A Conversation from the EdisonReport Light + Building Studio
At Light + Building, we have a studio set up in the foyer of hall 4.1 and I am always amazed about the many diverse conversations that occur at our studio, where conversations between industry professionals reveal ideas that may shape future products. During one such discussion yesterday, I spoke with George Ellis and Zachary Baney of Digital Dots, two integrators who are exploring a concept that could simplify configuration, diagnostics, and monitoring for LED drivers.
Rethinking the Role of the LED Driver
Before the conversation moved too far along, I asked the obvious question: was this discussion off the record? The answer was no. Ellis and Baney were comfortable discussing the concept publicly, though they were quick to note that it remains a developing idea. The premise begins with a familiar component in the lighting ecosystem: the driver. But Ellis and Baney believe the driver can do much more than simply regulate power.
“Basically, we’re building a driver that uses an app for configuration,” Ellis explained. “The app connects to a cloud portal, so manufacturers can create configuration profiles that allow drivers to be mass-produced or pre-configured more easily.” The concept would allow contractors or commissioning agents to configure drivers directly from a tablet or smartphone without specialized hardware tools.
“I’m talking about connecting directly from an Android tablet or an iPad to a processor on the driver,” Ellis said. “You don’t need a separate NFC tool. You don’t need a special configuration device.” In practice, that means installers could configure fixtures already mounted in the ceiling using only a mobile device. The driver itself would also serve as a diagnostic gateway.
Turning the Driver into a Diagnostic Gateway
One of the most compelling aspects of the concept is error logging. According to Ellis, the driver could report conditions such as open circuits, power interruptions, or other failures back to a cloud infrastructure. That information could provide manufacturers with valuable insight into field performance and warranty issues.
“When things change — open circuits, power failures, those types of things — the driver communicates that back to the cloud,” Ellis said. The driver would also allow technicians to monitor DALI traffic through the same mobile application. “Without hooking up a Tridonic tool or another type of DALI testing device at the home run location,” Ellis said, “the driver becomes the window into the DALI system.”
Monitoring DALI Traffic from the Fixture
From the app, users could configure DALI settings, monitor bus activity, and diagnose issues directly from the fixture. The system is also designed to support multiple control protocols. “It’s kind of dual format,” Ellis said. “It could do Bluetooth and DALI, or Bluetooth and DMX. You can select which one is the primary control method and set up failover scenarios.” In other words, if one control path fails, another could automatically take over.
Of course, smart drivers and diagnostic tools are not entirely new. Companies such as Signify’s eldoLED division and Acuity have already introduced products with similar capabilities. But Ellis believes the configuration interface and simplified field access could distinguish this approach. “What I’m not familiar with is an app-based configuration tool that doesn’t require a Zaga-compliant NFC reader,” he said.
The hardware development itself is being supported by MwConnect, a company well known to our audience. “We work with MwConnect,” Ellis said. “They’re doing the driver development for us.” MwConnect has been expanding its role in the lighting ecosystem as a provider of wireless and connected lighting components. “They’re a phenomenal company,” Baney added.
The two integrators see themselves primarily as problem-solvers rather than product manufacturers. “We’re integrators,” Ellis said. “We develop solutions that make installation and execution easier for contractors, consultants, and designers. That’s who we work with every day.” That field experience often exposes inefficiencies in current commissioning workflows — particularly when diagnosing DALI systems or configuring drivers after installation. The goal of this project, Ellis said, is to simplify those tasks.
From Concept to Possible Commercialization
The long-term commercialization strategy could involve having MwConnect market the technology through its existing relationships with fixture manufacturers. “That’s the idea,” Ellis said. “They’re already talking to the customers who would use something like this.”
For now, the concept remains in development. But conversations like this are exactly what make Light + Building such an interesting event. New ideas often begin not with a polished booth display, but with a handful of industry veterans discussing real-world challenges and imagining better tools.
If Ellis and Baney’s concept gains traction, the humble LED driver may soon evolve into something more powerful: a diagnostic platform, configuration interface, and communication node — all accessible from a tablet in the installer’s hand.
