Energy supply device for a plurality of energy consumers connected thereto

In an energy supply device (10) for a plurality of energy consumers (3) that are connected to said energy supply device, wherein the energy supply device exhibits a predetermined maximum power outputs wherein the improvement comprises:

• a monitoring device provided for the output power and which prevents the energy supply device (10) from exceeding the predetermined maximum output power and wherein the energy supply device (10) is designed for the purpose of subsequently attaching additional consumers.

The energy supply device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy supply device is an electric power supply device (10).

The energy supply device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is designed to stop the switching on of an additional energy consumer, if by switching on, the predetermined maximum power output would be exceeded.

The energy supply device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy consumers (3), which are to be connected to the energy supply device (10), are assigned a priority, so that the monitoring device is designed for switching off at least one energy consumer having a low priority, if by switching on an additional energy consumer, the predetermined maximum power output would be exceeded.

The energy supply device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monitoring device for checking and controlling the power output to the attached consumers (3) comprises a microcontroller control unit (7).

The energy supply device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is designed for switching off all of the attached consumers (3), when an overload of the energy supply device (10) such as a consequence of a short circuit is detected.

The energy supply device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is provided with an activatable and deactivatable energy saving device, by means of which the attached consumers (3) are put into a state of minimum energy consumption.

The energy supply device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is provided with a temperature measuring device, by means of which the energy output to the attached consumers (3) is throttled or rather switched off upon exceeding an internal threshold temperature.

The energy supply device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an interface with a CHAIN bus for attaching the energy supply device to an already existing network such as a home appliance network.

A bus system, comprising:

• at least one power bus (4) for connecting a plurality of energy consumers (3) to an energy supply device (10);
• and
• at least one data bus (5), which is used to communicate between a control unit (7) and the plurality of energy consumers (3) that are attached, in order to check and to control power output of the energy supply device (10) to the energy consumers (3).

A furniture article comprising at least one energy supply device as claimed in claim 1.

A building system comprising at least one energy supply device as claimed in claim 1.

A building comprising at least one energy supply device as claimed in claim 1.

A method of monitoring and controlling energy output of an energy supply device (10) so as to prevent exceeding a predetermined maximum power output, comprising:

• providing a monitoring device that prevents the energy supply device (10) from exceeding the predetermined maximum output power and wherein the energy supply device (10) is designed for the purpose of subsequently attaching additional consumers, wherein the energy consumers (3), which are to be connected to the energy supply device (10), are assigned a priority, so that the monitoring device is designed for switching off at least one energy consumer having a low priority, if by switching on an additional energy consumer, the predetermined maximum power output would be exceeded.