diff --git a/devices/util/hardware_device.py b/devices/util/hardware_device.py
index 3dea7b7c06c5fea821895f958823ff80e3aafa72..e0c9154c703a7cb82c42e9cdd7db76d68a011e05 100644
--- a/devices/util/hardware_device.py
+++ b/devices/util/hardware_device.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class hardware_device(Device):
         self.set_state(DevState.INIT)
         self.setup_value_dict()
 
-        self.initialise()
+        self.configure_for_initialise()
 
         self.set_state(DevState.STANDBY)
 
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class hardware_device(Device):
 
         :return:None
         """
-        self.on()
+        self.configure_for_on()
         self.set_state(DevState.ON)
 
     @command()
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ class hardware_device(Device):
         # Turn off
         self.set_state(DevState.OFF)
 
-        self.off()
+        self.configure_for_off()
 
         # Turn off again, in case of race conditions through reconnecting
         self.set_state(DevState.OFF)
@@ -138,18 +138,18 @@ class hardware_device(Device):
 
         :return:None
         """
-        self.fault()
+        self.configure_for_fault()
         self.set_state(DevState.FAULT)
 
 
     # functions that can be overloaded
-    def fault(self):
+    def configure_for_fault(self):
         pass
-    def off(self):
+    def configure_for_off(self):
         pass
-    def on(self):
+    def configure_for_on(self):
         pass
-    def initialise(self):
+    def configure_for_initialise(self):
         pass
 
     def always_executed_hook(self):