IEC 60617 Electrical Symbols — Schematic Editor with Full Symbol Library
IEC 60617 — Graphical symbols for diagrams
IEC 60617 is the international standard that defines the graphical symbols used in electrotechnical diagrams — the visual vocabulary shared by electrical engineers, panel builders, and machine designers across every industry and jurisdiction. Published by the International Electrotechnical Commission, it covers the complete range of symbols required to document a machine electrical system: from normally-open contacts, normally-closed contacts, and coils through to motors, transformers, measurement instruments, protection devices, bus bars, terminals, sensors, and signal lines. Using IEC 60617 ensures that a schematic drawn in one country or organisation is unambiguously readable by any engineer trained to the standard.
MechanixCalc implements the IEC 60617 symbol library inside a browser-based electrical schematic editor that lets engineers compose compliant ladder diagrams across multiple sheets, run a built-in cable-sizing engine to IEC 60364-5-52, and export the finished design as a branded PDF engineering report — without installing any software. The editor enforces the rung-based ladder convention (contacts left, coils right, numbered rungs per sheet) and supports cross-reference tags between sheets, an automatic bill of materials, and PNG/SVG export for integration into project documentation packages.
Calculators that implement IEC 60617
What IEC 60617 covers
- Binary (on/off) device symbols — normally-open contact (─/ ─), normally-closed contact (─/─), and coil (─( )─) for relay, contactor, and PLC ladder rungs (IEC 60617-7)
- Power device symbols — three-phase motors, single-phase motors, transformers (core and air types), circuit breakers, fuses, disconnect switches, and earth symbols (IEC 60617-6 and -10)
- Measurement and sensing symbols — ammeters, voltmeters, power meters, thermistors, pressure switches, limit switches, proximity sensors, and photoelectric devices (IEC 60617-8)
- Conductor and bus symbols — single conductors, cable bundles, power bus bars, control bus lines, signal lines, terminal blocks, junction points, and crossing (no-connection) conventions (IEC 60617-3)
- Signal-flow and identification conventions — rung numbering, cross-reference notation linking a coil on one sheet to its auxiliary contacts on another, sheet-to-sheet cable references, and device tag-number formats consistent with the IEC 60750 / IEC 81346 reference-designation system
- Multi-sheet diagram structure — the standard supports splitting a machine electrical system across multiple drawing sheets (power circuit, control circuit, I/O diagram) with all sheets forming a single coherent document, consistent with IEC 60617 application conventions and BS EN 61082-1 diagram preparation rules
Parts of the standard
- IEC 60617-2Symbol elements, qualifying symbols and other symbols having general application
- IEC 60617-3Conductors and connecting devices
- IEC 60617-4Passive components
- IEC 60617-5Semiconductors and electron tubes
- IEC 60617-6Production and conversion of electrical energy
- IEC 60617-7Switchgear, controlgear and protective devices
- IEC 60617-8Measuring instruments, lamps and signalling devices
- IEC 60617-9Telecommunications: switching and peripheral equipment
- IEC 60617-10Telecommunications: transmission
- IEC 60617-11Architectural and topographic installation plans and diagrams
- IEC 60617-12Binary logic elements
- IEC 60617-13Analogue elements
Frequently asked questions
What is IEC 60617 used for?
IEC 60617 defines the graphical symbols used in electrotechnical diagrams — the standardised visual vocabulary for electrical engineering drawings. It covers contacts, coils, motors, transformers, protection devices, conductors, bus bars, measurement instruments, sensors, and signal lines across its 13 parts. Any engineer or contractor reading a schematic drawn to IEC 60617 can identify every component without an organisation-specific legend. It is the mandatory symbol standard in Europe and is the international reference in most of Asia, the Middle East, and wherever IEC standards are adopted.
What is the difference between IEC 60617 and NEMA / ANSI symbols?
IEC 60617 and the NEMA / ANSI schematic symbol convention both represent the same electrical components, but the graphical forms differ significantly. For example, IEC 60617 shows a normally-open contact as two short parallel lines separated by a gap, while the US NEMA symbol uses two diagonal lines. IEC 60617 is standard in Europe, international projects, and IEC-adopting countries; NEMA/ANSI symbols are predominant in North American industrial practice. The MechanixCalc Electrical Schematic editor follows IEC 60617 throughout.
Which parts of IEC 60617 does the schematic editor implement?
The editor's symbol library draws on the categories most relevant to power and control circuit documentation: IEC 60617-3 (conductors, terminals, bus bars), IEC 60617-6 (motors, generators, transformers), IEC 60617-7 (contacts, coils, circuit breakers, fuses, protection relays), and IEC 60617-8 (measurement instruments and sensors). The editor also applies the rung-and-rail ladder convention and cross-sheet reference notation consistent with IEC 60617 application practice and IEC 61082-1 (preparation of documents used in electrotechnology).
Does the editor support multi-sheet ladder diagrams with cross-references?
Yes. The editor supports any number of sheets within a single project. Each sheet has independently numbered rungs. When a relay coil on Sheet 1 has auxiliary contacts on Sheet 2, you can add cross-reference tags so the coil symbol shows the sheet and rung of its contacts, and vice versa — which is the standard convention for industrial machine electrical documentation. All sheets export together as a single combined PDF report.
Is the IEC 60617 schematic editor free?
You can explore the editor and draw schematics during a free 30-minute preview with no sign-up required. A free 14-day account trial (no credit card needed) unlocks the full editor including cable sizing, BOM export, and all IEC 60617 symbol categories. The branded PDF engineering report and saved schematics are part of a paid Pro plan.
Related standards
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