Issue with uploading code to custom board

RE: Issue with uploading code to custom board

JONATHAN LL — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 13:58:45 GMT

You can try and work together with JLCPCB to work out the issues, they do have good support form my experience, but the BGA package types we have tend to have a higer failure rate at JLC form our experience.

Schematic looks ok.

But we dont relay have any go to recommendations for manufacturers, but we recommend that you try to follow up with the ones you pick and ask them if they have experience and if they can provide any guarantees.

It might be that they are using a stencil that is to thick and end up using to much solder paste. We use about 80um ourselves but a reduction in stencil openings might also solve this issue.

And sometimes a re-flow also works to fix this issue.

Regards,
Jonathan

RE: Issue with uploading code to custom board

Raschke — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 00:06:19 GMT

Thanks for the review Jonathon.

I did miss that connection in the design.

This PCB is a benchtop system to test the components with the final product intended to be much smaller. Hence, the testing of a smaller package.

Thank you for the help with this.

Is there another vendor you can recommend other than JLCPCB? Or is this an issue that is likely to occur from most places?

I've uploaded another copy of the schematic. Let me know if this finally works.

devzone.nordicsemi.com/.../6746.Custom_5F00_Board_5F00_NRF52832.pdf

RE: Issue with uploading code to custom board

JONATHAN LL — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 11:53:52 GMT

Still not able to see the schematic.

Center pad area here where the ground is, it should also connect to the first decupling cap of the RF matching.

There is more then enough space here for you to copy the ref layout.

Also for such a big PCB it would be easier to get a QFN package, and JLCPCB can also successfully make those. The CSP package variant with the ball grid pins has been a issue for us and other customers when ordering from JLCPCB.

Its verry likely that there is a solder issue here.

Regards,
Jonathan

RE: Issue with uploading code to custom board

Raschke — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 03:19:44 GMT

Thank you Jonathon,

That's correct. It is a 2 layer PCB with ground on the bottom layer, which covers the entire bottom side.

I would really appreciate a design review.

I've uploaded the GERBER files in the zipped folder. Let me know if there are any issues with this upload.

All the best,

John

devzone.nordicsemi.com/.../Probe_5F00_Benchtop_5F00_Moved_5F00_PTH_5F00_Drill.zip

RE: Issue with uploading code to custom board

JONATHAN LL — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 09:13:17 GMT

[quote user="Raschke"]The custom board was ordered and soldered by JLCPCB so it was not hand soldered. [/quote]

JLCPCB can have some issues with the smaller package types and the aQFN packages, soldering these can be a bit tricky and we often see some mistakes here done by JLCPCB for smaler batches.

The schematic file you uploaded is blank, cant see anything in it.

From the image it looks like this is a two layer PCB, and the ground is on the bottom layer? does it cover the entire bottom side?

We do reviews on both schematics and layout and will do our best to help our customers cross the finish line with a good product design here.

We also have a guide here: https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/guides/hardware-design-test-and-measuring/b/nrf5x/posts/nrf52832-specific-pcb-guidelines
and: https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/guides/hardware-design-test-and-measuring/b/nrf5x/posts/general-pcb-design-guidelines-for-nrf52-series

Also looks like it might be only through hole vias, this is not the best for the CSP package variant.

If you have the GERBER files I can provide some feedback.

Regards,
Jonathan

RE: Issue with uploading code to custom board

Raschke — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 23:46:59 GMT

Hi Jonathon,

Yes, I was referencing the image you shared.

I have not had the design reviewed. I've uploaded the schematic. I copied the design from the provided example for a 2-layer board.

The custom board was ordered and soldered by JLCPCB so it was not hand soldered.

I have 5 copies of this board and the voltage on VDD_nRF is 3V on the custom board.

I've also uploaded an image of the board if that is helpful.

All the best,

John

devzone.nordicsemi.com/.../Custom_5F00_Board_5F00_NRF52832.pdf

RE: Issue with uploading code to custom board

JONATHAN LL — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 09:22:09 GMT

If you have an older DK the connection looks like this:

RE: Issue with uploading code to custom board

JONATHAN LL — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 09:17:27 GMT

[quote userid="147760" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/124068/issue-with-uploading-code-to-custom-board/547551"]I have connected to the custom board with the connections shown above. [/quote]

you are referencing the image i shared? I dont see any other diagrams or images shared in this post?

Can you check the voltage on VDD_nRF for the custom board?

Also have you had the design reviewed? Could you share the schematic maybe?

Do you only have one custom board or multiple? and was it hand soldered?

Regards,
Jonathan

RE: Issue with uploading code to custom board

Raschke — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:58:03 GMT

Hi Jonathan,

I have connected to the custom board with the connections shown above.
I am using the DK as the programmer.

It seems to be connecting to the board but unable to access memory.

RE: Issue with uploading code to custom board

JONATHAN LL — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 12:37:48 GMT

HI,

How have you connected to the custom board?

Is the voltage the same on both the the custom board and the debugger board? (are you using a DK as the programmer?)

On our newer DK's that has the nRF5340 as the debug controller this is the way to interface with the custom board. If you are using the pin header P19 then you might still need to tie the VDD to the same voltage as well.

Regards,
Jonathan

RE: Issue with uploading code to custom board

Raschke — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 00:38:18 GMT

Also mentioning that I've gone through the SDK intermediate lesson 3 to add custom board support. The files are building fine but I can't access memory. The same issue is happening with the programmer, even trying to erase all. I am using the NRF52DK to program to the custom board.