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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/ham-battery-schematic-symbol

Which component uses alternating long and short parallel lines?

Battery.

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  1. Resistor
  2. Battery ✔
  3. Transistor

Why: Alternating long and short parallel lines are the symbol for a battery. On the exam, it is component 4 in Figure T-1.

Huh, didn't know that: The longer line in a battery symbol indicates the positive side.

The dad joke
Why does the battery symbol have a long line? It likes to show its positive side.
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References

Answer: Battery. Alternating long and short parallel lines are the symbol for a battery. On the exam, it is component 4 in Figure T-1.

  1. NCVEC 2026-2030 Technician Question Pool, T6C05 ncvec.org/downloads/2026-2030%20Technician%20Pool%20and%20Syllabus%20Public%20Release%20Feb%2019%202026.pdf
    D. Battery
    Checked 2026-10-09.

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