Is there a way to configure the Power Profiler Kit ll to always be in ampere mode

[Tover]

I am currently using the power profiler kit ll to see if it is suitable to run power consumption tests in our automatic test system.
I am using the python API from https://github.com/IRNAS/ppk2-api-python to communicate with it, but i would need the power profiler to always be in ampere meter mode as soon as it is connected to computer.
Is this possible to configure it like this  or do i need to build a workaround for this?

[hmolesworth]

If possible to wait until the power is turned on to the device under test, try changing this:

ppk2_test = PPK2_API("/dev/ttyACM3")  # serial port will be different for you
ppk2_test.get_modifiers()
ppk2_test.use_source_meter()  # set source meter mode
ppk2_test.set_source_voltage(3300)  # set source voltage in mV
ppk2_test.start_measuring()  # start measuring

to this:

ppk2_test = PPK2_API("/dev/ttyACM3")  # serial port will be different for you
ppk2_test.get_modifiers()
ppk2_test.use_ampere_meter()  # set ampere meter mode
ppk2_test.start_measuring()  # start measuring

[Tover]

Thanks for the suggestion!

The thing is that i would need it to be on without communicating with it first. I need to be able to use the dut for other types of tests without doing anything with the ppk2 first. This is why i need it to let current through at all times.

For the specific power consumption tests i already am using the python api without any issues.

[hmolesworth]

Ah, you would need a forward-biased schottky between Vin and Vout; that would pass about Vpsu-0.3 volts when not using the script which would increase to Vpsu-(currentSenseDrop) volts when setting the PPK 2 to "on". Parallel leakage through the schottky with forward bias a few mV in current measurement mode might be low enough to ignore, have to try to find out.