nPM1300 Fuel Gauge Profiling: Generic .inc files, hardware requirements, and PPK2 alternative?

[robotcux]

Hi Nordic Team,

We are developing a battery-powered cellular IoT device utilizing the nRF9161 SiP combined with the nPM1300 PMIC. Our primary goal regarding power management is to provide the end-user with a highly stable, smartphone-like 0-100% State of Charge (SoC) reading, completely avoiding the sudden SoC jumps typically caused by voltage drops during LTE-M/NB-IoT transmission spikes.

I have watched the "nPM PowerUP, part 3" tutorial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eolgIk1KHE) demonstrating the battery profiling process to generate a custom .inc file using the nPM1300-EK and the dedicated Fuel Gauge Board.

Before we proceed with our power architecture, I have a few specific questions regarding this workflow:

1. Generic vs. Custom .inc Files: Since the profiling process shown in the video seems independent of our custom PCB, is it strictly required to profile our battery from scratch? Are there any generic .inc files available for standard Li-Po battery chemistries/capacities that we can use out of the box? Furthermore, if we do profile our specific battery model once, can we use that single generated .inc file for our entire mass production, or does the model need to be adjusted per batch?

2. Hardware Requirements: Are both the nPM1300 Evaluation Kit AND the separate "nPM Fuel Gauge Board" absolutely mandatory to perform this profiling via the nPM PowerUP desktop app?

3. Using PPK2 as an Alternative to the Fuel Gauge Board: Currently, we have access to the nPM1300-EK and a Power Profiler Kit II (PPK2), but we do not have the specific Fuel Gauge Board on hand. Is it possible to use the PPK2 in combination with the nPM1300-EK to successfully profile our battery and generate the necessary .inc model, or is the proprietary Fuel Gauge Board irreplaceable for this specific software workflow?

Thank you in advance for your support and guidance!

[Tharaka]

Hi

1. For the best accuracy, we strongly recommend profiling the actual battery used in your end product. This ensures stable performance under your device’s real load and temperature conditions.

Generic battery models can be used for early evaluation, but they will not deliver the same stability as a custom‑profiled model.  The profiling process generates a mathematical battery model that is uniquely tailored to your specific battery, ensuring the fuel gauge reflects its true behavior under real operating conditions.

See how to use the generic models here Using pre-profiled battery models

As long as the battery type and manufacturer remain the same, a single .inc model can be used across the entire production batch.
The nPM1300 fuel gauge tolerates typical battery‑to‑battery capacity variations of around ±10%, so minor differences across cells will not require re‑profiling.

If the battery chemistry, capacity,  voltage range changes significantly in a future batch, then a new profile is recommended.


2. Yes. The profiling workflow in the nPM PowerUP desktop app requires both:

• nPM1300-EK
• nPM Fuel Gauge Board (nPM‑FG)

The FG board is essential because it provides the controlled discharge and measurement path needed for generating a valid battery model.

3. Unfortunately, you can't replace nPM-FG board with PPK2.

The nPM-FG board is purpose‑built to act as a programmable current sink for the PowerUP profiling process. It generates the exact discharge patterns required to create a valid .inc model. The PPK2 cannot replicate this profiling functionality and is not supported by the PowerUP workflow.


Also if you are able to profile the battery using the nPM1300‑EK + nPM‑FG board and send us the generated .inc files and project folder, we can perform a secondary review to ensure everything looks correct.  :)
Here is the link to the Fuel Gauge Application Note


Best regards,

Tharaka