A Circuit Diagram is the keycode!
How can a circuit diagram be a key, it's just a load of squiggles isn't it? Well no, a circuit or schematic diagram is very much a key to the equipment concerned, you could call them the coded key to the pulse of life in any piece of equipment, big or small. But, to read them is like learning a new language, but even for the fluent in electric speak, sometimes they're not always easy to follow. I know what you're probably thinking, why are they drawn like that. Is it deliberate to confuse people, or is there a real reason. You know there is a very real reason and basically it's done to make a universal standard of electrical, electronic, pneumatic and hydraulic symbols for drawing circuit diagrams.
The electrical diagram or electronic schematic is a method of drawing a simplified representation of an electrical or electronic circuit of the equipment in question. The reason to standardise the the symbols is to aid recognition of how the equipment works, or is supposed to work. Although electrical and electronic circuit symbols have changed over the years, also they even differ from country to country. Not so much that they would be undefinable though and they have remained basically the same.
The circuit diagram shows the signals and power connections between all the individual components involved in the operation of any given piece of equipment. The schematic would not however give any real indication as to the physical layout of the individual component parts within it's guts or under the covers.
Circuit diagrams are primarily for the design and maintenance of electronic, electrical, pnuematic and hydraulic equipment. Electro-mechanical parts are quite often used in machinery and the like and is more prone to failure than just electronic based gear. To this ends a circuit is invaluable to the engineer or technition undertaking it's repair, I'm speaking from experience here of course.
Symbol standards used are either the ANSI standard Y32 or the IEC standard 617. Different symbols are often used depending on the subject of the actual drawing concerned. For an example, lighting and power symbols used in an architects drawings may well be different from symbols for similar devices used in electronics.
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