A voltage driver includes a voltage input, a voltage regulation controller including an on/off input. The voltage regulation controller is configured to control a switching converter in a first mode, a second mode, and at least one additional mode. The switching converter is configured to operate as an open pass switch in the first mode, is configured to operate as a closed pass switch in the second mode, and is configured to operate as an overcurrent and overvoltage protection switch in the at least one additional mode. A discrete output driver control and monitoring circuit can be used to control the switching converter. The output driver control and monitoring circuit includes a controller coupled to a communication bus and is configured to provide high level control instructions to the communication bus.