Dec 10, 2021 21:30
2 yrs ago
33 viewers *
English term
United States
Not Just Words: Results.
Native in: French (Variants: Standard-France, Belgian) 
Works in: English to French, French, Dutch to French
load
English to French
Tech/Engineering
Electronics / Elect Eng
book
Any device that consumes electrical energy is called a load (e.g., a water pump, tv, lights, or computer, fan, etc.).
I'm translating a book on do-it-yourself solar system installation. The word 'load' typically would be translated as "charge", but in this context, a load is actually a device. Can't find the term in French.
I'm translating a book on do-it-yourself solar system installation. The word 'load' typically would be translated as "charge", but in this context, a load is actually a device. Can't find the term in French.
Proposed translations
(French)
| 4 -1 | appareil électrique |
Alexander Akel
|
| 4 +6 | consommateur |
Tony M
|
| 5 | charge |
Johannes Gleim
|
| 4 -2 | dispositif de chargement |
MassimoA
|
Change log
Dec 10, 2021 21:34: Marguerite Storm changed "Field (write-in)" from "blog post, blog posting" to "book"
Proposed translations
-1
1 hr
Alexander Akel
Canada
Canada
Native in French
Canada
10 yrs of airline industry experience
Native in: French (Variants: Swiss, Belgian, Canadian, Standard-France)
Works in: English to French, French, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
appareil électrique
I think "charge" is ok personally. See the Larousse definition.
I would personally use "appareil électrique" as it would seem to me like the best way to describe a load in a context like this one.
"appareil électrique en veille" if you are referring to those on standby (Vampire power)
I would personally use "appareil électrique" as it would seem to me like the best way to describe a load in a context like this one.
"appareil électrique en veille" if you are referring to those on standby (Vampire power)
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Tony M
: Yes, but this is layman's language, not really ideal in a more technical context. The source text uses it in a conceptual sense, whereas this is rather too detailed and specific.
7 hrs
|
| disagree |
Johannes Gleim
: An electric appliance or equipment is no 'load', but may create a load for the mains. 'load' has the uniit "Watt" or "VA" and referst to the consumed energy. See IEC.
4 days
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "First, I want to thank all of you who have provided answers and very helpful explanations and references. Second, I believe the word 'load' is an unfortunate (and confusing) choice by the author for devices like a fan or a hairdryer. Consommateur might be the right term but since this is a book for lay people and do it yourselves I will go with 'appareil électrique'."
+6
9 mins
consommateur
This is one of the words we use for this in the technical field — récepteur is another, although I think perhaps less suited to the specific context you have here (subject to what the rest goes on to say, of course!)
The only thing I don't know is if this is entirely suitable for your seemingly less formal document.
The only thing I don't know is if this is entirely suitable for your seemingly less formal document.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Cyril Tollari
: récepteur
13 hrs
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Merci, Cyril ! Je crains simplement que ce terme soit dans un régistre légèrement trop « formel » pour le document concerné.
|
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| agree |
Herbie
: more appropriate than récepteur in my view; btw: our term is "Verbraucher"
13 hrs
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Thanks, Herbie! Yes 'utilisateur' would have been good here too, except for the connotation of the PERSON.
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| agree |
Samuël Buysschaert
16 hrs
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Merci, Samuël !
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| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
17 hrs
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Thanks, Yvonne!
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| agree |
Daryo
18 hrs
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Thanks, Daryo!
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| agree |
Schtroumpf
1 day 14 hrs
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Thanks, Schtroumpf!
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-2
11 hrs
dispositif de chargement
Speaking of solar panels, I find it more pertinent to translate with "dispositif de chargement".
Perhaps a few more details would be needed, given that - in the field of solar panels - it is topical to charge the solar panel.
Perhaps a few more details would be needed, given that - in the field of solar panels - it is topical to charge the solar panel.
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Tony M
: Absolutely wrong in Asker's context! This would be a 'loading device' — either for loading a lorry, ship, etc.; or possibly a 'load' that is required on the end of a feeder or seomthing, but that's not what the text here is discussing.
41 mins
|
| disagree |
Daryo
: noticed the part "Any device that consumes electrical energy"? / you would need a truckload of "poetic licence" to turn "taking" into "giving" (electrical energy) // unfortunately, technical texts don't like "poetic license", positively hate it ...
6 hrs
|
12 hrs
Johannes Gleim
Specializes in field
40 years Engineer, 20 years translations
Native in: German
Works in: English to German, German to English, French to German, and 6 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
339
charge
Please distinguish between 'load' and 'device'. A load can be measured, but a device cannot.
load
the amount of weight carried,
the amount of electrical power that is supplied
the amount of work to be done by a person:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/load
4 The amount of power supplied by a source; the resistance of moving parts to be overcome by a motor.
4.1 The amount of electricity supplied by a generating system at any given time.
‘To estimate your electrical load, total the wattage of all the equipment you'll operate at one time.’
https://www.lexico.com/definition/load
In the previous example, the light bulbs are the LOAD of the generator. The EM2500 generator can handle a LOAD of no more than 2500 watts maximum.
https://www.generatorjoe.net/html/understandingloads.html
Permanent heating appliances also have a fairly heavy electrical load, and most require their own dedicated circuits. Allowing these appliances to share a circuit with other devices can easily overload the circuit, since by nature they have a fairly heavy power draw, especially when they first startup.
https://www.thespruce.com/calculate-safe-electrical-load-cap...
