diff --git a/device.hpp b/device.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5378d8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/device.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <memory>
+#include <string>
+
+namespace witherspoon
+{
+namespace power
+{
+
+/**
+ * @class Device
+ *
+ * This object is an abstract base class for a device that
+ * can be monitored for power faults.
+ */
+class Device
+{
+    public:
+
+        Device() = delete;
+        virtual ~Device() = default;
+        Device(const Device&) = delete;
+        Device& operator=(const Device&) = delete;
+        Device(Device&&) = default;
+        Device& operator=(Device&&) = default;
+
+        /**
+         * Constructor
+         *
+         * @param name - the device name
+         * @param inst - the device instance
+         */
+        Device(const std::string& name, size_t inst) :
+            name(name),
+            instance(inst)
+            {
+            }
+
+        /**
+         * Returns the instance number
+         */
+        inline auto getInstance() const
+        {
+            return instance;
+        }
+
+        /**
+         * Returns the name
+         */
+        inline auto getName() const
+        {
+            return name;
+        }
+
+        /**
+         * Pure virtual function to analyze an error
+         */
+        virtual void analyze() = 0;
+
+        /**
+         * Pure virtual function to clear faults on the device
+         */
+        virtual void clearFaults() = 0;
+
+    private:
+
+        /**
+         * the device name
+         */
+        const std::string name;
+
+        /**
+         * the device instance number
+         */
+        const size_t instance;
+};
+
+}
+}