High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Ghazi-Faisal — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 11:27:49 GMT

Comparing these values with the firmware which doesn't call sqspi I don't see much difference. they are floating but a bit higher ~1.2v

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Ghazi-Faisal — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:50:11 GMT

Excuse me — it turns out the PCBs I was measuring had an issue.

I checked another working PCB, and I noticed that all the flash pins are floating at around ~0.7 V.

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Ghazi-Faisal — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:39:23 GMT

[deleted]

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Håkon Alseth — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 08:22:03 GMT

Hi,

[quote user="Ghazi-Faisal"]

Since the CS pin remains high even when the device is physically disconnected, could that indicate that current is being drained through this pin?

[/quote]

Yes, /CSN will backpower the IC.

MOSI can potentially also source the unpowered flash IC.

Kind regards,

Håkon

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Ghazi-Faisal — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 04:46:42 GMT

[quote userid="2115" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/127381/high-current-consumption-6-3ma-in-system-off-with-sqspi-enabled-on-nrf54l15/563360"]Any external logic that is physically turned off, but has traces connected to the nRF GPIOs, needs special attention. These GPIO signals must be low or floating (with input buffer disconnected).[/quote]

Since the CS pin remains high even when the device is physically disconnected, could that indicate that current is being drained through this pin?

[quote userid="2115" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/127381/high-current-consumption-6-3ma-in-system-off-with-sqspi-enabled-on-nrf54l15/563360"]I see that your external flash is connected to the switched net "GND1" - all connections towards this flash IC must be low/hi-Z if this device is unpowered.[/quote]

I did try a hardware workaround by breaking the GND1 trace from the flash and reconnecting the flash ground to the main GND, and that worked fine. However, I’m exploring whether this can be handled through firmware instead, as it would make it much easier to program all PCBs consistently.

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Håkon Alseth — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:04:05 GMT

Hi,

Any external logic that is physically turned off, but has traces connected to the nRF GPIOs, needs special attention. These GPIO signals must be low or floating (with input buffer disconnected).

I see that your external flash is connected to the switched net "GND1" - all connections towards this flash IC must be low/hi-Z if this device is unpowered.

Kind regards,

Håkon

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Ghazi-Faisal — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 04:34:50 GMT

While trying to fix this, could you also let me know whether it’s better practice to switch off ICs using the VDD bus rather than using separate grounds?

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Ghazi-Faisal — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:59:13 GMT

I've attached code and logs. Note that system didn't turned off when I monitored logs.

SEGGER J-Link V8.96 - Real time terminal output
SEGGER J-Link V9.6, SN=69652068
Process: JLinkExe
*** Booting nRF Connect SDK v3.2.1-d8887f6f32df ***
*** Using Zephyr OS v4.2.99-ec78104f1569 ***
[00:00:38.219,070] <inf> system_off: 
nrf54l15dk system off demo
[00:00:38.219,078] <inf> system_off: Wakeup from System OFF by GPIO.
[00:00:38.219,084] <inf> system_off: Retained data not supported
[00:00:39.111,332] <inf> system_off: Entering system off; press sw0 to restart

devzone.nordicsemi.com/.../3755.system_5F00_off.zip
Regards,

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Håkon Alseth — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:07:34 GMT

It is very strange that this causes ~6 mA current consumption.

Can you share the log output from when the current consumption is high?

Just want to know if the the firmware runs as expected, and is not halted/faulting for some reason? Ie. can you generate a wake-up condition using the button, and see that the log outputs correctly etc?

Kind regards,

Håkon

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Ghazi-Faisal — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:33:55 GMT

[quote userid="2115" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/127381/high-current-consumption-6-3ma-in-system-off-with-sqspi-enabled-on-nrf54l15/563205"]Could you check that your CSN pin is not floating while in system off mode, ie. is at VDD level?[/quote]

yes it's at VDD level in system off mode

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Håkon Alseth — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 11:49:23 GMT

Hi,

Great to hear that you found the root cause. You are using the exact same flash as present on the nRF54L15-DK.

Check the state of the SPI pins towards the flash device. If I forced CSN low, then I measured an additional 5.1 mA added current.

[quote user="Ghazi-Faisal"]is there a way to revert these settings before the MCU power off?[/quote]

If you use the power management subsys, and the sys_power_off API, it should be automatically handled:

https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/ncs-latest/page/nrf/app_dev/device_guides/coprocessors/power_management.html#power_management_strategies

I see that CONFIG_PM_DEVICE_RUNTIME is not selected, however; this seems to have little effect when using the build .hex file that was included in your .zip file.