Cette énergie provient du générateur qui fait circuler le courant c'est-à-dire qui met en mouvement les charges électriques par sa force électromotrice.
https://webetab.ac-bordeaux.fr/Pedagogie/Physique/Physico/El...
Lorsque vous utilisez un appareil possédant un moteur (climatiseur, fournaise à air pulsé, pompe à eau, etc.), vous devez considérer qu’il consomme de 2 à 3 fois plus de puissance pour démarrer. Il est donc important de bien gérer la puissance et l’ordre des charges appliquées à votre génératrice.
https://www.outillagemp.com/fr/produits/conseils/18-calculez...
• CHARGE, subst. fém.
• CHARGER, verbe trans.
I.− Action, fait de charger quelqu'un ou quelque chose.
:
- ÉLECTRICITÉ
♦ Quantité d'électricité; en partic., quantité d'électricité statique emmagasinée dans un accumulateur.
https://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/charge
Traduction: Tout appareil qui consomme de l'énergie électrique est appelé une charge (par exemple, une pompe à eau, une télévision, des lumières, ou un ordinateur, un ventilateur, etc.).
Explanation: Car il charge la source d'énergie (l‘appareil consomme l'énergie).
load
the amount of weight carried,
the amount of electrical power that is supplied
the amount of work to be done by a person:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/load
4 The amount of power supplied by a source; the resistance of moving parts to be overcome by a motor.
4.1 The amount of electricity supplied by a generating system at any given time.
‘To estimate your electrical load, total the wattage of all the equipment you'll operate at one time.’
https://www.lexico.com/definition/load
In the previous example, the light bulbs are the LOAD of the generator. The EM2500 generator can handle a LOAD of no more than 2500 watts maximum.
https://www.generatorjoe.net/html/understandingloads.html
Permanent heating appliances also have a fairly heavy electrical load, and most require their own dedicated circuits. Allowing these appliances to share a circuit with other devices can easily overload the circuit, since by nature they have a fairly heavy power draw, especially when they first startup.
https://www.thespruce.com/calculate-safe-electrical-load-cap...
Cette énergie provient du générateur qui fait circuler le courant c'est-à-dire qui met en mouvement les charges électriques par sa force électromotrice.
https://webetab.ac-bordeaux.fr/Pedagogie/Physique/Physico/El...
Lorsque vous utilisez un appareil possédant un moteur (climatiseur, fournaise à air pulsé, pompe à eau, etc.), vous devez considérer qu’il consomme de 2 à 3 fois plus de puissance pour démarrer. Il est donc important de bien gérer la puissance et l’ordre des charges appliquées à votre génératrice.
https://www.outillagemp.com/fr/produits/conseils/18-calculez...
• CHARGE, subst. fém.
• CHARGER, verbe trans.
I.− Action, fait de charger quelqu'un ou quelque chose.
:
- ÉLECTRICITÉ
♦ Quantité d'électricité; en partic., quantité d'électricité statique emmagasinée dans un accumulateur.
https://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/charge
Traduction: Tout appareil qui consomme de l'énergie électrique est appelé une charge (par exemple, une pompe à eau, une télévision, des lumières, ou un ordinateur, un ventilateur, etc.).
Explanation: Car il charge la source d'énergie (l‘appareil consomme l'énergie).
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Tony M
: That's exactly the point! Here, we are not talking about the 'measured load', but generically about 'devices that constitute a load'; although this could be used, I don't think it is the best term to use in idiomatic EN.
17 mins
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In German I'd all it 'Last', same etymological root as 'load'. This is the generic term for devices or burdens consuming energy from a source, stressing or loading the supply network.
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Discussion
It is not our job as translators to attempt to "correct" the source text; in your texte here, it is clear that they are talking about 'loads' in the most general sense, of which they merely give a few representative examples.
By taking it to a more specific 'electrical device', you are in effect over-translating.
In native EN, we talk all the time about 'load' in exactly this sense — both in familiar, everyday language, and also in everyday practical engineering language.
The semantic difference on which your are insisting is a very academic one, and a 'load' does not have to be quantified.
The device has a resistor that limits the current I = U/R. The current I loads (burdens) the generator and the mains, causing a voltage drop inside the generator and on the electrical network.
This term is clearly defined by the International Electrical Commission and is also used accordingly by all professionals in the field.
You wouldn't translate a phrase like 'The man is a load', but 'the man carries a load'. It' the same with electricity: Not 'the device is a load', but 'the device creates a load'. In this case, it's a value with the unit "kg" or 'lbs'.
I would inform the client about the error the editor made (and translate the sense, instead of the wording).
https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ie...
récepteur <=> receiver, voir https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ie...
https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ie...
https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ie...
récepteur <=> optical detector, voir https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ie...
appareil électrique <=> electric (device), voir https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ie...
charge <=> load, voir https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ie...
https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ie...
charge <=> burden, voir
https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ie...
dispositif de cargement <=> charging (device), voir https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ie...
Area Instrument transformers / General and common terms IEV ref321-01-26
en rated burden the value of the burden on which the accuracy requirements of a specification are based
fr charge assignée (d'un transformateur de mesure) f
charge de précision, f valeur de la charge à laquelle sont rapportées les exigences de précision d'une spécification
de Bemessungsbürde,
https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ie...
Incidentally, in the major industry software I translate, 'Verbraucher' is indeed the word used for 'récepteur' in the DE version of the software.
Verbraucher = load = consommateur, at least in the transformer and switchgear industry.