{"schemaVersion":1,"slug":"indicating-instrument-general-symbol","name":"Indicating instrument general symbol","kind":"symbol","abbreviation":"*","aliases":["indicating meter general form","measuring instrument circle","instrument with asterisk"],"category":"measurement-protection","drawingTypes":["SLD","Schematic"],"referenceFamilies":["IEC"],"summary":"General circle form for any indicating instrument, with a placeholder replaced by the unit or quantity measured.","description":["In IEC-style diagrams an indicating instrument is drawn as a circle, and the asterisk inside is replaced by the unit symbol or quantity, such as V, A, Hz or cos φ. The general form is useful in legends and in early design drawings when the exact instrument is not yet chosen.","Because the placeholder carries all of the meaning, an unfilled general symbol tells the reader only that some reading is shown at that point. The drawing must still state the measuring connection, scaling from instrument transformers and whether the instrument is analogue or part of a digital meter."],"readingNotes":["Replace the placeholder with the actual unit before issue.","Read the circle together with its measuring connections."],"drawingChecklist":["Fill in the measured quantity","Show instrument transformer ratios","List the instrument in the schedule"],"distinction":"The circle is the indicating form; recording instruments use a square and integrating instruments use a rectangle with a band.","facts":[{"label":"Shape convention","value":"Circle, placeholder replaced by unit"},{"label":"Family","value":"Indicating instruments"},{"label":"Preview","value":"Independent educational concept; consult the applicable standard and project legend for the exact graphic"}],"references":[{"sourceId":"iec-diagrams","relevance":"IEC context for graphical symbols used in diagrams; no IEC graphic is reproduced."},{"sourceId":"pub-symbol-instrumentation","relevance":"Public AutoCAD Electrical listing of instrument symbols built on the indicating form."}],"related":["voltmeter","ammeter","recording-instrument-general-symbol"],"artwork":"s28-indicating-instrument-general-symbol","publishedOn":"2026-10-28","updatedOn":"2026-10-28","provenance":"independent-public-research","plainEnglish":{"title":"What does Indicating instrument general mean?","introduction":"In IEC-style diagrams an indicating instrument is drawn as a circle, and the asterisk inside is replaced by the unit symbol or quantity, such as V, A, Hz or cos φ. The general form is useful in legends and in early design drawings when the exact instrument is not yet chosen.","example":"Because the placeholder carries all of the meaning, an unfilled general symbol tells the reader only that some reading is shown at that point. The drawing must still state the measuring connection, scaling from instrument transformers and whether the instrument is analogue or part of a digital meter.","drawings":"Replace the placeholder with the actual unit before issue. Read the circle together with its measuring connections. The circle is the indicating form; recording instruments use a square and integrating instruments use a rectangle with a band.","terms":[{"name":"Winding","meaning":"A coil of conductor inside an electrical machine or transformer."},{"name":"Terminal","meaning":"An identified point where a conductor connects."},{"name":"Schematic","meaning":"A drawing showing function and connections rather than physical appearance."}],"diagram":"flow","steps":["Identify the device and form","Read the connections and state","Check the equipment reference"],"caption":"A guide to reading this reference. The original symbol illustration and its drawing notes appear below; these boxes are not a wiring diagram.","sources":[{"label":"IEC graphical symbols for diagrams","url":"https://tc3.iec.ch/tc-activity/graphical-symbols-for-diagrams/"},{"label":"AutoCAD Electrical: Instrumentation and sensors","url":"https://help.autodesk.com/cloudhelp/2021/ENU/AutoCAD-Electrical/files/GUID-773A36C3-44C6-43EB-9BD0-E0297816B9B2.htm"}],"detail":"General circle form for any indicating instrument, with a placeholder replaced by the unit or quantity measured. The circle is the indicating form; recording instruments use a square and integrating instruments use a rectangle with a band.","profileId":"reviewed-symbol-20261028"},"url":"https://eloragrid.ai/symbols/indicating-instrument-general-symbol","illustration":{"url":"https://eloragrid.ai/tools/electrical-library/illustrations/indicating-instrument-general-symbol.svg","scope":"Original educational concept; not an official standard graphic or product footprint","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"sources":[{"id":"iec-diagrams","title":"IEC graphical symbols for diagrams","publisher":"IEC","url":"https://tc3.iec.ch/tc-activity/graphical-symbols-for-diagrams/","type":"standard","scope":"IEC 60617 and related symbol-design publications. Full database access requires a subscription.","checkedOn":"2026-10-13","reuse":"link-only","relevance":"IEC context for graphical symbols used in diagrams; no IEC graphic is reproduced."},{"id":"pub-symbol-instrumentation","title":"AutoCAD Electrical: Instrumentation and sensors","publisher":"Autodesk","url":"https://help.autodesk.com/cloudhelp/2021/ENU/AutoCAD-Electrical/files/GUID-773A36C3-44C6-43EB-9BD0-E0297816B9B2.htm","type":"cad-reference","scope":"Public vendor catalogue naming and functional variants. Vendor block names are not IEC identifiers. Linked for reference; no graphics or CAD files are redistributed.","checkedOn":"2026-10-13","reuse":"link-only","relevance":"Public AutoCAD Electrical listing of instrument symbols built on the indicating form."}]}