Wiring Diagram Symbols

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I have a 17th Edition qualification and a lifetime in engineering. I am doing a full rewire on my dad's bungalow and I'm determined to do a 100% proper job.

To adequately document the installation drawings are required showing the position of cables and wiring accessories, and schematic diagrams for the mains gear and for each final circuit. I have worked with many symbol standards over the years, (BS376, MTTA, DIN to name a few), so I have tried to find which is applicable to domestic work today. BS 7671 makes mention of IEC60617 (Regulation 514.9.2), but I can find no resource for this online, except a subscription for an AutoCad library.

Can anyone help?
 
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I just want to know what the symbols are. For what is a one-off project, I can happily draw the diagrams by hand. Like we used to do before CAD.
 
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Not exactly definitive, from an accredited Standards organization, but if it's what the house wiring industry use, who am I to criticise?
 
Not exactly definitive, from an accredited Standards organization....
That surely doesn't matter if all you want to do is to clearly document the electrical installation in your dad's bungalow, does it? Even if you used totally 'non-standard' symbols, of your own creation, it would still be perfectly clear provided you defined what each symbol represented.

Kind Regards, John
 
They are certainly on the back-cover-flappy-bit of the Electrician's Guide to the Building Regulations.
 
To adequately document the installation drawings are required showing the position of cables and wiring accessories, and schematic diagrams for the mains gear and for each final circuit.
Required by whom?

Not by you, unless you are worryingly forgetful.

Not by an electrician, as there isn't going to be one (and anyway, how many domestic electricians know the symbols).

Not by Building Control, surely? That would be a mad and pointless level of detail. The only "plan" you need to give them re electrical work is "I plan to comply with BS 7671".
 
Required by whom?
Not by Building Control, surely? That would be a mad and pointless level of detail. The only "plan" you need to give them re electrical work is "I plan to comply with BS 7671".

My LABC asked me for detailed plans of layout and even cable routes before they would consider my application. Apparently, because I could only notify under my employer, I was to be treated as a complete novice. They also told me they would require access for inspections at each stage, but no more than two...o_O
 
The symbols are not in the 4th edition of the Electricians Guide to the 17th Edition. I am 59 and in good health, but I am not arrogant enough to think that will always be so. The bungalow will still be in family ownership long after my brain has ceased to be reliable. I would like to make things easier, and safer for all who come after. In any event, it is good practice, and might even prevent a silly error on my part, to have drawings before construction.
 
I am 59 and in good health, but I am not arrogant enough to think that will always be so. The bungalow will still be in family ownership long after my brain has ceased to be reliable. I would like to make things easier, and safer for all who come after. In any event, it is good practice, and might even prevent a silly error on my part, to have drawings before construction.
That's all fair enough, and very laudable/sensible - but, as I wrote earlier, the only requirement is that your documentation should be clear enough for anyone (including yourself) to be able to understand it in the future. That does not require the symbols to be in accordance with any formal standard (which many/most electricians probably wouldn't be aware of, anyway) and, if they are not 'obvious' (as I suspect most will be), they should be defined within the documentation.

Kind Regards, John
 
IEC60617 is from circa 1993, its old and mainly in French.
The symbols look crap, much better to go for something people recognise.

"Symbols for what" is what I'd ask, which particular items you want symbols for?
 

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