Flora - Power not consistent from battery

[apenna]

Hi there!

I'm using a Flora board to power 19 NeoPixels. When I power the board using USB I get consistent light from the NeoPixels (even when I move the tutu (yes, tutu!) around). When I power the board from the AAA battery pack though, the light isn't consistent. Is seems as if when I push the male connector from the batter pack to a certain side of the female connector on the board it makes a connection - but when I leave it in a neutral position it doesn't.

I'm guessing it's either the connector on the board, or at the end of the battery pack.

Do you have any suggestions about what I could do to get the LEDs to consistently light up?

Thanks!
Ashley

[Franklin97355]

You could try putting a (VERY) small bend in the pins in the plug to see if that helps.

[apenna]

I gave that a shot and it didn't work. I'm noticing that when I pull slightly on the wires at the end of the connector from the battery they move some. I wonder if this is causing them not to make consistent contact?

[apenna]

I've sent an email to the support address that has a video of the problem as well (couldn't upload it on this forum).
Thanks!

[apenna]

Here is the video, I put it on youtube. Thanks!
http://youtu.be/XwxacI8bYN0

[Franklin97355]

OK it looks like a bad connection somewhere. Did you check the socket on the Flora to see if the pads may have come loose? If they have you might be able to fix it. Otherwise please email [email protected] with a link to this thread for a
replacement.

[apenna]

The pads don't look to be disconnected. I'll email support. Thanks!

[apenna]

UPDATE: I received the replacement board, but saw the same thing! I then started to suspect the battery pack. It seemed like where the wires went into the connector, they were a bit loose. I removed the connector from the wire and directly soldered the battery pack wires onto the board (see picture). I then was able to get the neopixels to consistently light! This isn't a great long-term solution, but it showed me that the battery pack was actually the problem.
Adafruit - Is it possible for me to get a replacement battery pack?