nPM1300 going directly into trickle charge without meeting the termination voltage

I am using an NPM 1300 with nRF Connect SDK 3.2.4. I am using a 2.8 mAH LiPol battery. I have the termination voltage set at 4.2 volts and the charging current set at 100 mA. On several units, as the charging process nears full, the PMIC charging mode will transition directly from constant current to trickle charge and toggle back and forth. When I read the PMIC registers, its toggling between those states as well. The termination voltage reads 4.165. I have a power profiler set up as the charger at 5 volts. The VBus value is 4.6 volts. I can sample the current from the power profiler and see it toggling between 100 and down to like 0-10 mA. If I change the charging current down to like 32, it will then stay in constant current mode at the appropriate charge level. If I continue to ramp it up, it will eventually start failing as I described above. 

According to the NPM 1300 flow chart, the device should transition to constant voltage before transitioning into trickle charge. I have seen this process occur correctly on some devices, but doesn't occur correctly on just as many devices. We've tried ramping up the termination voltage thinking that maybe the charging current is causing a voltage drop and briefly reaching the termination voltage but that didn't help and also wouldn't explain why its going directly to trickle charge.

Also on the power profiler, I can see massive amounts of current being drawn before it transitions to 0-10 mA and enters trickle charge mode. After exactly 100 ms, it comes out of trickle charge mode and appears to reenter constant current mode but then about 850 ms later, current starts surging between 100 and 250 mA again and then it repeats this cycle.

  • Hi Aaron, 

    Can you confirm the battery details? 100 mA charging current sounds excessive for a 2.8 mAh battery. Does the battery have a protection circuit?

    Could you also provide a drawing of the circuit, as there are several places in the PMIC circuit where you can't place the PPK2 due to the autoranging not playing ball with the PMIC. 

    Also on the power profiler, I can see massive amounts of current being drawn before it transitions to 0-10 mA and enters trickle charge mode.

    If a PPK2 is used here, could you upload a log file? That could help determine if the high current could be a measurement error. 

    Regards,
    Amanda H.

  • Oh I'm sorry. Typo...Its a 280 mAh battery. Here's the log file. I get back to you on the schematic soon.

