Well this is the response I got from heliproz: "I believe the cold light string driver is really designed to be run off of 9 volts or less. (though the packaging doesn't specify voltage) I've heard of people using a 3 cell lithium battery, but ONLY if two light strings are attached to the driver. Otherwise the result will be what you have described. My suggestion to you would be to purchase a small 2 cell lithium battery to power your light string, or if you really want to use 3 cell, make certain you have connected both light string ropes." Kind of disapointed in the customer service of Align and Heliproz at this point. Any recomendations where I should get a new driver?