Could you check that your CSN pin is not floating while in system off mode, ie. is at VDD level?

Kind regards,

Håkon

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Ghazi-Faisal — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:31:09 GMT

Hi,
The 0.6 mA was beacuse I was powering using J-link once I switched to a different supply, I was getting 80uA (typical for this hardware).

[quote userid="2115" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/127381/high-current-consumption-6-3ma-in-system-off-with-sqspi-enabled-on-nrf54l15/563188"]Is this replicable on other boards, including a nRF54L15-DK?[/quote]

As mentioned earlier I am unable to test currently on dk. However, I replicate this with another PCB and it resulted on same behaviour. Removing flash from circuit reduced power consumption to 80uA on system off mode. So I guess it's ground floating issue with flash.

On code I have noticed that this behaviour started once I added this to my dts.

/ {
	chosen {
		nordic,pm-ext-flash = &mx25r64;
	};

	reserved-memory {
		#address-cells = <1>;
		#size-cells = <1>;
		ranges;

		softperipheral_ram: memory@2003c000 {
			reg = <0x2003c000 0x4000>;
			ranges = <0 0x2003c000 0x4000>;
			#address-cells = <1>;
			#size-cells = <1>;

			sqspi: sqspi@3b40 {
				compatible = "nordic,nrf-sqspi";
				#address-cells = <1>;
				#size-cells = <0>;
				reg = <0x3b40 0x200>;
				status = "okay";
				zephyr,pm-device-runtime-auto;
			};
		};
	};

};

&cpuflpr_vpr {
	pinctrl-0 = <&sqspi_default>;
	pinctrl-1 = <&sqspi_sleep>;
	pinctrl-names = "default", "sleep";
	interrupts = <76 NRF_DEFAULT_IRQ_PRIORITY>;
	status = "okay";
};

&sqspi {
	mx25r64: mx25r6435f@0 {
		compatible = "mxicy,mx25r", "jedec,mspi-nor";
		status = "okay";
		reg = <0>;
		jedec-id = [c2 28 17];
		quad-enable-requirements = "S1B6";
		sfdp-bfp = [
			e5 20 f1 ff  ff ff ff 03  44 eb 08 6b  08 3b 04 bb
			ee ff ff ff  ff ff 00 ff  ff ff 00 ff  0c 20 0f 52
			10 d8 00 ff  23 72 f5 00  82 ed 04 cc  44 83 68 44
			30 b0 30 b0  f7 c4 d5 5c  00 be 29 ff  f0 d0 ff ff
		];
		size = <67108864>;
		has-dpd;
		t-enter-dpd = <10000>;
		t-exit-dpd = <35000>;
		t-reset-pulse = <10000>;
		t-reset-recovery = <35000>;

		mspi-max-frequency = <DT_FREQ_M(8)>;
		mspi-io-mode = "MSPI_IO_MODE_QUAD_1_4_4";
		mspi-data-rate = "MSPI_DATA_RATE_SINGLE";
		mspi-hardware-ce-num = <1>;
		mspi-cpp-mode = "MSPI_CPP_MODE_0";
		mspi-endian = "MSPI_BIG_ENDIAN";
		mspi-ce-polarity = "MSPI_CE_ACTIVE_LOW";
	};
};

is there a way to revert these settings before the MCU power off?

[quote userid="2115" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/127381/high-current-consumption-6-3ma-in-system-off-with-sqspi-enabled-on-nrf54l15/563188"]Q2: Can you share how you setup the pull for the different GPIOs, ie. an updated version of your system_off sample?[/quote]

I was adding GPIO_PULL_DOWN flag to configuration. but since we found out that flash is causing this issue do you still need this?

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Håkon Alseth — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:22:37 GMT

Hi,

Q1: Is this replicable on other boards, including a nRF54L15-DK?

Q2: Can you share how you setup the pull for the different GPIOs, ie. an updated version of your system_off sample?

Kind regards,

Håkon

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Ghazi-Faisal — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:27:05 GMT

[quote userid="2115" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/127381/high-current-consumption-6-3ma-in-system-off-with-sqspi-enabled-on-nrf54l15/563125"]You can also search around for "floating inputs" - this will cause excessive current consumption in your custom board unless properly addressed.[/quote]

I had a thought that the higher current might be caused by GND1 floating during System OFF.

