Capacitor: labelled reference, IEC style

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Capacitor: labelled reference, IEC style, sheet 1 of 1

  1. Fig. 1

    12

    Capacitor

    A capacitor symbol stands for two conductors separated by an insulator; the two parallel plates are a picture of that.

  2. Fig. 2

    +−

    Polarised capacitor

    In the polarised capacitor drawings here, + marks the positive terminal. The US form has a curved negative plate; the IEC form has a hollow positive plate. The marked polarity must be respected.

  3. Fig. 3

    12

    Variable capacitor

    In the variable-capacitor convention used here, a diagonal arrow through the plates indicates adjustable capacitance.

Terminal key
Fig.TerminalsWhat the terminal is
1, 31, 2A non-polarised capacitor has two interchangeable terminals.
2+The + terminal is the one the polarity mark names as positive. In the US form here it connects to the straight plate; in the IEC form, to the hollow plate.
2−The − terminal is the other side of the marked polarity. In the US form here it connects to the curved plate; in the IEC form, to the plate opposite the hollow one.

Sources

  1. ModEL — Components and Symbols, §3.15 (capacitor polarity, pp. 27–28), Tony R. Kuphaldt, retrieved 2026-09-22
  2. University Physics, Vol. 2, §8.1 — capacitor representations, Figure 8.9, OpenStax, Rice University, retrieved 2026-09-22
Name
Class
Date
Sheet
1 of 1
Drawing
Capacitor Labelled reference
Style
IEC style
From
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Licence
CC BY 4.0