What is the symbol for an electric motor?

An electric motor is drawn as a circle with "M" inside the circle. Annotations next to the symbol specify the phase (single-phase, three-phase), rated power (kW), rated voltage (230V, 400V), and starter type (DOL — Direct On Line, S/D — star-delta, soft starter, VFD — variable frequency drive). Three-phase motors are the workhorse of industrial installations.

How is a transformer drawn?

A transformer is drawn as two adjacent coupled coils — typically two parallel zigzag lines or two parallel hatched rectangles. The number of windings, turns ratio and voltage on each side are annotated. An isolating transformer to BS EN 61558 shows two coils with no electrical or magnetic interconnection symbol, emphasising galvanic isolation between primary and secondary.

What does the UPS symbol show?

A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) is drawn as a rectangle containing the rectifier symbol (AC-to-DC converter), battery symbol (two horizontal lines representing cells), and inverter symbol (DC-to-AC converter with a square wave or sine wave inside). Single-line schematic UPS symbols show the input and output sides clearly with the battery on the DC bus.

How are AHU electrical connections shown?

An AHU (Air Handling Unit) is drawn as a rectangle containing the fan, filter, heating coil and cooling coil symbols. The electrical supply is shown to each component separately — the fan motor (three-phase circle with M), the heating coil (resistive element with electrical termination), and any pump motors on the chilled water or hot water circuits. AHUs typically need a dedicated three-phase supply and BMS control wiring.

Where does the lift drive supply come from?

A lift drive must be supplied from a dedicated three-phase circuit, terminating in a lockable main switch inside the lift motor room per BS 7671 Section 530. The lift symbol on the schematic shows the drive motor (three-phase circle), the car, the counterweight, and the supply cable feeding into the motor room isolator. Emergency lighting in the motor room is also drawn explicitly.

SYMBOL REFERENCE

Equipment Symbols: Motor, transformer + plant references

Every plant + equipment symbol — motors to UPS, transformers to MCCs — drawn to IEC 60617 for UK installation, design and maintenance drawings.

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6 min readUpdated 2026-05-18Andrew Moore, Founder of Elec-Mate

Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.

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Key takeaways

01The motor symbol is a circle with "M" inside — three-phase induction motors are the most common; symbol may show phase (single-phase, three-phase) and synchronous vs induction.
02Transformer symbols show two coupled coils — step-up or step-down by turns ratio. Isolating transformers (BS EN 61558-2-6) show no electrical link between primary and secondary.
03UPS symbols differentiate online (always inverting) from line-interactive (passes mains through except on failure) — annotated separately on the schedule.
04AHU (air handling unit) symbols include the fan, filter, heating/cooling coil and damper elements — each motor and heater electrically supplied separately.
05Lift drives need dedicated three-phase circuits with locked isolators in the motor room per BS 7671 Section 530 — the lift symbol shows car + counterweight + drive motor.

01 · Symbol Reference

Equipment Symbols — Complete Symbol Set

Below are every equipment symbols on the Elec-Mate symbol library, drawn to IEC 60617. Right-click any symbol to save the SVG, or use the AI Diagram Builder to drag them directly into a circuit drawing.

Electric Motor

An electric motor — typically three-phase induction. Symbol shows a circle with "M" inside. Specify phase, voltage, kW and starter type (DOL, star-delta, soft starter, VFD).

Used in: HVAC fans, pumps, lift drives, escalators, industrial machinery.

Transformer

A two-winding transformer — symbol shows two coupled coils. Step-up or step-down depending on turns ratio. Used for LV-LV (e.g. 230-12V) or HV-LV (e.g. 11kV-415V).

Used in: Doorbells, garden lighting (low voltage), 11 kV-415 V substations, isolating transformers.

UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)

An online or line-interactive UPS. Maintains supply to critical loads during mains failure (typically 10-30 minutes) until generator starts or supply restored.

Used in: Data centres, server rooms, hospital ITU, telephone exchanges, security systems.

Sub-Main

A sub-main supply — a cable feeding a distribution board from a higher-level board. Sized to handle the maximum demand of all downstream final circuits.

Used in: Multi-storey commercial, large dwellings, outbuildings, garages; sized for voltage drop on long runs.

Industrial extraction fan electrical symbol IEC 60617

Industrial Fan

A large-volume fan — axial, centrifugal or in-line. Drawn on plans where the electrical supply termination is shown. Often supplied via local isolator.

Used in: Mechanical extract, HVAC plant rooms, smoke ventilation, industrial process exhaust.

Pump

A pump driven by an electric motor — water, heating circulator, condensate, sewage. Symbol typically shows pump body with electrical termination point.

Used in: Boiler plant, water boosting, pond / pool plant, lift hydraulics, fire-fighting wet risers.

Air Handling Unit (AHU)

An air handling unit containing fans, filters, coils and dampers. Electrically intensive — fan motors, heating/cooling coil pumps, controls all need supply.

Used in: Plant rooms serving HVAC for commercial buildings, hospitals, retail, hotels.

Lift / Elevator

A lift drive — supplied from a dedicated three-phase circuit with its own isolation per BS 7671 Section 530. Lift motor rooms require lockable disconnection.

Used in: Multi-storey commercial + residential; needs locked main isolator inside motor room.

Motor control centre MCC panel board electrical symbol IEC 60617

Panel Board (Motor Control Centre)

A motor control centre or control panel housing multiple motor starters, contactors, and overload protection. PLC-controlled in modern installations.

Used in: Industrial plant rooms, water treatment, factory production lines, large HVAC plant.

02 · Symbol Reference

About Equipment Symbols

Every plant + equipment symbol — motors to UPS, transformers to MCCs — drawn to BS EN 60617 for UK installation, design and maintenance drawings.

Each symbol is drawn to IEC 60617 — the UK adoption of the international IEC 60617 standard for graphical symbols on electrical diagrams. The same symbols appear on EICR forms, distribution board schedules, single-line schematics and installation layout drawings.

Looking for symbols in a different category? See the full IEC 60617 symbol library covering switches, sockets, lighting, distribution, safety, containment, equipment, mechanical, renewables, controls and architectural symbols.

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FAQ — Equipment Symbols

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