Resistor: labelled reference, US style

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Resistor: labelled reference, US style, sheet 1 of 2

  1. Fig. 1

    12

    Resistor

    A resistor symbol stands for a component that opposes current. The zigzag (US style) and the plain rectangle (IEC style) are two drawings of the same component.

  2. Fig. 2

    12

    Variable resistor

    A diagonal arrow through the resistor body marks a variable resistor.

  3. Fig. 3

    1W2

    Potentiometer

    A potentiometer has three terminals: the two ends of the resistive track and a wiper, drawn as an arrow touching the body.

  4. Fig. 4

    12

    Rheostat

    A rheostat is a variable resistor used with two terminals: one end of the track and the wiper.

  5. Fig. 5

    12

    Thermistor

    A thermistor's resistance changes with temperature. NTC resistance falls as temperature rises; PTC resistance rises. A generic thermistor symbol without a type label does not distinguish the two.

  6. Fig. 6

    12

    Light-dependent resistor

    Two arrows arriving at a resistor body mark a light-dependent resistor (photoresistor).

Notes

  1. The terminal key and the sources are on sheet 2.
Name
Class
Date
Sheet
1 of 2
Drawing
Resistor Labelled reference
Style
US style
From
circuitsymbols.com
Licence
CC BY 4.0

Resistor: labelled reference, US style, sheet 2 of 2

Terminal key
Fig.TerminalsWhat the terminal is
11, 2A fixed resistor has two interchangeable terminals; the symbol has no polarity.
2, 5, 61, 2This symbol has two terminals and no polarity mark. The labels 1 and 2 only tell the two ends apart.
31, 2Terminals 1 and 2 are the fixed terminals, one at each end of the resistive track.
3WW is the wiper: the movable third terminal, drawn as the arrow touching the body. It makes contact wherever it rests along the track.
41, 2A rheostat is a variable resistor used with two terminals: one end of the track and the wiper.

Sources

  1. ModEL — Components and Symbols, §§3.6–3.7 (resistors and potentiometers, pp. 13–14), Tony R. Kuphaldt, 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. Lessons In Electric Circuits, Vol. V — §9, Circuit Schematic Symbols (pp. 130–139), Tony R. Kuphaldt, retrieved 2026-09-22
  4. ModEL — Components and Symbols, §3.10 (fuses and circuit breakers, p. 20), Tony R. Kuphaldt, retrieved 2026-09-22
  5. ModEL — Components and Symbols, §3.11 (relay example with motor and lamp loads, p. 22), Tony R. Kuphaldt, retrieved 2026-09-23
  6. Thermistors — NTC and PTC product-description definitions, Murata Manufacturing, retrieved 2026-09-22

Notes

  1. The Fig. numbers are those on sheet 1.
Name
Class
Date
Sheet
2 of 2
Drawing
Resistor Labelled reference
Style
US style
From
circuitsymbols.com
Licence
CC BY 4.0