LearnElectricals · Reading Electrical Drawings

Reading Electrical Drawings

Drawings are the electrician's language: if you can read them, you can find a fault in any panel, even one you have never seen before. In this course you will learn the types of drawings, read IEC and NEMA symbols, understand terminal numbers and cross-references, and read the control circuit, the single line and the panel and terminal drawings. At the end you will trace faults from the drawing with a multimeter.

7 lessons · drawings you can zoom and run · simulations · final exam and certificateCompletion certificate
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Before you start: this course assumes you understand voltage and current, can use a multimeter, and know how contactors and relays work. If not yet, start with the Electrical Basics course → and the Classic Control course →, then come back here.

How to study here

  1. Read the explanation: one idea per part, in plain words
  2. Open the drawing: pinch or press + to zoom, and tap any device or reference
  3. Run the circuit: press the buttons and see where the current flows
  4. Answer the exercises and questions to complete the lesson

Lessons in order; each lesson builds on the one before

Course Completion Certificate

Symbols follow IEC 60617 and ANSI/NEMA, device tags follow IEC 81346, and device terminals follow IEC 60947. The drawings here are teaching examples: the machine's own drawings and their legend page are the reference. Work on panels only if you are qualified and authorised, and isolate and lock off (LOTO) before any work. Your progress is saved on this device only.
© 2026 LearnElectricals. All rights reserved. This site is not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned (such as Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Delta, Schneider and others); names and trademarks belong to their owners and are used only to explain the devices.