High Current Consumption in Thread/CLI example

RE: High Current Consumption in Thread/CLI example

Jørgen Holmefjord — Fri, 15 May 2020 12:50:38 GMT

The CLI example may still operate as a Full Thread Device (FTD) with radio in RX while idle, even if it is in the child state. You can try to change the mode using the CLI command "mode". I do not have a PPK with me at the moment to test with, but I think "mode n" should lower the current consumption. Anyway, the CLI example is not optimized for current consumption measurements, and it may use additional peripherals that increase current consumption (UART, HFCLK, etc). I would recommend you to test with one of the Sleepy End Device examples in the latest SDK release:

Best regards,
Jørgen

RE: High Current Consumption in Thread/CLI example

Simone Lombardo — Fri, 15 May 2020 08:19:50 GMT

Hi Jorgen,

thanks for your response.
Well, I also measured current consumption when DK is operating in Child role and result is the same.
I tried to fill in NRF_POWER->DCDCEN = 1 as you suggested but nothing changed.
Do you have an idea how to set DK as Sleepy End Node (SED)?

Thanks a lot,

Simone.

RE: High Current Consumption in Thread/CLI example

Jørgen Holmefjord — Thu, 14 May 2020 18:09:58 GMT

Hi,

I have not measured current consumption for CLI example, but I have done for NCP, which shows nearly exactly the same numbers. The radio will be in receive mode most of the time when the Thread stack is operating in the Router/Leader role, giving you the current consumptions shown in the product specifications.

You should be able to reduce the currents quite a lot by enabling the DCDC regulator, if running on a DK or a board with the required components. Add this line to the start of main() in the example code:

NRF_POWER->DCDCEN = 1;

Best regards,
Jørgen