'Electrical' vs 'Electronic'.

[carl1984]

At work, I was asked to make a sign for the ground floor, explaining that other hair straighteners are available upstairs.

I wrote "Our full range of electronic styling products is available on the first floor". However, I was told I was wrong, and had to change it to 'electrical styling products'.

I wasn't aware there was a difference, so I had a look at the products, and on the back of one box I found it said "Electronically controlled hair straighteners".

So I'm just curious to know what defines the difference between 'electrical' and 'electronic'. :)

[rojash]

According to Wikipedia, "the distinction is that electrical engineers are usually concerned with using electricity to transmit energy, while electronics engineers are concerned with using electricity to transmit information". In the case of heated rollers, straighteners, etc., it is the transmission of energy (heat) that's important, so "electrical" is probably a better term. Of course, most modern appliances now have electronic (maybe even computerised) control systems, even if only for the maintenance of correct temperature, so I don't think you were actually wrong in what you wrote - just that perhaps in this context "electrical" is probably more appropriate.

[carl1984]

That makes sense I suppose :) That also explains why one set of straighteners were 'electronically controlled', since they probably had a built-in temperature gauge. Thank you for the response.

[Ethel]

I think that in everyday non-technical usage, electrical describes an end product such as the hair straighteners, and electronic refers to bits that go inside them.

[Rufio]

I concur with Ethel.

[rojash]

I'm afraid I don't. For example, a computer is an electronic end product which contains some electrical components (e.g. the fans). A radiant electric fire is an electrical end product, and so are all the components that go to make it up.

[carl1984]

So rojash is correct? Electrical processes electricity (like the fire, converting it into heat) and electronic processes information (like a computer)?

[macurious]

Just to be more confusing,my son is an electronics technician but no way is he an electrician!