Electrical and appliance symbols
16 electrical and appliance symbols, each with what it looks like and what it actually requires.
| Symbol | Looks like | Means |
|---|---|---|
| CE mark | The letters CE in a distinctive geometric form, the C and E drawn as arcs of the same circle. | The manufacturer declares the product meets the EU rules that apply to it. |
| UKCA mark | The letters UKCA in a plain sans-serif block. | The manufacturer declares the product meets Great Britain's rules — the British counterpart to CE. |
| UL Listed | The letters UL in a circle, with the word LISTED and a control number beside it. | A complete product tested by Underwriters Laboratories against its safety standard. |
| UL Recognized Component | A backwards UR, like a mirrored letter U joined to an R. | A component certified for use inside a larger product — not a certification of the finished item. |
| FCC mark | The letters FCC in a stylised block, the C shapes squared off. | The device meets US limits on radio-frequency interference. |
| RoHS compliant | Usually the letters RoHS in a badge, sometimes green with a tick or a leaf. There is no official artwork. | The product restricts ten hazardous substances, including lead, mercury, cadmium and four phthalates. |
| Crossed-out wheelie bin (WEEE) | A wheeled rubbish bin with a large cross through it, usually with a solid bar underneath. | Do not put this in household waste — take it to a separate collection for electrical items or batteries. |
| Crossed-out bin with Pb, Cd or Hg | The crossed-out wheelie bin with the chemical symbol Pb, Cd or Hg printed underneath it. | A battery for separate collection which also contains lead, cadmium or mercury above the reporting threshold. |
| Double insulated (Class II) | A small square drawn inside a larger square, moulded into the casing or printed on the rating plate. | The appliance is protected by two layers of insulation and needs no earth connection. |
| Protective earth (ground) | A circle enclosing a line that descends to three horizontal bars of decreasing length, like a stack of plates. | This terminal must be connected to the protective earth conductor. |
| IP rating (IP67, IPX4) | The letters IP followed by two characters, such as IP67, IP44 or IPX4. | How well the enclosure keeps out solids and water. First digit solids 0–6, second digit water 0–9. |
| EU energy label (A to G) | A ladder of coloured arrows from dark green at the top to red at the bottom, lettered A down to G, with the product's grade called out beside it. | How efficient the appliance is, on a scale from A to G, alongside consumption figures. |
| EnergyGuide label (US) | A large yellow rectangle with black text, showing an estimated yearly running cost and a bar comparing it with similar models. | The estimated annual energy cost of this appliance in the US, and how it compares with the range for its class. |
| Alternating current (AC) | A single wave — one shallow S laid on its side. | Alternating current. On a power supply it marks the mains input side. |
| Direct current (DC) | A solid horizontal line above a dashed or dotted line of the same length. | Direct current. On a power supply it marks the output side. |
| Barrel jack polarity (centre positive or centre negative) | A small circle with a dot in the middle, a C-shape around it, and plus and minus signs — the plus attached to whichever part is positive. | Which conductor of a barrel plug is positive: the inner pin or the outer sleeve. |
- CE mark The manufacturer declares the product meets the EU rules that apply to it.
- UKCA mark The manufacturer declares the product meets Great Britain's rules — the British counterpart to CE.
- UL Listed A complete product tested by Underwriters Laboratories against its safety standard.
- UL Recognized Component A component certified for use inside a larger product — not a certification of the finished item.
- FCC mark The device meets US limits on radio-frequency interference.
- RoHS compliant The product restricts ten hazardous substances, including lead, mercury, cadmium and four phthalates.
- Crossed-out wheelie bin (WEEE) Do not put this in household waste — take it to a separate collection for electrical items or batteries.
- Crossed-out bin with Pb, Cd or Hg A battery for separate collection which also contains lead, cadmium or mercury above the reporting threshold.
- Double insulated (Class II) The appliance is protected by two layers of insulation and needs no earth connection.
- Protective earth (ground) This terminal must be connected to the protective earth conductor.
- IP rating (IP67, IPX4) How well the enclosure keeps out solids and water. First digit solids 0–6, second digit water 0–9.
- EU energy label (A to G) How efficient the appliance is, on a scale from A to G, alongside consumption figures.
- EnergyGuide label (US) The estimated annual energy cost of this appliance in the US, and how it compares with the range for its class.
- Alternating current (AC) Alternating current. On a power supply it marks the mains input side.
- Direct current (DC) Direct current. On a power supply it marks the output side.
- Barrel jack polarity (centre positive or centre negative) Which conductor of a barrel plug is positive: the inner pin or the outer sleeve.