sd_power_dcdc_mode_set(NRF_POWER_DCDC_ENABLE) increases power consumption to 30mA instead of 6mA when used with E-Byte 52840 module (E73-2G4M08S1C)

[DiN]

Hello,

When I include in my code (Arduino IDE) sd_power_dcdc_mode_set(NRF_POWER_DCDC_ENABLE) on E-Byte 52840 module (E73-2G4M08S1C) power consumption increases to 30mA instead of 6mA when a client connects to nRF52840. After boot consumption is 50 uA with BLE enabled and after ~25sec it goes to 30-35mA without any connections from clients and stays at this level forever.

Without sd_power_dcdc_mode_set(NRF_POWER_DCDC_ENABLE) after boot consumption is 50 uA with BLE enabled and it stays the same for hours. When a client connects it goes to 6-6.5mA, after a client disconnects it goes back to ~50 uA.

Is it module related issue?

[Stian Røed Hafskjold]

Hi, there's nothing in the nRF52840 that consumes as much as 30mA. So it sounds to me like there are some hardware issues external to the chip, or the chip has been damaged. What happens when you see the 30mA consumption. Is the software still working as expected?

[DiN]

Looks like it's related to power source I use: nRF52840 (E73-2G4M08S1C) is connected to V/A USB tester Ruideng TC66 then this tester is connected to laptop via USB port. Somehow the current starts to flow via nRF52840 - metal shield and backside get hotter in this case. I wasn't able to identify the issue. Will make extensive test with battery power.

[Snail Feng]

Hello, I set the output of thread + 8dbm, the measured current also reached 40ma, but the sleep power consumption is normal 3UA, what could cause this?

[Snail Feng]

[Stian Røed Hafskjold]

Actually, I was wrong about my statement that there nothing that can consume 30mA. TX, 8dBm, no DCDC is specified at 32.7mA: https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/ps_nrf52840/radio.html?cp=4_0_0_5_19_14_1#unique_1123852154 Also, the current will increase if the antenna is not perfectly matched, so you will see higher current on some channels. So to me the plot looks normal.

If you want to reduce the TX peak current you must enable the DCDC regulator.

Have a look at the power profiler to get the expected consumption: https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/nordic/power