To test this, I performed the following:

Removed the external flash, after which the current dropped to ~0.6 mA.
After that, I removed all 3.3 V components that could potentially create a path to GND to simulate the System OFF condition without the possibility of GND1 floating. The current consumption remained ~0.6 mA.
Note: in both cases I shorted both GND planes (GND and GND1)

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Ghazi-Faisal — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:01:42 GMT

[quote userid="2115" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/127381/high-current-consumption-6-3ma-in-system-off-with-sqspi-enabled-on-nrf54l15/563125"]Given that LOAD_SWITCH is 1.7V, and you state this[/quote]

excuse me this was GND1 relative to GND when both GNDs are disconnected. I was measuring the wrong pin

Regards,

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Ghazi-Faisal — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 04:28:42 GMT

I’m not entirely sure what information would help you diagnose this issue. Please let me know what details would be useful (for example logs, configuration files, DTS, power measurements, etc.), and I’ll provide whatever I can.

Also, I don’t currently have the DK with me to run additional tests. If there’s another way we can work around this or gather useful information without the DK, please let me know.

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Håkon Alseth — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:05:13 GMT

Hi,

You are not sharing any in-depth information, other that "did not help" - if you want help, please be verbose.

Can you please test on a DK, and try to replicate it there?

Kind regards,

Håkon

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Ghazi-Faisal — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:02:41 GMT

[quote userid="2115" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/127381/high-current-consumption-6-3ma-in-system-off-with-sqspi-enabled-on-nrf54l15/563125"]I strongly advice that you enable pull inside the GPIO pad on all your connected GPIOs, by setting this for each of your connected signals:[/quote]

I tried pulling all GPIOs but that didn't help.

[quote userid="2115" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/127381/high-current-consumption-6-3ma-in-system-off-with-sqspi-enabled-on-nrf54l15/563125"]This is clearly something you should address.[/quote]

do you have any thorughts of how to debug this?

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Håkon Alseth — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:12:10 GMT

Hi,

Please read my former answers.

I strongly advice that you enable pull inside the GPIO pad on all your connected GPIOs, by setting this for each of your connected signals:

https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/ps_nrf54L15/page/gpio.html#ariaid-title22

You can also search around for "floating inputs" - this will cause excessive current consumption in your custom board unless properly addressed.

Given that LOAD_SWITCH is 1.7V, and you state this:

[quote user="Ghazi-Faisal"]This is digital signal and it should be low. [/quote]

This is clearly something you should address.

Kind regards,

Håkon

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Ghazi-Faisal — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:06:15 GMT

[quote userid="2115" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/127381/high-current-consumption-6-3ma-in-system-off-with-sqspi-enabled-on-nrf54l15/563113"]Floating GPIOs will change based on how the system behaves. [/quote]

Aside from rgb led and LOAD_SWITCH, which are already set to their idle state before going to system_off, all other used gpios are inputs.

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Ghazi-Faisal — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:45:42 GMT

[quote userid="2115" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/127381/high-current-consumption-6-3ma-in-system-off-with-sqspi-enabled-on-nrf54l15/563113"]Should this signal be ~1.7V?[/quote]

This is digital signal and it should be low. so I think it should be close to zero

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Håkon Alseth — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:41:44 GMT

Hi,

[quote user="Ghazi-Faisal"]if the issue is schematic related. shouldn't be also there when flash flag is disabled?[/quote]

Floating GPIOs will change based on how the system behaves.

Please set the corresponding GPIOs to their idle level and test.

If you still see issues, please start isolating each part of your design, and see what draws current.

[quote user="Ghazi-Faisal"]LOAD_SWITCH 1.67v[/quote]

Should this signal be ~1.7V?

Kind regards,

Håkon

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Ghazi-Faisal — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:57:10 GMT

USER_BTN 3.3 v
LOAD_SWITCH 1.67v
AFE_OUT 2.5v
BAT_LEVEL 0v

I measured these corresponding to battery ground.

for the sample given I was just using nrf54l15dk dts with given overlay and flashing on my board. I am getting same consumption as when building on custom board dts

if the issue is schematic related. shouldn't be also there when flash flag is disabled?

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Håkon Alseth — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:45:27 GMT

Hi,

[quote user="Ghazi-Faisal"]active-low button 3.3 v
active-high transistor 1.67v
adc 2.5v
another adc 0v[/quote]

And are you setting these GPIOs as input with pull-up/down before entering sleep?

What signals did you measure here? Can you please share either the gpio name or the corresponding label?

Kind regards,

Håkon

RE: High Current Consumption (6.3mA) in System OFF with SQSPI Enabled on nRF54L15

Ghazi-Faisal — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:40:10 GMT

please note that the private ticket was raised for another issue.