Electrical device

{{Short description|Devices that use electricity for functioning}}

Electrical devices or electric devices are devices that functionally rely on electric energy (AC or DC) to operate their core parts (electric motors, transformers, lighting, rechargeable batteries, control electronics). They can be contrasted with traditional mechanical devices which depend on different power sources like fuels or human physical strength. Electronic devices are a specialized kind of electrical devices in which electric power is predominantly used for data processing rather than the generation of mechanical forces. To better differentiate between both classes, electric devices that emphasize physical work are also called electromechanical. Mechatronics accentuates the intersection of both fields.

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

The majority of electric devices in households is stationary and — due to their considerable power consumption — relies on electrical installation, especially electric outlets instead of small electric generators, batteries, rechargeable or not.{{cite web | title=Equipment of households with electrical household appliances and others (Germany) | website=Federal Statistical Office | date=2019-10-29 | url=https://www.destatis.de/EN/Themes/Society-Environment/Income-Consumption-Living-Conditions/Equipment-Consumer-Durables/Tables/liste-equipment-households-electrical--household-appliance-others-germany.html | access-date=2021-07-10}}{{cite web | title=Power Consumption of Typical Household Appliances | website=Daft Logic | url=https://www.daftlogic.com/information-appliance-power-consumption.htm | access-date=2021-07-10}}{{cite web | last=Mechanical | first=American | title=Appliance Outlet Specifications | website=American Mechanical, Inc. | date=2014-04-25 | url=https://www.americanmechanicalva.com/blog/2014/april/what-kind-of-outlets-does-my-appliance-need-/ | access-date=2021-07-10 | archive-date=2021-12-29 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229082545/https://www.americanmechanicalva.com/blog/2014/april/what-kind-of-outlets-does-my-appliance-need-/ | url-status=dead }}

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.{{cite journal |title=Electrical Devices Identification Through Power Consumption Using Machine Learning Techniques [IJSSST V17] |journal=International Journal of Simulation: Systems |date=2016 |volume=17 |issue=32 |doi=10.5013/IJSSST.a.17.32.13|s2cid=40196858 }}