Ground: labelled reference, IEC style

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

  1. Fig. 1

    1

    Earth ground

    In the convention used here, three horizontal lines of decreasing length identify a connection to earth. Check a drawing's legend: the same shape is sometimes used more generally for circuit ground.

  2. Fig. 2

    1

    Chassis ground

    The chassis symbol (hatched) marks a connection to the equipment's metal frame or enclosure.

  3. Fig. 3

    1

    Signal reference (common)

    The signal-reference symbol marks the chosen zero-volt reference for circuit voltages. It need not be connected to earth or chassis.

Terminal key
Fig.TerminalsWhat the terminal is
1–31Each ground or reference symbol shown here has one connection point to the circuit; it identifies a reference connection, not a two-terminal component.

Sources

  1. Chassis, Earth and Signal Grounding: Terminology and Symbols, NI, retrieved 2026-09-22
  2. DC Electrical Circuit Analysis — resistive devices and schematic ground symbols (pp. 53, 59–64), James M. Fiore, Mohawk Valley Community College, retrieved 2026-09-22
  3. Where Is Ground? — local reference versus earth, Analog Devices, retrieved 2026-09-22
  4. Electrical Schematics, §§1.3.1–1.3.5 — nodes, crossings, references and congruent drawings, Tufts University, retrieved 2026-09-22
Name
Class
Date
Sheet
1 of 1
Drawing
Ground Labelled reference
Style
IEC style
From
circuitsymbols.com
Licence
CC BY 4.0