Electrical device

Electric(al) devices are devices that functionally rely on electric energy (AC or DC) to drive their core parts (electric motors, transformers, lighting rechargeable batteries, control electronics). They can be contrasted with traditional mechanical devices which rely on different power sources like fuels or human physical strength. Electronic devices are a specialized kind of electric device in which the electric power is used predominantly for data processing instead of generation of mechanical forces. To better differentiate between the two classes, electric devices with an emphasis on physical work are sometimes also called electromechanical. Mechatronics emphasizes the intersection of the two fields.

Together, electronic and electric devices, their development, maintenance, power supply are the subject of electrical engineering.

While the attribute "electric(al)" has largely been dropped in current colloquial speech due to the omnipresence of electrical gadgetry and machinery, it is important to note that the concept of "devices" encompasses all mechanical tools irrespective of their power sources.

The majority of electric devices in households is stationary and -because of their considerable power consumption- relies on electrical installation, especially electric outlets instead of small electric generators, batteries, rechargeable or not.

Due to their dependence on electric power sources, in general well-evolved power grids, electric devices and their power consumption pattern have moved into the focus of smart metering.

See also

• Electrical equipment
• Power transmission

Literature

• Lindsay, J. F. (1986). Electromechanics and electrical machinery. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. ISBN 978-0132500937.
• Advanced electrical and electronic systems. NY RESEARCH PR. 2019. ISBN 978-1632386250.
• Miu, Denny K. (1993). Mechatronics : electromechanics and contromechanics. New York: Springer-Verlag. ISBN 978-0387978932.