Electrical, electronic

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Sometimes there's a preference, sometimes there's a distinction.

When a distinction is made, usually

• electric/electrical - involving electricity

• electronic - electrical and involving many small parts

For example,

• consider electrical system, electrical engineering, electrical worker - all in the general sense.

each of these could be electronic as well, but are then understood to be more specific

• an electrical ballast distinguishes it from, say, ballasts on ships

whereas an electronic ballast is a modern design, distinguishing it e.g. from the older choke ballast

• in metaphor, you'ld probably use the more general 'electronic'

• if you work with electronics, the difference becomes smaller

but would probably use 'electrical' for voltage and current (by nature broader descriptions)