Programming prototype board from 52 DK

[mark waldin]

I have a Nordic 52832 chip in an integrated module form from Fanstel.  I have the NRF 52 DK, the Fanstel evaluation board, and a custom prototype board I built.

I can program the Fanstel evaluation board through the 52 DK with no problem.

The custom board runs the Fanstel module transmitting Bluetooth with default software installed on the module without problem.

I included a 6 pin Tag Connect interface on the custom board and am trying to load my program onto the custom board through the 52 DK but the board is not being recognized and instead commands from nRF Go Studio is writing the code directly to the 52 DK.  The connections I am supporting are Vdd, GND, SWIO, and SWCLK. 

My assumption was a hardware connection problem.  The only possible errors being SWDIO and SWDCLK connections or the cable itself since Vdd and GND must be working or the chip would not transmit at all.

Traces seem fine and all pinouts correct.  Anything else that could be causing the problem besides hardware connections?

[hmolesworth]

You probably have an issue with Gnd Detect, which is different from Gnd; this means 5 pins should be connected, not 4 as listed above. If your board is only connected to Gnd Detect (which is a "there is a custom board connected" sense line) with no separate connection to the nRF52 DK Gnd or vice versa then the custom board cannot be programmed as it is never detected.

The fix in this scenario is to connect together the nRF52 Gnd and the custom board Gnd - and also make the Gnd Detect connection between the two boards.

[mark waldin]

thank you for responding.  I connected gnd connect on the DK to GND on the DK but it still will not program.  Tomorrow I am going to blue wire the Fanstel to the power source and DK directly but my hopes are not high.

[MartinBL]

Hi,

Have you made any progress?

If not, what is the voltage on your custom board? It needs to be ~3V for the debugger on the nRF52 DK to function. 

Can you upload a schematic of your board and an image of your setup?

[mark waldin]

I connected the Fanstel to the 52 DK using blue wires today.  Connections are the same four:  Vdd, GND, SWIO, and SWCLK.  Power source is a CR1632 battery.  Measured voltage is 3.2 or so. I would upload the schematic and photo but that seems unnecessary since the blue wire set up does not work either.  Are there other connections required?  It seems there must be (btw, I tested with GND Detect connected to GND on the 52 DK as well.

[mark waldin]

Based on the You Tube video on programming 3rd party boards I moved Vdd to Vtg on the DK 52.  I erased the chip which seemed to work (the Fanstel board stopped transmitting).  I then tried to re-program the board but it did not work.  Subsequent attempt to erase the chip erased the DK 52 instead.  Photos attached.  A CR1632 (confirmed good) was placed between Vdd and GND on the Fanstel.