Consumption of electrical and electronic equipment

Before we consider the differences, it is a good idea to look at what they have in common.

Firstly, we talk about them in the same way, using the acronym EAE to signify both electrical and electronic devices.

Another feature that electrical and electronic devices share is that they use electrical current or electromagnetic fields as a power source. So, both use the same type of energy, but while the former convert it into another form of energy, the latter use it to process information.

Moreover, both are part of our lives. In everyday life, we use many electrical appliances. In fact, any home is full of them, starting with the kitchen, where we will find the largest number of appliances with these characteristics, such as washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, blenders, microwaves, food processors or coffee machines. Other common electrical appliances in the home include a television, router, speakers, iron, or bathroom appliances such as a hairdryer. In addition to our homes, there are even some that go with us everywhere we go, such as our smartphones, wireless headphones, or tablets.

As for electronic devices, although there may be fewer of these, they are still as vital and useful to us. Could we live without computers?

The fact that they are so commonplace and so essential to our daily lives, means that their useful life is limited and we generate a huge amount of waste containing these objects. This makes them a key target for recycling their renewable materials. Some say they offer three times more recycling opportunities than any other solid waste, so to avoid their negative impact on human health and the environment, we must make sure they are appropriately collected, handled and processed. For example, did you know that aluminium, copper and different metals extracted from refrigerators can be recycled and used again in production processes?

These days, recycling these types of device is no longer optional. Since 2018, most must now be recycled by law. As well as those already targeted by legislation, such as temperature exchange devices, monitors, screens, lamps, computer equipment and photovoltaic panels, others are being added such as lamps, plugs, sensors, controllers, motors, transformers and office consumables.

"For many of these devices recycling is not optional, but an obligation."

Types of electrical appliances

Although they all require a nominal voltage that does not exceed 1,000 volts in alternating current and 1,500 in direct current, we can still classify them into different categories, the main and most common of which is size.

Large household appliances.

We have already listed many of them, and it is easy to think of the largest ones. So as not to repeat ourselves, we would also mention heaters and radiators, ovens and air conditioning equipment. And we are not just talking about household objects, we are also referring to things such as gym equipment, medical devices for detecting and treating diseases and vending machines.

Small appliances.

As you have well imagined, indeed, they are the ones that take up less space, like a razor, an electric toothbrush, a toaster, a lamp or a children's toy.

Types of electronic devices

There are several ways of classifying them. Let's look at these devices and how we can categorise them:

By internal structure.

Input devices. These are things like touch screens, keyboards, mice, etc.

Information processing devices. These include microchips, transistors, printed circuits or capacitors.

Output devices. Projector screens, printers, headphones, etc.

By components.

Independent. Some components are known as "discrete", and contain the simplest minimum units possible. These, in turn, can be passive if they do not transform the signals they receive, such as capacitors; or active if they amplify or reduce the signal, as happens with transistors.

Integrated. These are more complex circuits, since they are made up of the previous components as well as a board made of a semiconductor material that can be combined with or added to another circuit. There are also systems which are microscopic yet still complex, such as microchips. 

"Electronic devices can be classified by their internal structure and components."