    2026-08-12T15:24:45.300Z INFO Initialising the bundled nrfutil device
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.307Z DEBUG Application data folder: /home/adunk/.config/nrfconnect/pc-nrfconnect-ppk
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.340Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: running nrfutil device"
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.340Z DEBUG App pc-nrfconnect-ppk v4.4.1 (official)
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.340Z DEBUG App path: /home/adunk/.nrfconnect-apps/node_modules/pc-nrfconnect-ppk
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.340Z DEBUG nRFConnect 5.3.2, required by the app is (>=5.2.0)
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.340Z DEBUG nRFConnect path: /tmp/.mount_nrfconWr7JbT/resources/app.asar
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.340Z DEBUG HomeDir: /home/adunk
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.340Z DEBUG TmpDir: /tmp
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.361Z WARN Required component nrf-udev is not detected. Install it from https://github.com/NordicSemiconductor/nrf-udev and restart the application
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.461Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: running nrfutil device"
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.461Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: running nrfutil device"
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.466Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: running nrfutil device"
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.472Z INFO Using the bundled core version for nrfutil device: 8.1.1
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.540Z INFO Getting serial port options from the persistent store for B0001RRP.pc-nrfconnect-ppk
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.540Z INFO Getting serial port options from the persistent store for DFFA75B012C2.pc-nrfconnect-ppk
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.540Z INFO Getting serial port options from the persistent store for C668D6A65A0A.pc-nrfconnect-ppk
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.540Z INFO Getting serial port options from the persistent store for 000261011617.pc-nrfconnect-ppk
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.540Z INFO Getting serial port options from the persistent store for DF44A501DBA3.pc-nrfconnect-ppk
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.540Z INFO Device connected with the serial number B0001RRP
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.541Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: device connected"
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.541Z INFO Device connected with the serial number DFFA75B012C2
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.542Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: device connected"
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.542Z INFO Device connected with the serial number C668D6A65A0A
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.542Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: device connected"
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.542Z INFO Device connected with the serial number 000261011617
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.543Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: device connected"
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.543Z INFO Device connected with the serial number DF44A501DBA3
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.543Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: device connected"
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.561Z INFO Using nrfutil device version: 2.10.2
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.561Z INFO Using nrf-device-lib version: 0.17.71
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.561Z INFO Using nrf-probe version: 0.38.0
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.561Z INFO Using SEGGER J-Link version: JLink_V9.24a
    2026-08-12T15:24:45.562Z INFO Your version of SEGGER J-Link (9.24a) is newer than the one this app was tested with (8.18). The tested version is not required, and your J-Link version will most likely work fine. If you get issues related to J-Link with your devices, use the tested version.
    2026-08-12T15:24:48.712Z INFO Selecting device with the serial number C668D6A65A0A
    2026-08-12T15:24:48.726Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: running nrfutil device"
    2026-08-12T15:24:48.833Z INFO Selected device with the serial number C668D6A65A0A
    2026-08-12T15:24:48.836Z DEBUG Device has DFU trigger interface; the device is in the application mode
    2026-08-12T15:24:48.837Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: device selected"
    2026-08-12T15:24:48.837Z INFO Connected to the device with the serial number C668D6A65A0A and family: Unknown 
    2026-08-12T15:24:48.968Z INFO PPK started
    2026-08-12T15:24:48.968Z INFO PPK opened
    2026-08-12T15:24:51.232Z INFO DUT ON
    2026-08-12T15:31:06.400Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: StartSampling"
    2026-08-12T15:31:16.435Z DEBUG Creating temporary ppk session file sessionFile /tmp/19849f8b-0be3-481a-bc0d-64fac3ae36ca/session.raw
    2026-08-12T15:31:18.329Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: StopSampling"
    2026-08-12T15:31:23.272Z INFO DUT OFF
    2026-08-12T15:31:30.184Z DEBUG Deleting temporary ppk session at /tmp/19849f8b-0be3-481a-bc0d-64fac3ae36ca
    2026-08-12T15:31:30.190Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: StartSampling"
    2026-08-12T15:31:31.199Z INFO DUT ON
    2026-08-12T15:31:40.223Z DEBUG Creating temporary ppk session file sessionFile /tmp/a3de0de3-731b-4970-9cfd-c3d6b2b043f6/session.raw
    2026-08-12T15:33:30.144Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: StopSampling"
    2026-08-12T15:52:17.159Z INFO DUT OFF
    2026-08-12T15:54:03.782Z INFO DUT ON
    2026-08-12T15:58:57.358Z INFO DUT OFF
    2026-08-12T16:00:41.045Z INFO DUT ON
    2026-08-12T16:50:06.718Z INFO DUT OFF
    2026-08-12T16:50:08.978Z DEBUG Deleting temporary ppk session at /tmp/a3de0de3-731b-4970-9cfd-c3d6b2b043f6
    2026-08-12T16:50:08.982Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: StartSampling"
    2026-08-12T16:50:11.825Z INFO DUT ON
    2026-08-12T16:50:19.009Z DEBUG Creating temporary ppk session file sessionFile /tmp/70d6b9b6-5594-419a-a235-03f3d220d417/session.raw
    2026-08-12T16:50:30.509Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: StopSampling"
    2026-08-12T16:54:46.721Z INFO DUT OFF
    2026-08-12T16:56:42.939Z DEBUG Deleting temporary ppk session at /tmp/70d6b9b6-5594-419a-a235-03f3d220d417
