Polarity symbols


Polarity symbols are a notation found on electrical devices that use direct current power, when this is or may be provided from an alternating current source via an AC adapter. The adapter typically supplies power to the device through a thin electrical cord which terminates in a coaxial power connector often referred to as a "barrel plug". The polarity of the adapter cord and plug must match the polarity of the device, meaning that the positive contact of the plug must mate with the positive contact in the receptacle, and the negative plug contact must mate with the negative receptacle contact. Since there is no standardization of these plugs, a polarity symbol is typically printed on the case indicating which type of plug is needed.
The commonly used symbol denoting the polarity of a device or adapter consists of a black dot with a line leading to the right and a broken circle surrounding the dot and with a line leading to the left. At the ends of the lines leading right and left are found a plus sign, meaning positive, also sometimes referred to as "hot", and a minus sign, meaning negative, also sometimes referred to as "cold".
The symbol connected to the dot denotes the polarity of the center/tip, whereas the symbol connected to the broken circle denotes the polarity of the barrel/ring. When a device or adapter is described simply as having "positive polarity" or "negative polarity", this denotes the polarity of the center/tip.