diff --git a/IRSender.cpp b/IRSender.cpp
index e45dcab..df44715 100644
--- a/IRSender.cpp
+++ b/IRSender.cpp
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@ IRSender::IRSender(uint8_t pin)
 
 
 // Send a uint8_t (8 bits) over IR
-void IRSender::sendIRbyte(uint8_t sendByte, int bitMarkLength, int zeroSpaceLength, int oneSpaceLength)
+void IRSender::sendIRbyte(uint8_t sendByte, int bitMarkLength, int zeroSpaceLength, int oneSpaceLength, uint8_t bitCount)
 {
-  for (int i=0; i<8 ; i++)
+  for (int i=0; i<bitCount ; i++)
   {
     if (sendByte & 0x01)
     {
diff --git a/IRSender.h b/IRSender.h
index a69cbfe..7b66a11 100644
--- a/IRSender.h
+++ b/IRSender.h
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ class IRSender
   public:
     virtual ~IRSender() = default;
     virtual void setFrequency(int frequency);
-    void sendIRbyte(uint8_t sendByte, int bitMarkLength, int zeroSpaceLength, int oneSpaceLength);
+    void sendIRbyte(uint8_t sendByte, int bitMarkLength, int zeroSpaceLength, int oneSpaceLength, uint8_t bitCount = 8);
     uint8_t bitReverse(uint8_t x);
     virtual void invert(bool inverted);
     virtual void space(int spaceLength);