enerigitap

Energitap is a term used to describe a compact, modular energy interface that connects to an electrical source or storage to provide power to a load while measuring and controlling the flow of energy. It is used primarily in distributed energy systems and experimental setups.

A typical enerigitap includes a mechanical connector, a bidirectional power converter, current and voltage sensing, a microcontroller or embedded processor, and protection circuits such as overcurrent, overvoltage, short-circuit protection, and isolation. It can be installed inline with a supply line or integrated into a power strip or microgrid. The device negotiates the available power in systems with bidirectional power flow and delivers a regulated output setpoint. It records energy usage and can report telemetry for grid management or load monitoring.

Energitaps are applied in off-grid telecoms, remote sensing, research labs, and smart home ecosystems to provide modular power access, enable demand response, or harvest energy from existing lines for sensors and actuators. They offer modularity, scalable power provisioning, and enhanced energy accounting in distributed architectures, while emphasizing safety and compliance with electrical standards.

The term originated in academic and industry discussions about modular energy interfaces in the 2020s; various vendors market similarly functioning devices under different names, with enerigitap as a generic descriptor. See also energy harvesting, power interface, smart plug, and bidirectional converter.