# Single battery cell

Canonical URL: https://eloragrid.ai/symbols/battery-single-cell
Publisher: Elora Grid
Updated: 2026-10-28
Lookup label: GB cell
Drawing use: Schematic
Reference families: IEC, IEEE / ANSI

One electrochemical cell drawn as a single long plate and short plate pair, marking cell-level voltage and polarity.

## In plain English

### What does Single battery cell mean?

The single cell symbol is one long line for the positive plate and one shorter, often thicker, line for the negative plate. It represents one electrochemical cell, for example a 2 V lead-acid cell or a nominal 3.2 V lithium iron phosphate cell, and is the building block from which battery symbols are composed.

### A simple example

It appears on schematics where cell-level detail matters, such as cell monitoring connections, a backup cell on a controller board or a pilot cell for temperature and voltage measurement in a stationary battery. On power single-line diagrams the multi-cell battery symbol is normally used instead.

### What the drawings help you do

The symbol shows polarity but not chemistry, capacity or nominal voltage, all of which must be labelled. Drawing one cell does not mean the battery has one cell; check whether the drawing uses a single cell glyph as shorthand for a whole battery.

### This particular reference

One electrochemical cell drawn as a single long plate and short plate pair, marking cell-level voltage and polarity. A single cell is one plate pair; the battery symbol repeats plate pairs or adds a dashed line between them to show several cells.

### Terms

- Terminal: An identified point where a conductor connects.
- Rating: A value stating the conditions for which equipment is specified.
- Schematic: A drawing showing function and connections rather than physical appearance.

Concept diagram: Identify the device and form → Read the connections and state → Check 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.

- [IEC graphical symbols for diagrams](https://tc3.iec.ch/tc-activity/graphical-symbols-for-diagrams/)
- [IEEE/ANSI 315-1975: graphic symbols for electrical and electronics diagrams](https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/315/515/)


## What it represents

The single cell symbol is one long line for the positive plate and one shorter, often thicker, line for the negative plate. It represents one electrochemical cell, for example a 2 V lead-acid cell or a nominal 3.2 V lithium iron phosphate cell, and is the building block from which battery symbols are composed.
It appears on schematics where cell-level detail matters, such as cell monitoring connections, a backup cell on a controller board or a pilot cell for temperature and voltage measurement in a stationary battery. On power single-line diagrams the multi-cell battery symbol is normally used instead.
The symbol shows polarity but not chemistry, capacity or nominal voltage, all of which must be labelled. Drawing one cell does not mean the battery has one cell; check whether the drawing uses a single cell glyph as shorthand for a whole battery.

## How to read it

- The longer plate is positive.
- Confirm whether the glyph is a true single cell or a simplified battery.

## Information to show or reference

- State chemistry and nominal cell voltage.
- Mark polarity.
- Reference monitoring connections if any.

## Important distinction

A single cell is one plate pair; the battery symbol repeats plate pairs or adds a dashed line between them to show several cells.

## Facts

- Plates shown: One long, one short
- Polarity: Long plate is positive
- Preview: Independent educational illustration; exact standard graphic not certified

## Public references

- [IEC graphical symbols for diagrams](https://tc3.iec.ch/tc-activity/graphical-symbols-for-diagrams/) — IEC. IEC graphical symbol context for cells and batteries.
- [IEEE/ANSI 315-1975: graphic symbols for electrical and electronics diagrams](https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/315/515/) — IEEE Standards Association. IEEE/ANSI graphic-symbol context for cells.

## Graphic scope

Independent original educational concept illustration by Elora Grid. Not a certified standards graphic or manufacturer footprint. Unitless; not to scale. Original artwork licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Publisher material is linked only.