How to connecting the Power Profiler Kit to a computer and measuring current without an nRF5 DK?

[zhangchi]

In spec "PPK_User_Guide_v2.3.1" ,chapter " 6.6 Measuring current on custom hardware without an nRF5 DK "

I connect PPK to computer as the picture above, micro USB for power supply and J-Link for PPK connection. But the app "nRF connector-power profiler" can only find J-Link but can't find PPK device.

What may cause this problem? Is this connection method right? Or what kind of J-Link we should use? 

[zhangchi]

I correct the connection from PPK to J-Link. But the nRFConnect still can't find PPK. 

2019-08-21T09:47:41.998Z INFO Validating firmware for device with s/n 000156003747
2019-08-21T09:47:42.003Z INFO PPK closed
2019-08-21T09:47:47.032Z ERROR Error while setting up device 000156003747: Cannot read property 'toLowerCase' of undefined
2019-08-21T09:47:47.033Z INFO Deselecting device
2019-08-21T09:47:47.040Z INFO PPK closed

[Simonr]

Hi

This error refers to a bug that was present in nRFConnect version 3.0.0. Could you please update nRFConnect to v3.1 and check you're running v2.2.0 of the Power Profiler? If you have already, try uninstalling and reinstalling nRFConnect on your computer.

Best regards,

Simon

[zhangchi]

Hi

I  update nRFConnect to v3.1 and the Power Profiler is V2.2.0. Here is the log.

2019-08-22T09:51:29.760Z INFO Validating firmware for device with s/n 000156003747
2019-08-22T09:51:29.773Z INFO PPK closed
2019-08-22T09:51:35.323Z INFO Opening device with s/n 000156003747
2019-08-22T09:51:35.325Z INFO PPK opened
2019-08-22T09:51:35.326Z INFO Initializing the PPK
2019-08-22T09:51:40.676Z INFO SEGGER serial: 156003747
2019-08-22T09:51:40.676Z INFO SEGGER speed: 2000 kHz
2019-08-22T09:51:40.676Z INFO SEGGER version: J-Link ARM V6 compiled Jun 20 2012 19:43:26
2019-08-22T09:51:46.677Z ERROR Failed to start the PPK.
2019-08-22T09:51:46.677Z DEBUG Timed out in 6000 ms.
2019-08-22T09:51:46.678Z INFO Deselecting device
2019-08-22T09:51:46.684Z INFO PPK closed

 

[Simonr]

Okay, this error is a bit more generic I'm afraid. Can you confirm that LED2 is on when the PPK is powered by the USB?

Next, I want you to power cycle the board, just remove the power source(s) and connect them again. This usually helps if I encounter "Failed to start the PPK". You might even want to restart you computer, in case the serial bus is busy for some reason.

You can also try downloading the newest JLink Driver, and change your USB cable.

Lastly, I've heard a couple of people have had an issue with their anti-virus program blocking the Power Profiler but not any other nRFConnect apps, so you could check for that as well.

Best regards,

Simon

[zhangchi]

Thank you for your reply.

When I measured 1mA current, the graph showed in Power Profiler app is very rough. And I can only see the avg current and max current.

But in the spec, PPK can measure low to 1uA.

Can Power Profiler app shows other parameter like min current? And what is meaning of switch level option in app? Can you provide the user guide of Power Profiler app?

In the spec,PPK has three test range. 1-70uA, 70uA-1mA, 1mA-70mA. How to switch three range, is it automatic?