Unable to start application in custom board nrf52832

[Parag Thakkar]

Hi

I am working with a custom board with nrf52832 with only 32Mhz external crystal. My application is working in the nrf52832 development kit but when I use the custom board it only works in debug mode. I went throught the forum and enabled the internal oscillator:

CONFIG_CLOCK_CONTROL_NRF_K32SRC_RC=y
CONFIG_CLOCK_CONTROL_NRF_K32SRC_500PPM=y

Also I disabled the DC-DC Converter  

&reg {

    //regulator-initial-mode = <NRF5X_REG_MODE_DCDC>;

    regulator-initial-mode = <NRF5X_REG_MODE_LDO>;

};

But still my application fails to boot. I get the following error:

*** Booting My Application v0.0.1 - unknown commit ***
*** Using nRF Connect SDK v2.9.0-7787b2649840 ***
*** Using Zephyr OS v3.7.99-1f8f3dc29142 ***

I am using NCS 2.9.0. 

 

[JONATHAN LL]

Hi, 
Debug mode forces clock and power modes so your settings for the application that you are running is likely wrong. 


If you do not have the external DCDC inductors in place then it is important that you dont enable the DCDC regulator. This can result in a bricked device as the device may no be able to start properly when its missing the external components.

Regards,
Jonathan

[Parag Thakkar]

Hi

I made a mistake with DC-DC Converter. I had disabled it in the devicetree but it was enabled in the code as well. My apologies.

The DC-DC converter was being enabled as the first instruction after variable initialization. Also I was wrong to say that my application is not starting at all. I placed printf statement before anf after DC-DC initialization and my controller is getting reset when I try to enable DC-DC Converter.

I have checked in the schematic and there are external DC DC inductors placed in the pcb as shown below. 

So why the controller resets when DC_DC Converter is being enabled.

Regards

Parag

[JONATHAN LL]

If the external components are in place then there should not be a issue here and you also dont need to disable them. 

Have you had your schematic and layout review?

I would recommend to start with a simple application that only toggle a pin for debugging if things dont behave as expected. 



Regards,
Jonathan