A resistor is colour coded blue, grey, green, gold. Determine the value of the resistor.
Band (a) – blue has a value of 6.
Band (b) – grey has a value of 8.
Band (c) – green has a value of 5.
Band (d) – gold indicates a tolerance of 5%.
The value is therefore 6 800 000Ω ±5% and could be written as 6.8M Ω ±5% or 6M8J.
EXAMPLE THREE
A resistor is colour coded orange, white, silver, silver. Determine the value of the resistor.
Band (a) – orange has a value of 3.
Band (b) – white has a value of 9.
Band (c) – silver indicates divide by 100 or x0.01 in this band.
Band (d) – silver indicates a tolerance of 10%.
The value is therefore 0.39Ω ±10% and could be written as
0.39Ω ±10% or R39K.

TRY THE FOLLOWING EXERCISES

1. Determine the value and tolerance of a resistor having a colour coding of: blue-grey orange- red
2. Determine the value and tolerance of a resistor having a colour coding of: yellow-violet gold
3. Determine the value and tolerance of a resistor having a colour coding of: blue-white black-black-gold
4. Determine the colour coding for a 51 kΩ four band resistor having a tolerance of ±2%
5. Determine the colour coding for a 1MΩfour band resistor having a tolerance of ±10%
6. Determine the range of values expected for a resistor with colour coding: red-black-green silver
7. Determine the range of values expected for a resistor with colour coding: yellow-black orange- brown
8. Determine the value of a resistor marked as
(a) R22G (b) 4K7F
9. Determine the letter and digit code for a resistor having a value of 100 k_±5%
10. Determine the letter and digit code for a resistor having a value of 6.8M_±20%
12. Write down the value of the resistors with the following colour codes:
(a) Orange –grey–red–silver
(b) Red –white–green–red
(c) Green –green–black–gold–brown
(d) Brown –red–gold–silver.
(e) Brown Green Yellow Silver
(f) Yellow black black silver Gold
(g) Yellow Violet Blue Gold
(h) White black gold
(i) Orange White Black Gold Red
(j) grey–red–silver
13. Give the colour code for the following values of resistor:
(a) 8.7 K 1%. (b) 15K8J (c) 100RG (d) 350PK 20%.
(14) Determine the color codes required if you need the following resistors for a project:
a. 33 kΩ ± 5%, b. 820Ω ± 10% c. 15Ω ± 20% d. 2.7 MΩ ± 5%
(15) Determine the resistance and tolerance of the following component.
a) Brown Green Yellow Silver
b) Red Gray Yellow Gold Gold
c) Yellow Violet Blue Gold
d) Orange White Black Gold Red.