How much ripple is normal when using the PPK2 in Source-Meter Mode? Also does this device offer any short-circuit protections?

[Samatmarkas]

Hi.
I'm finally bought a PPK2 to test some of self-built IoT devices. 

I do have a question in regard to the device (before I break anything). Does it offer any types of short circuit protection?

Additionally, is this behavior normal?
When in Source Mode and setting the supply voltage to 5000mV (well the USB Voltage) it gets super low nA values when nothing is connected, which is to be expected and really nice! :) 


However, when I set the voltage to 3300mV it jumps up to 300nA:


I just wanted to ask this as a sanity check and to see if this is expected behavior and if the device offers any protections for short circuit (like if you happen to have a spike above 1Ampere at 5V)

[Simonr]

Hi

There is no specific mention of short circuit protection in the PPK2 user guide, and the 1A  and 5.0V limits should be upheld as good as you can.  As the user guide specifies: "If the PPK2 is used in a manner not specified by Nordic Semiconductor, the protection provided by the equipment may be impaired."

The behavior you see when nothing is connected here is expected. Some jitter at very low currents must be expected due to the level shifters on the PPK2 if I'm not mistaken.

If it helps, I have yet to break a PPK2 on my end after using the same 2-3 PPK2s for 3 years now for various measurements. They are rather robust in my personal experience.

Best regards,

Simon

[Samatmarkas]

Okay good to know! Kind of sad that they don't use the high sampling rate to turn off power preemptively using a mosfet if it goes above a certain limit. 

And if the jitter there is to be expected than good. :) I was hoping someone here would also just take a screenshot with their PPK2 when nothing is connected in source mode and 5000mV and 3300mV respectivly just to have a comparison 

If you do have time on hand, could you like plug it in without anything at all and take a screenshot? I would really appreciate it! :)

[PaKa]

For the low current scenario you may see different behaviour for different devices so you can't conclude by checking more than one kit. The noise you mention is close to the resolution so should be inside what you can expect.

[Samatmarkas]

Okay good to know, thank you!