Hello Lighting Tamers,
Percy Here. I’m here to talk about the Weblink Backpack! It’s a device that you can control from your phone that allows you to dim or animate your neon sign and it was designed by James Akers in one simple package. This little backpack is a physical device that you can connect to a tech 22 neon transformer or any transformer with a controller wire receptive to 3.3 volt DC control signals..
James Akers created this product to simplify the interface between controllable, AC input neon transformers and a programmable microcontroller. Designed to eliminate the need for a second wire going to the transformer from a low voltage DC power supply, and the need to solder up a breakout board or wire to the microcontroller. The “weblink backpack” as he calls it, is able to create an invisible, but wifi accessible interface for dimming and controlling neon lights. He has used an earlier version at a 2025 exhibition at FOCI, “Embracing Fallibility,” and at the Glass Art Society Conference at the Arlington-Fort Worth Art Walk.
The following products from tech 22 are those that this is compatible with:
| 110 volts AC Neon Transformer | |
| Gen3-8k30/C | 8kv30ma t22s (with control inputs) |
| Gen3-8k20/C | 8kv20ma t22s (with control inputs) |
| Gen3-5k30/C | 5kv 30ma t22s (with control inputs) |
| Gen3-5k20/C | 5kv 20ma t22s (with control inputs) |
| 230-240 volts AC Neon Transformer | |
| Gen3-8k20/230/C | 8kv 10ma t22s (with control inputs) |
| Gen3-5k30/240/C | 8kv 30ma t22s (with control inputs) |
If you’ve signed up for the mailing list, you would have seen this product pop up for pre-order. Why pre-order, and what does that mean?
- Pre-ordering helps us plan supply for this product.
- Shipping date after September 9th, 2026
In this case, James wants to know who’s interested in having a controller for their neon signs.
The world of neon is expanding into accessible spaces like public-access glass studios, standalone neon schools, museums, and universities.
Neon bending has its own challenges, and animation requires a strong electrical and programming background. A simple interface lets casual users test the waters of possibility, while those with more intermediate to advanced coding experience can reprogram the device with their own sequences.
