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Comparison Between Electrical & Electronics Engineering

Difference Between Electrical & Electronics Engineering

These two Engineering fields may sound the same but in details, they are both worlds apart.

Based on the fact that both of these fields Electrical & Electronics Engineering deals with electricity makes them similar. But the reality is that the similarity ends right there.

Comparison Between Electrical & Electronics Engineering

Electrical Vs Electronics Engineering & Devices

Electrical Engineering deals with systems & devices that convert electrical energy into different forms of energy such as, motors converts it into mechanical energy, Heater converts into heat energy & so on. These devices are known as Electrical Devices.

On the other hand, Electronics Engineering deals with the systems & devices that control the flow of electrons based on the logic or signal provided by the user depending on the circumstance. One simple example of an Electronic device is a Transistor, which can either operate as a switch or an amplifier depending on the input signal.

The simplest difference between Electrical & Electronic devices is that the former does not possess the decision-making capabilities while Electronic Engineering & devices operate on decision-making capabilities.

Comparison Table

For better understanding, a summarized comparison table of Electrical & Electronics Engineering is provided below.

Electrical Engineering

Electronics Engineering

Deals with devices run on mostly Alternating Current Deals with devices mostly run on Direct current
Does not have the capability of decision making Works on decision-making capabilities to perform a specific task.
Deals with high AC voltage ratings ranging from 110-220 V (domestic) to 400 KV (in Industries) Deals with voltage rating mostly from 3 to 12v DC
Deals with the electrical conductors made of Copper or Aluminum Deals with the semiconductors such as Silicon & Germanium.
Deals with devices having a large physical size Mostly deals with devices having small sizes
Deals with high current ratings which is considered dangerous Mostly Deals with low current ratings which are considered safe to work.
Needs safety gear known as Personal Protection Equipment PPE Does not require a special safety gear except for some cases.
Applications are Electrical energy transmission & conversion to mechanical Energy Deals with processing & execution of specific response according to the input signal.

Combination of Electrical & Electronics

Modern day appliances use both electrical and electronic circuitry to work more efficiently. For example, Industries use DC drives for speed control of DC motors. So a DC drive is an Electronic Device that regulates the speed of the DC motor while the DC motor is an Electrical device that converts the electrical energy into mechanical energy.

One comment

  1. Mark Shoemaker BSEE, MBA, DFSS

    So, with electronic and electrical circuity, why is there an electrical engineering degree that includes both?

    I have a BSEE which included electrical and electronic circuits.

    I think that the BSEE covers both, separately and/or combined.

    Why the intense desire to differentiate these as separate topics?

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