    2026-08-12T16:56:42.944Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: StartSampling"
    2026-08-12T16:56:44.630Z INFO DUT ON
    2026-08-12T16:56:52.986Z DEBUG Creating temporary ppk session file sessionFile /tmp/0a9c9968-4c9c-4012-8fa3-5d55c72901dc/session.raw
    2026-08-12T16:57:36.376Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: StopSampling"
    2026-08-12T16:58:31.129Z INFO Device connected with the serial number DF44A501DBA3
    2026-08-12T16:58:31.142Z INFO Device connected with the serial number C668D6A65A0A
    2026-08-12T16:58:31.143Z INFO Device connected with the serial number B0001RRP
    2026-08-12T16:58:31.143Z INFO PPK closed
    2026-08-12T16:58:31.169Z INFO Device connected with the serial number 000261011617
    2026-08-12T16:58:31.177Z INFO Device connected with the serial number DFFA75B012C2
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.233Z INFO Getting serial port options from the persistent store for 000261011617.pc-nrfconnect-ppk
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.234Z INFO Device connected with the serial number 000261011617
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.235Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: device connected"
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.252Z INFO Getting serial port options from the persistent store for 000261011617.pc-nrfconnect-ppk
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.253Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: device connected"
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.281Z INFO Getting serial port options from the persistent store for DFFA75B012C2.pc-nrfconnect-ppk
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.282Z INFO Device connected with the serial number DFFA75B012C2
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.282Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: device connected"
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.307Z INFO Getting serial port options from the persistent store for DFFA75B012C2.pc-nrfconnect-ppk
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.307Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: device connected"
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.332Z INFO Getting serial port options from the persistent store for DF44A501DBA3.pc-nrfconnect-ppk
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.332Z INFO Device connected with the serial number DF44A501DBA3
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.332Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: device connected"
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.554Z INFO Getting serial port options from the persistent store for DF44A501DBA3.pc-nrfconnect-ppk
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.555Z INFO Getting serial port options from the persistent store for C668D6A65A0A.pc-nrfconnect-ppk
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.555Z INFO Getting serial port options from the persistent store for C668D6A65A0A.pc-nrfconnect-ppk
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.555Z INFO Getting serial port options from the persistent store for B0001RRP.pc-nrfconnect-ppk
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.555Z INFO Getting serial port options from the persistent store for B0001RRP.pc-nrfconnect-ppk
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.555Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: device connected"
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.556Z INFO Device connected with the serial number C668D6A65A0A
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.557Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: device connected"
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.557Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: device connected"
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.557Z INFO Device connected with the serial number B0001RRP
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.558Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: device connected"
    2026-08-12T17:54:38.559Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: device connected"
    2026-08-12T19:09:00.044Z INFO Selecting device with the serial number C668D6A65A0A
    2026-08-12T19:09:00.062Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: running nrfutil device"
    2026-08-12T19:09:00.166Z INFO Selected device with the serial number C668D6A65A0A
    2026-08-12T19:09:00.166Z DEBUG Device has DFU trigger interface; the device is in the application mode
    2026-08-12T19:09:00.167Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: device selected"
    2026-08-12T19:09:00.167Z INFO Connected to the device with the serial number C668D6A65A0A and family: Unknown 
    2026-08-12T19:09:00.316Z INFO PPK started
    2026-08-12T19:09:00.316Z INFO PPK opened
    2026-08-12T19:11:03.242Z INFO DUT ON
    2026-08-12T19:11:37.841Z INFO DUT OFF
    2026-08-12T19:12:01.446Z INFO DUT ON
    2026-08-12T19:14:38.447Z INFO DUT OFF
    2026-08-12T19:26:48.701Z DEBUG Deleting temporary ppk session at /tmp/0a9c9968-4c9c-4012-8fa3-5d55c72901dc
    2026-08-12T19:26:48.703Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: StartSampling"
    2026-08-12T19:26:51.408Z INFO DUT ON
    2026-08-12T19:26:58.728Z DEBUG Creating temporary ppk session file sessionFile /tmp/e596b26b-f50f-45ef-9c36-349af758f44b/session.raw
    2026-08-12T19:32:04.882Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: StopSampling"
    2026-08-12T19:33:08.433Z INFO DUT OFF
    2026-08-12T19:39:36.846Z INFO DUT ON
    2026-08-12T19:40:46.840Z INFO DUT OFF
    2026-08-12T19:40:49.860Z INFO DUT ON
    2026-08-12T19:41:33.191Z DEBUG Deleting temporary ppk session at /tmp/e596b26b-f50f-45ef-9c36-349af758f44b
    2026-08-12T19:41:33.198Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: StartSampling"
    2026-08-12T19:41:43.242Z DEBUG Creating temporary ppk session file sessionFile /tmp/883c84fe-1803-4778-a5e8-65aefa21a531/session.raw
    2026-08-12T19:48:03.814Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: StopSampling"
    2026-08-12T19:52:15.065Z INFO DUT OFF
    2026-08-12T19:52:23.664Z INFO DUT ON
    2026-08-12T19:52:25.833Z DEBUG Deleting temporary ppk session at /tmp/883c84fe-1803-4778-a5e8-65aefa21a531
    2026-08-12T19:52:25.841Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: StartSampling"
    2026-08-12T19:52:35.884Z DEBUG Creating temporary ppk session file sessionFile /tmp/fe10a4a2-7e8e-44b8-9ec0-9337c5801ebb/session.raw
    2026-08-12T19:53:28.758Z INFO DUT OFF
    2026-08-12T19:56:45.377Z DEBUG Sending event "ppk: StopSampling"

  • Can I just send you relevant snapshots of the schematic? If so, let me know if you just need the PMIC or what else you would like.

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