Correct labelling beside DC socket?

[Steve S]

What is the correct symbol that should be next to a DC socket that takes a
barrel type plug from a wall wart power supply? I've seen a dotted line
above a continuous line and also the other way around (dotted *below*
continuous line).

Could someone tell me which way around is correct please? Or are both
equally correct?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Ban]

What is the correct symbol that should be next to a DC socket that
takes a barrel type plug from a wall wart power supply? I've seen a
dotted line above a continuous line and also the other way around
(dotted *below* continuous line).

Could someone tell me which way around is correct please? Or are both
equally correct?

Thanks,
Steve

You can choose whatever you like, there is no common convention or
specification AFAIK. Mr. Woodgate will correct me if I'm wrong. Maybe a
semi-circle for the outer conductor is intuitive. The same socket can also
be used for low voltage AC supply BTW, in which case the polarity won't
matter.

 

[Leon Heller]

What is the correct symbol that should be next to a DC socket that takes a
barrel type plug from a wall wart power supply? I've seen a dotted line
above a continuous line and also the other way around (dotted *below*
continuous line).

Could someone tell me which way around is correct please? Or are both
equally correct?

Things that use those plugs usually have a polarity symbol next to the
socket. I'd copy one of those.

Leon

 

[ChrisGibboGibson]

The circle and dot show the polarity. That is intuitively simple.

A single bold straight line shows it expects to be fed with a regulated supply.
A bold line paralleled with a dotted line shows it expects to be fed with an
unregulated supply with a nominal voltage as written..

I have seen the dotted line above and below the solid line.

Gibbo

 

[Steve S]

The circle and dot show the polarity. That is intuitively simple.

A single bold straight line shows it expects to be fed with a regulated supply.
A bold line paralleled with a dotted line shows it expects to be fed with an
unregulated supply with a nominal voltage as written..

I have seen the dotted line above and below the solid line.

Gibbo

Thanks Gibbo. I'm using unregulated DC so from what you and others have said
either way around is fine. I've got the circle and dot arrangement in place
to indicate polarity too.

Steve

 

[John Woodgate]

You can choose whatever you like, there is no common convention or
specification AFAIK. Mr. Woodgate will correct me if I'm wrong. Maybe a
semi-circle for the outer conductor is intuitive. The same socket can
also be used for low voltage AC supply BTW, in which case the polarity
won't matter.

The OP appears to be asking for the symbol for 'DC', not for the
connector. The ISO/IEC symbol has the dotted line below the sold line.

The symbol for the connector is indeed a '-C' for the outer contact,
with an 'o-' embedded in it for the inner contact. It's a symbol that's
difficult to simulate compactly in ASCII art.

 

[Steve S]

The OP appears to be asking for the symbol for 'DC', not for the
connector. The ISO/IEC symbol has the dotted line below the sold line.

The symbol for the connector is indeed a '-C' for the outer contact,
with an 'o-' embedded in it for the inner contact. It's a symbol that's
difficult to simulate compactly in ASCII art.
--
Regards, John Woodgate, OOO - Own Opinions Only.
The good news is that nothing is compulsory.
The bad news is that everything is prohibited.
http://www.jmwa.demon.co.uk Also see http://www.isce.org.uk

Many thanks John - yes it was the standard for the solid line and dotted
line that I was after. I've got the circle/dot system already in place
(copied from other kit). I will use the ISO/IEC system you've stated -
dotted line below solid line.

Steve

 

[CFoley1064]

Subject: Re: Correct labelling beside DC socket?

From: John Woodgate [email protected]
Date: 12/18/2004 1:45 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id: <[email protected]>

The OP appears to be asking for the symbol for 'DC', not for the
connector. The ISO/IEC symbol has the dotted line below the sold line.

The symbol for the connector is indeed a '-C' for the outer contact,
with an 'o-' embedded in it for the inner contact. It's a symbol that's
difficult to simulate compactly in ASCII art.

--- (DC)
/ \ -------
| - - - -
| O------------
|
\ /
---
|
o------------
|
===
GND
created by Andy´s ASCII-Circuit v1.24.140803 Beta www.tech-chat.de

You're right -- not compact at all. (;-)

Chris

 

[John Woodgate]

I read in sci.electronics.design that CFoley1064 <[email protected]>

You're right -- not compact at all. (;-)

You can do a bit better than that:

_
/ \
----| o----
\_/

.... but it's hardly elegant.

 

[Pooh Bear]

What is the correct symbol that should be next to a DC socket that takes a
barrel type plug from a wall wart power supply? I've seen a dotted line
above a continuous line and also the other way around (dotted *below*
continuous line).

Could someone tell me which way around is correct please? Or are both
equally correct?

Those markings relate to the supply not the connector.

I see John Woodgate's reply pretty much replicates what I was about to say.

If you're designing something to take a wall wart - please put a diode bridge
after the socket so that it's not polarity sensitive. It's such a pain
otherwise. Better still, add a reservoir cap so it'll run off AC or DC !

Graham

 

[Pooh Bear]

The circle and dot show the polarity. That is intuitively simple.

They do ?

Curious that some wall warts are supplied with a polarity reverser then !

A single bold straight line shows it expects to be fed with a regulated supply.
A bold line paralleled with a dotted line shows it expects to be fed with an
unregulated supply with a nominal voltage as written..

I have seen the dotted line above and below the solid line.

Intuitively that would seem to suggest polarity to me. I would expect the general
public to uderstand though.

If the socket isn't polarity insensitive, I'd mark it clearly with a plus and minus
symbol next to the connector.

Graham

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

The symbol for the connector is indeed a '-C' for the outer contact,
with an 'o-' embedded in it for the inner contact. It's a symbol that's
difficult to simulate compactly in ASCII art.

I like this one, which is very clear, if you have the room for it.
They don't show the symbol for DC-out on this adapter.

http://www.speff.com/adapter_label.jpg

 

[John Woodgate]

I read in sci.electronics.design that Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlog

I like this one, which is very clear, if you have the room for it.
They don't show the symbol for DC-out on this adapter.

http://www.speff.com/adapter_label.jpg

It's clear but there is now an attempt to make standard that the centre
contact is positive. Note 'make standard' not 'make a standard' - it's
far too late for that.