Green LED only flashing once

[DrRobb]

Just finished my kit and during the testing phase I didn't realize that the green LED was supposed to continue flashing throughout the cycle. My LED flashes once and quits.. Examining the LED through a digital camera confirms that the IR LEDS also only flash once.. Is this a bad flash on the preprogrammed chip or something else? Just looking for someone to point me in the right direction..

[adafruit]

do you have good alkaline batteries?

[hopperomatic]

I seem to be having the same problem... I think.

I get one green flash only when I hit the reset button. Checking the IR LEDs through a camera viewfinder confirms that they all flash only once, too.

Brand new batteries showing good strength on my MM.

Just to make sure, I've tried the device on 1/2 dozen U.S. TVs to no avail.

[DrRobb]

Update..

Put in new fresh batteries.. The first set was unused but old.. They showed full voltage, but must have been weak under load.. New batteries worked perfectly..

[adafruit]

great, thanks for the note. the tvbgone needs a lot of power, and if the battery voltage dips, it will reset.
good to hear you got it working
hopper can you try the same thing?

[hopperomatic]

My bad. One of my old batteries snuck into my new bulk battery purchase pile.

The problem was, in fact, fixed by putting in fresh batteries.

What's the max voltage I can send to the kit? I see you've OK'd 4.5V, but how about 5V?

I've read your arguments against using 9V over AA here:
http://www.ladyada.net/make/mintyboost/process.html
...but will I get more lifetime with the same footprint if I use a 9V with a 5V regulator (I have a bunch of these)? My dysfunctional AA combo was putting out 2.7V and it was resetting, so I'm inclined to go higher voltage accepting the inefficiencies that I'll get with a 9V and regulator, or is this more about mA output?

If I need to be schooled in electricity, please just send me a link instead of a reply

[adafruit]

5V is the max. you will still get a lot more life from AA's than 9V, even without a boost converter. for max life and max distance, use 3 high quality alkalines AAs!