W REC
Recording wattmeter
A recording wattmeter measures active power and records it according to the specified instrument.
SLD / Schematic
Symbols · *
Recording instrument general symbol
General square form for an instrument that keeps a time record of a quantity rather than just displaying it.
In plain English
What does Recording instrument general mean?
A recording instrument keeps a record of a measured quantity over time, traditionally on a paper chart and now usually in memory. IEC-style diagrams draw it as a square, with the placeholder replaced by the recorded quantity, so it can be told apart from a simple indicating meter at a glance.
A simple example
The square does not say how often samples are stored, how long records are retained or how they are retrieved. Those details are what make a recording useful in an investigation, and they belong in the instrument specification rather than on the symbol.
What the drawings help you do
Identify what quantity is recorded and its source. Check how records are retrieved or exported. A recording instrument stores values against time; an indicating instrument shows only the present value.
This particular reference
General square form for an instrument that keeps a time record of a quantity rather than just displaying it. A recording instrument stores values against time; an indicating instrument shows only the present value.
- Schematic
- A drawing showing function and connections rather than physical appearance.
Read the source: IEC graphical symbols for diagrams
SLD / Schematic · *
What it represents
A recording instrument keeps a record of a measured quantity over time, traditionally on a paper chart and now usually in memory. IEC-style diagrams draw it as a square, with the placeholder replaced by the recorded quantity, so it can be told apart from a simple indicating meter at a glance.
The square does not say how often samples are stored, how long records are retained or how they are retrieved. Those details are what make a recording useful in an investigation, and they belong in the instrument specification rather than on the symbol.
How to read it
- Identify what quantity is recorded and its source.
- Check how records are retrieved or exported.
Information to show or reference
- Fill in the recorded quantity
- State sampling or chart speed
- Reference data retrieval method
A distinction that matters
A recording instrument stores values against time; an indicating instrument shows only the present value.
Sources you can follow
These public references support the explanation and provide further detail. Their graphics and downloadable files remain with their publishers.
IEC graphical symbols for diagrams
IEC context for graphical symbols used in diagrams; no IEC graphic is reproduced.
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.
Explore related references
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Indicating instrument general symbol
General circle form for any indicating instrument, with a placeholder replaced by the unit or quantity measured.
SLD / Schematic
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Integrating instrument general symbol
General rectangle-with-band form for instruments that totalise a quantity over time, such as energy meters.
SLD / Schematic
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