Both PLC and DCS are extensively used in industrial automation to control and automate a machine or a process. Both PLC and DCS monitor the input and field signals and take the decisions based on how they are programmed. There are many differences between PLC and DCS which we will highlight in this article. Let's start with some basics of PLC and DCS so that it becomes easier to understand the differences between them. What is a PLC? PLC stands for Programmable Logic Controller. The PLC is a microcontroller device that is used to control and automate a machine ... Read More

Electrical power is produced at the power generating plants which are located far away from the load centers. Therefore, we need to transport the electrical power generated at the power generating plant to the points of utilization or load points. For this purpose, two major systems of conductors are developed called transmission system and distribution system. Both transmission and distribution systems are further classified into two types namely, Overhead system Underground system In the overhead system of transmission and distribution, the overhead line wires supported by poles are used for power transportation; while in the underground system, insulated ... Read More

Ordinary light and LASER light are both forms of electromagnetic waves, hence they can travel at the same speed, i.e., speed of light, in vacuum. However, there are several differences between an ordinary light and LASER light. One major difference is that the ordinary light has a mixture different wavelength whereas the LASER light is monochromatic, i.e. has only one wavelength. Other differences between ordinary light and LASER light are listed in the table given below. What is Ordinary Light? An ordinary light is the type of electromagnetic radiation having many wavelengths and is incoherent light. As the ordinary ... Read More

Several types of devices are used to emit light. The two special devices that are used as the source of light in flashlights, traffic signals, medical instruments, etc. are LED and LASER. Both LED and LASER can emit electromagnetic radiation in the form of light. Although, these are different from each other. In this article, we will highlight all the major differences between LED and LASER. Let's start with some basic information about LED and LASER so that it becomes easy to understand the differences between them. What is LED? LED stands Light Emitting Diode. The LED is a ... Read More

In any electric circuit (AC or DC), the electric power is one of the major electrical quantity. The electrical power is broadly classified into three types namely active power, reactive power and apparent power. These three types of electric powers are measured in different units. Where, the active power is measured in Watts (W), the reactive power is measured in Volt Ampere Reactive (VAR) and the apparent power is measured in Volt Ampere (VA). But in practice, these powers are measured in larger units, i.e., kW (kilo-Watt), kVAR (kilo Volt Ampere Reactive), and kVA (kilo Volt Ampere). Read through this ... Read More

In electronic circuits, we use an electronic device called operational amplifier (Op-Amp). The operational amplifier is a high-gain multistage differential amplifier. It has two inputs and one output, where the input terminals are named as inverting terminal and non-inverting terminal. The inverting terminal of the Op-Amp is marked with positive (+) polarity, whereas the noninverting represents the negative (-) polarity terminal. Depending on the circuit configuration, the operational amplifier is classified into two types namely, Inverting Amplifier Non-Inverting Amplifier This article is meant for explaining the differences between an inverting amplifier and a noninverting amplifier. But before that, ... Read More

The terms diode and rectifier are extensively used in electronics engineering. Sometimes, both these terms seam similar because they perform similar functions. However, there are many differences between a diode and a rectifier. This article is meant for explaining the differences between diode and rectifier. But before discussing the differences, it is advantageous to learn the basics of these two devices so it becomes easier to understand the differences between them. What is a Diode? A diode is a two terminal semiconductor device that allows the flow of electric current only in one direction. Therefore, the diode can ... Read More

A transformer is a static electrical machine that is used to increase or decrease the voltage and current in an AC (Alternating Current) system. Based on construction, the transformers are broadly classified into following two types Core Type Transformer Shell Type Transformer In this tutorial, we will highlight all the major differences between a core type transformer and a shell type transformer. But before discussing the differences, let's understand the basics of core type and shell type transformer, so that it becomes easier to understand the differences between them. What is a Core Type Transformer? In the ... Read More

There are two most popular MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) technologies namely CMOS and NMOS which are widely used in the field electronics and power electronics such as in ASICs, memories, processors, etc. Nowadays, the CMOS technology is one of the leading semiconductor technology. It is because the CMOS technology dissipates less power when compared to the bipolar and NOMOS technology. In this tutorial, we will discuss the major differences between CMOS technology and NMOS technology. But before discussing the differences, let's get a brief overview of what the CMOS and NMOS technologies are. What is CMOS Technology? CMOS stands ... Read More

A power plant is an interconnected system of various electrical equipment that is used to generate electricity. The major components of a power plant include an alternator (or generator), a prime mover, control system, a generating transformer, etc. The prime mover is a mechanism that drives the alternator or generator to produce electrical energy. The control system governs the parameters such as voltage, power factor, reactive power, frequency, etc. of the generating system. The generating transformer is to step up the voltage of the generated power for transmission purpose. Nowadays, several types of power plants are being used for power ... Read More