This list provides a reference for common electrical terms, symbols, and shorthand used in the field. If you’re troubleshooting a circuit or reviewing a blueprint, understanding these abbreviations gives precision and consistency in electrical work.
| Abbreviation | Full Term |
|---|---|
| # | Number |
| A | Ampere |
| AC | Alternating Current |
| ACB | Air Circuit Breaker |
| ADC | Analog to Digital Converter |
| AWG | American Wire Gauge |
| CAN | Controller Area Network |
| CB | Circuit Breaker |
| CFL | Compact Fluorescent Lamp |
| CT | Current Transformer |
| DAC | Digital to Analog Converter |
| DC | Direct Current |
| DOL | Direct On Line Starter |
| DPDT | Double Pole Double Throw |
| DPST | Double Pole Single Throw |
| EMF | Electromotive Force |
| EMI | Electromagnetic Interference |
| GFCI | Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter |
| GND | Ground |
| GPIO | General Purpose Input/Output |
| HID | High Intensity Discharge |
| HMI | Human Machine Interface |
| HP | Horsepower |
| HVAC | Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning |
| Hz | Hertz |
| I2C | Inter-Integrated Circuit |
| IC | Integrated Circuit |
| IEC | International Electrotechnical Commission |
| IEEE | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers |
| kV | Kilovolt |
| kVA | Kilovolt-Ampere |
| kW | Kilowatt |
| kWh | Kilowatt-hour |
| LCD | Liquid Crystal Display |
| LED | Light Emitting Diode |
| mA | Milliampere |
| MCB | Miniature Circuit Breaker |
| MCCB | Molded Case Circuit Breaker |
| MCU | Microcontroller Unit |
| mV | Millivolt |
| NC | Normally Closed |
| NEC | National Electrical Code |
| NO | Normally Open |
| PCB | Printed Circuit Board |
| PF | Power Factor |
| PLC | Programmable Logic Controller |
| PT | Potential Transformer |
| PWM | Pulse Width Modulation |
| RCD | Residual Current Device |
| RFI | Radio Frequency Interference |
| rpm | Revolutions Per Minute |
| SCADA | Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition |
| SF6 | Sulfur Hexafluoride Circuit Breaker |
| SPDT | Single Pole Double Throw |
| SPD | Surge Protection Device |
| SPI | Serial Peripheral Interface |
| SPST | Single Pole Single Throw |
| Star-Delta | Star-Delta Starter |
| SWG | Standard Wire Gauge |
| THD | Total Harmonic Distortion |
| UART | Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter |
| UPS | Uninterruptible Power Supply |
| USB | Universal Serial Bus |
| V | Volt |
| VA | Volt-Ampere |
| VCB | Vacuum Circuit Breaker |
| VFD | Variable Frequency Drive |
| VT | Voltage Transformer |
| W | Watt |
| Ω | Ohm |
| φ | Phase |
MISUMI USA carries a wide range of electrical wiring components including – electrical conduits, electrical wiring tools, electrical tubing, and more. If you have questions about electrical engineering issues with your next project, or fix, please feel free to reach out to our product experts, and engineers. Also, if you are looking for more insights be sure to check out our other blog articles, including: Electrical Motor Calculator, Tire Tread Depth Conversion, RPM to Radian Per Second Conversion, and more.
Author: Scott Bredemann | Updated: 10/28/2025
Disclaimer:
The content on this webpage is for informational purposes only. MISUMI makes no guarantees, expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or validity of the information. Performance parameters, tolerances, designs, materials, or processes should not be assumed to reflect third-party suppliers’ or manufacturers’ deliverables within MISUMI’s network. Buyers are responsible for specifying their part requirements.