# Create transfomer symbol consisting of two circles

I am drawing a simple power system in a single line diagram and want to define a shape for a transformer, which looks like two partly overlapping circles. I have already defined styles for generators and impedances using \tikzset. By doing this I can easily draw generators and impedances using the node command. However, I haven't figured out how to do this for the transformer as it consists of two circles not one. Does anyone know an easy way to define this transformer shape, such that I can easily create one with the the node command?

• Welcome to TeX.SE! To draw the above figure, you can use very simple TikZ command \draw (0,0) circle (1cm); \draw (0,1) circle (1cm); but please explain more about the size of the shape, how you use the shape, etc. – user156344 Feb 4 '19 at 10:13
• Hi, thanks for the reply. Your solution is how I do it now, but I was wondering how to define a style for this. I have added more details in my question now. – Sigurd Hofsmo Jakobsen Feb 4 '19 at 11:06
• It sounds like you should take a look at circuitikz. Then you can do e.g. \draw (0,0) to[ioosource] (0,2); – StefanH Feb 4 '19 at 11:22
• Hi, the circuittikz also works :) Many thanks. – Sigurd Hofsmo Jakobsen Feb 4 '19 at 12:10
• – John Kormylo Feb 4 '19 at 15:56

A for loop is an answer for you here:

\documentclass{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
\begin{document}

\tikzset{
mycirc/.pic={
\foreach \w in {0,1} {
\draw (0,\w) circle (1cm);
}
}
}

\begin{tikzpicture}
\pic at (2,2) {mycirc};
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}


which will give you:

Even you can change the design choices of your transformers:

\documentclass{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
\begin{document}

\tikzset{
main/.style ={circle, inner sep=0pt, minimum size=0.6cm, dashed},
mycirc/.pic={
\foreach \w in {0,1} {
\draw[main] (0,\w) circle (1cm);
}
}
}

\begin{tikzpicture}
\pic at (2,2) {mycirc};
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}


which will give you:

• Hi, many thanks. Your solution looks exactly, like what I was thinking about. One question. Is it possible to change your code such that I can draw the shape using the following command: \node[mycirc] (pos) {};. For the generator shape I get this behavior, when I write .style where you have written .pic. – Sigurd Hofsmo Jakobsen Feb 4 '19 at 12:08
• @SigurdHofsmoJakobsen It will not work (I think), because, it is not a style instead it is a picture ;) But if you want to draw it with mypic then you need to define a custom macro for that purpose (which is out-of-scope of this question here :D). [off-topic] IMHO, it is an over-kill :D – Raaja_is_at_topanswers.xyz Feb 4 '19 at 12:16
• Ok, many thanks. Yes, I don't want to define a custom macro, it does seem a bit overkill ;P. Anyway, your proposal work fine for my purpose :) – Sigurd Hofsmo Jakobsen Feb 4 '19 at 12:27
• Ofc, I just didn't know it was a button for that. – Sigurd Hofsmo Jakobsen Feb 4 '19 at 12:37
• No problems, now you know :) Happy TeXing :D or must I say TikZing :D – Raaja_is_at_topanswers.xyz Feb 4 '19 at 12:42