IEEE / ANSI · W

ANSI/IEEE shielded conductor symbol

IEEE-oriented shielded conductor drawn with a dashed or broken outline around the wire to show a shield.

In plain English

What does ANSI/IEEE shielded conductor mean?

In IEEE-oriented drawings a shielded conductor is commonly shown with a broken or dashed enclosure around the conductor, sometimes with a short lead to a ground symbol. US instrumentation drawings use it for analogue signal wiring, thermocouple extension leads and drive feedback.

A simple example

This is an independently drawn explanation of the convention, not a reproduction of the IEEE graphic. As with the IEC form, the outline does not say where the shield is grounded, which must be shown at the shield lead. Shield drain wires should have their own terminal numbers.

Identify the device and formRead the connections and stateCheck the equipment reference
A guide to reading this reference. The original symbol illustration and its drawing notes appear below; these boxes are not a wiring diagram.

What the drawings help you do

Locate the shield drain termination. Check whether the shield is grounded at one end only. A shielded conductor intercepts interference; a coaxial cable uses its outer conductor as the signal return.

This particular reference

IEEE-oriented shielded conductor drawn with a dashed or broken outline around the wire to show a shield. A shielded conductor intercepts interference; a coaxial cable uses its outer conductor as the signal return.

Terminal
An identified point where a conductor connects.
Signal
Electrical information passed between devices, rather than necessarily the main power supply.
Schematic
A drawing showing function and connections rather than physical appearance.

Read the source: IEEE/ANSI 315-1975: graphic symbols for electrical and electronics diagrams · Autodesk IEEE Symbol Preview — Miscellaneous

IEEE / ANSI · Shielded conductor with broken enclosure

Independent illustration in IEEE drafting context; no equivalence of every detailed standard graphic is asserted.

Shown as an independently authored educational illustration. Use the cited publication and drawing legend to verify the required drafting form.

Schematic · WANSI/IEEE shielded conductor symbol: original educational illustration
Original educational illustrationNot to scale · See source and graphic notes

What it represents

In IEEE-oriented drawings a shielded conductor is commonly shown with a broken or dashed enclosure around the conductor, sometimes with a short lead to a ground symbol. US instrumentation drawings use it for analogue signal wiring, thermocouple extension leads and drive feedback.

This is an independently drawn explanation of the convention, not a reproduction of the IEEE graphic. As with the IEC form, the outline does not say where the shield is grounded, which must be shown at the shield lead. Shield drain wires should have their own terminal numbers.

How to read it

  • Locate the shield drain termination.
  • Check whether the shield is grounded at one end only.

Information to show or reference

  • Show the shield ground point.
  • Assign terminal numbers to drain wires.
  • Record shield type in the cable schedule.

A distinction that matters

A shielded conductor intercepts interference; a coaxial cable uses its outer conductor as the signal return.

Sources you can follow

These public references support the explanation and provide further detail. Their graphics and downloadable files remain with their publishers.

IEEE/ANSI 315-1975: graphic symbols for electrical and electronics diagrams

Graphic-symbol standards context and official status; not a source of reproduced artwork.

IEEE Standards Association · Public reference checked 13 October 2026 · Link only

Autodesk IEEE Symbol Preview — Miscellaneous

Public IEEE-oriented earth forms used on shield drains.

Autodesk · Public reference checked 14 October 2026 · Link only

About this graphic

This illustration was authored independently by Elora Grid to explain the concept. It is not reproduced from a customer drawing, an official standard graphic or a manufacturer CAD file. Its correspondence to an exact IEC or IEEE symbol identifier has not been certified.

SVG and DXF downloads contain this original artwork. DXF uses unscaled drawing units; a GA envelope supplies no product dimensions, clearances or fabrication information. Original artwork is available under CC BY 4.0. Third-party references retain their own terms.

Entry JSON · Entry Markdown · Last editorial update: 28 October 2026

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