Electrical symbols on wiring diagrams: meanings, how to read and what they mean.

Electrical Symbols

The wiring diagrams in vintage
manuals were often just “one-line diagrams” using a single line and graphic
symbols to indicate the path of current and the components of the electrical
circuit.  The electrical symbols can look like cryptic squiggles to the DIY mechanic.

As you can see in the 1964
Triumph TR6 {6 volt system} diagram below, they did not help to locate the rectifier on the
bike itself.

The Triumph diagram is a pretty
simple example.  The wire colors are clearly
identified and there is even a key showing the symbols used for each connector
type.

However the more electrical
items on the machine, the more complicated the schematic gets.  Also if you don’t know what all those symbols
mean, it is just a bunch of little squiggles.

Use the chart below to
differential your potentiometer from a ground as well as switch types.

Modern Electrical Symbols

Most modern bike wiring diagrams
use one line per wire to indicate the path of the wires and labeled graphic
symbols to show the components and connections of the electrical circuit while
giving you the basic idea of where on the bike these components are located.

Electrical symbols used in current schematics most often are drawn to look like the components they represent. 

If you are interested in more
types of wiring diagrams and their electrical symbols here is a link to a
University of Florida document that is very informative.

There are many wiring schematics located within WeeksMotorcycle.com, for both current and vintage machines.  Use our Search feature or browse below.

Honda Motorcycle Wiring Diagrams

Suzuki Motorcycle Wiring Diagrams

Yamaha Motorcycle Wiring Diagrams

The Need to Know pages are filled with reference material of this type.  They can be helpful to the do it yourself mechanic during projects ranging from a “bike in a box” to upgrading a vintage 6 volt system to a modern 12 volt to enable the use of LED lighting or the addition of accessories.


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