How can i enable dcdc regulator

[Oguzhann]

Hi everybody,

I want to try dcdc module. I want to figure out How can i reduce current consumption.

I have a this 2 configuration in sdk_config.h

1) 

// <e> POWER_ENABLED - nrf_drv_power - POWER peripheral driver - legacy layer

//==========================================================

#ifndef POWER_ENABLE

#define POWER_ENABLED 0

#endif

// <o> POWER_CONFIG_IRQ_PRIORITY  - Interrupt priority

 

// <i> Priorities 0,2 (nRF51) and 0,1,4,5 (nRF52) are reserved for SoftDevice

// <0=> 0 (highest)

// <1=> 1

// <2=> 2

// <3=> 3

// <4=> 4

// <5=> 5

// <6=> 6

// <7=> 7

#ifndef POWER_CONFIG_IRQ_PRIORITY

#define POWER_CONFIG_IRQ_PRIORITY 6

#endif

// <q> POWER_CONFIG_DEFAULT_DCDCEN  - The default configuration of main DCDC regulator

 

// <i> This settings means only that components for DCDC regulator are installed and it can be enabled.

#ifndef POWER_CONFIG_DEFAULT_DCDCEN

#define POWER_CONFIG_DEFAULT_DCDCEN 1

#endif

// <q> POWER_CONFIG_DEFAULT_DCDCENHV  - The default configuration of High Voltage DCDC regulator

 

// <i> This settings means only that components for DCDC regulator are installed and it can be enabled.

#ifndef POWER_CONFIG_DEFAULT_DCDCENHV

#define POWER_CONFIG_DEFAULT_DCDCENHV 0

#endif

// </e>


2)

// <e> NRFX_POWER_ENABLED - nrfx_power - POWER peripheral driver

//==========================================================

#ifndef NRFX_POWER_ENABLED

#define NRFX_POWER_ENABLED 0

#endif

// <o> NRFX_POWER_CONFIG_IRQ_PRIORITY  - Interrupt priority

 

// <0=> 0 (highest)

// <1=> 1

// <2=> 2

// <3=> 3

// <4=> 4

// <5=> 5

// <6=> 6

// <7=> 7

#ifndef NRFX_POWER_CONFIG_IRQ_PRIORITY

#define NRFX_POWER_CONFIG_IRQ_PRIORITY 6

#endif

// <q> NRFX_POWER_CONFIG_DEFAULT_DCDCEN  - The default configuration of main DCDC regulator

 

// <i> This settings means only that components for DCDC regulator are installed and it can be enabled.

#ifndef NRFX_POWER_CONFIG_DEFAULT_DCDCEN

#define NRFX_POWER_CONFIG_DEFAULT_DCDCEN 1

#endif

// <q> NRFX_POWER_CONFIG_DEFAULT_DCDCENHV  - The default configuration of High Voltage DCDC regulator

 

// <i> This settings means only that components for DCDC regulator are installed and it can be enabled.

#ifndef NRFX_POWER_CONFIG_DEFAULT_DCDCENHV

#define NRFX_POWER_CONFIG_DEFAULT_DCDCENHV 0

#endif

// </e>

What is the differences between these two configurations?

and is this enough for enable dcdc regülator.

[Edvin]

Don't know. Does it work? Do any of the APP_ERROR_CHECK() return an err_code != 0? Does the register change?

What are you running the application on? The nRF52832DK, or an actual nRF52810?

Best regards,

Edvin

[Oguzhann]

I am running on the nrf52810 custom own board. I did everything that you advised me and then i read register and i see register value equals to 1. but power profiler says 0.027ua average current but i see 0.035 ua. i am confused. should i call? nrf_power_init with sd_dcdc_mode_set function?

[Edvin]

You only need one of them. If the register reads 0x00000001, then DCDC is enabled. 

Oguzhann said:

power profiler says 0.027ua average current but i see 0.035 ua.

What do you mean? Can you please share a screenshot?

[Oguzhann]

 https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/power/w/opp/2/online-power-profiler-for-bluetooth-le

in this tool, i configured all parameters as i use. but when i measure the current, there is difference. so that i confused what can i do for this differences? i have a suspect about did i enable dcdcen?

Current consumption
BLE event total charge	11.67 µC
Idle current	1.1 µA
Total average current	27 µA

[Edvin]

It is perfectly possible to have enabled DCDC and still use a lot more current. Did you actually measure the current using a PPK? If so, can you show me a screenshot of what it looks like?

In addition, anything else you do in your application will affect the power consumption. The numbers from the online power profiler only includes what is needed for the BLE to work.