Stepwise Tap Help for Homeowners

Stepwise Tap™ is an intelligent load management device that helps you add a high-power appliance when your electrical panel has limited capacity.

Tap is installed between your electrical panel and one controlled appliance, such as an EV charger, electric water heater, hot tub, or certain HVAC loads. It monitors your home’s total electricity use and automatically adjusts the controlled appliance when necessary to keep your home within its configured electrical limit.

For many homes, this can provide a faster and more affordable alternative to upgrading the electrical panel or utility service. A licensed electrician should determine whether Tap is appropriate for your home and project.

Stepwise Tap continuously monitors how much electricity your home is using. When sufficient capacity is available, the connected appliance can operate normally. If your home approaches its configured electrical limit, Tap temporarily reduces the electricity available to that appliance.

With a compatible EV charger or vehicle, Tap can dynamically adjust the charging rate instead of simply turning charging on and off. This helps maintain the fastest charging speed your home can safely support at that moment.

For other appliances, Tap can temporarily interrupt the controlled circuit when capacity is limited and restore it automatically when more capacity becomes available.

Stepwise Tap can manage many high-power, 208–240V residential appliances, including:

• Level 2 EV chargers

• Electric water heaters

• Hot tubs and certain pool equipment

• Resistive heating and HVAC loads

• Snow-melt systems

• Other eligible high-power appliances

Tap controls one appliance circuit while monitoring the electrical use of the home or panel. Some equipment has special electrical, operating, or manufacturer requirements, so compatibility should be confirmed before installation.

If you are considering a heat pump, variable-speed equipment, or another specialized appliance, contact Stepwise or ask your electrician to confirm the recommended configuration.

No. Stepwise Tap does not require WiFi for its core load-management and electrical-protection functions. Once properly installed and configured, Tap continues monitoring and managing the connected appliance if the internet goes down.

Connecting Tap to WiFi is still strongly recommended. An internet connection enables features such as:

• Device registration and remote monitoring

• Home energy and panel-capacity data

• Remote troubleshooting and support

• Software and firmware updates

• Dynamic charging integrations with compatible EV chargers or vehicles

If Tap becomes disconnected from WiFi, its core offline load-management function continues to operate, but connected features may be unavailable until the connection is restored.

After installation, your electrician should configure Stepwise Tap for your electrical service and connected appliance, verify that the monitoring sensors are installed correctly, and test the system.

You should also:

1. Register the Tap and connect it to your home’s 2.4 GHz WiFi network.

2. Confirm that the correct appliance or EV charger is selected during setup.

3. Ask your electrician to explain where Tap is installed and which appliance it controls.

4. Access the Stepwise portal to view device status and, when available, home energy and panel-capacity data.

Most of the time, your connected appliance should operate normally. When your home is using a large amount of electricity, Tap may temporarily reduce or pause the controlled appliance. With compatible EV charging equipment, the charging speed may automatically increase or decrease as household capacity changes.

If your appliance does not have power immediately after installation, repeatedly loses power under normal household conditions, or does not behave as expected, contact your electrician or Stepwise Support.

Based on the hundreds of devices we’ve monitored in the field, 95–100% of the time appliances run at full power. Stepwise only steps in when it has to.

Most homes are not using every major appliance at full power at the same time.

A home may have a dryer, dishwasher, water heater, heat pump, solar, and everyday lights and outlets. But peak electrical demand usually happens only during short windows when multiple large loads overlap. Stepwise ensures your panel is safe during those brief moments.

Here’s a quick info sheet.