Can't flash external PCB with nRF52 DK (No idcode detected)

RE: Can't flash external PCB with nRF52 DK (No idcode detected)

JONATHAN LL — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 07:08:41 GMT

[quote user="JirkaMartinec"]Also I have a question what are the DEC pins for ?
[/quote]

DEC pins are related to some internal thing on the chip that needs to be decupled. So for example the internal power rail, it needs a capacitor to behave properly and be stable.

[quote user="JirkaMartinec"]And shouldn't be there also a part for the DEC2 ? (I found it in the downloaded schematic)[/quote]

DEC2 is not needed. It can be populated, but it is not needed.

[quote user="JirkaMartinec"]One more question, how can I continue our conversation and not have to start a new reply every time ? I couldn't find the reply button on your answer.[/quote]

A issue that sometimes occurs on the Devzone web page is that if you are using some addons in the browser, like AdBlock for example, it can sometimes effect what buttons showing.

So try to refresh the page a couple of times then the reply buttons should show up, if not try a different browser or incognito mode.

Regards,
Jonathan

RE: Can't flash external PCB with nRF52 DK (No idcode detected)

Jirka Martinec — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 17:13:04 GMT

Hi Jonathan,

thank you so much for answer ! I would try to design custom PCB with all the needed components for my project.

Also I have a question what are the DEC pins for ?

And shouldn't be there also a part for the DEC2 ? (I found it in the downloaded schematic)

One more question, how can I continue our conversation and not have to start a new reply every time ? I couldn't find the reply button on your answer.

Thanks !

RE: Can't flash external PCB with nRF52 DK (No idcode detected)

JONATHAN LL — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 11:39:38 GMT

[quote user="JirkaMartinec"]What types of bypass capacitors would you recommend ? For this use of testing would ceramic or electrolytic be fine ? Could you recommend me a good suplier ?[/quote]

We have listed the type of components in our reference files, so you can find everything there but for you it might be difficult to implement on a breadboard. And since capacitors will be very far away from the chip compared to our reference design so there will be some extra capacitance and such, and if you are using a breadboard there is also some extra capacitance in the breadboard also.

You have the right amount of components and values in the table you listed, but I want to be very clear. The design I shared is not to be used in any actual design or prototype. It is extremely limited and is lacking essential parts. So it is only for your current design that you all ready have so that you can test and see if you are able to program the chip. Not something we recommend that you actually follow for any future projects. It might not work at all, cant say for sure.

For the components you can see the specs here: https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/com.nordic.infocenter.nrf52832.ps.v1.1/ref_circuitry.html?cp=4_2_0_52_0#schematic_qfn48_ldo

I marked the components that matches the previous schematic I shared.

For a new design use ceramic components that matches Bill of Material (BOM). But you can try electrolyte if find that easier to test if you can program the device you now have.

Using a simple Blinky could work.

[quote user="JirkaMartinec"]Do you have any Gerber or Sheet files for PCB program like EasyEDA ? (For the Schematic you send)[/quote]

We don not have any EasyEDA files, and not for the version I sheared(Again not a design we will recommend). You can find all our Hardware files in the products home page. They include the GERBER and Alitum files as well as PDF format.
https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF52832/Download?lang=en#infotabs

[quote user="JirkaMartinec"]I am worried that the nrf_delay_ms function would not work because I have no timers (marked as X1, X2) ? Or those components looking like a clock ?
[/quote]

There is the internal clock, so I believe it should work, it is less accurate but should do the job.

[quote user="JirkaMartinec"]This symbol is for Ground (GND), correct ?[/quote]

Yes, that is correct.

[quote user="JirkaMartinec"]So If I understand this correctly:[/quote]

Yes, point 1 to 4 and 6, is correct.

[quote user="JirkaMartinec"]5. Pin 45 to the Ground (GND) and also to C10 (1.0uF capacitor) also from the C10 to pin 46 ?[/quote]

Pin 45 can go directly to GND. Don't have to touch the C10 capacitors negative(GND) side.

As for the wiring, this is uncharted territory, you will just have to try, it might not work at all, loose and poor contact + extra capacitance form the cables and breadboard might make this task very hard, and probably somewhat unpredictable.

So, might get it to work, but not something I would develop on.

Regards,
Jonathan

RE: Can't flash external PCB with nRF52 DK (No idcode detected)

Jirka Martinec — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 22:23:55 GMT

Hi Jonathan,

thanks for your answer !

What types of bypass capacitors would you recommend ? For this use of testing would ceramic or electrolytic be fine ? Could you recommend me a good suplier ?

I have found:

Value	Quantity
100nF	3
4.7uF	1
1.0uF	1
100pF	1

Correct ?

For the first program I would like to flash into the chip is modified example of blinky.

#include <stdbool.h>
#include <stdint.h>

// Library for functions: nrf_gpio_cfg_output, nrf_gpio_pin_set, nrf_gpio_pin_clear
#include "nrf_gpio.h"

// Library for functions: nrf_delay_ms
#include "nrf_delay.h"

// Define variable LED with pin 17
#define LED 17

int main(void)
{
	// Initialize pin
    nrf_gpio_cfg_output(LED);

    while (true)
    {
		// Turn the LED on
        nrf_gpio_pin_set(LED);

        // Wait 1000 ms
        nrf_delay_ms(1000);

        // Turn the LED off
		nrf_gpio_pin_clear(LED);

		// Wait 1000 ms
        nrf_delay_ms(1000);
    }
}

Do you have any Gerber or Sheet files for PCB program like EasyEDA ? (For the Schematic you send)

I am worried that the nrf_delay_ms function would not work because I have no timers (marked as X1, X2) ? Or those components looking like a clock ?

This symbol is for Ground (GND), correct ?

So If I understand this correctly:

1. Pin 1 to C4 (100nF) and into the Ground (GND) ?
2. Pin 13 to C5 (100nF) and into the Ground (GND) and also into the VDD on the nRF52 DK board ?
3. Pin 33 to C7 (100pF) and into the Ground (GND) ?
4. Pin 36 to the VDD on the nRF52 DK board and also into the C8 (100nF) and into the Ground (GND) ?
5. Pin 45 to the Ground (GND) and also to C10 (1.0uF capacitor) also from the C10 to pin 46 ?
6. Pin 48 to the VDD on the nRF52 DK board and also to C9 (4.7uF) and also into the Ground (GND) ?

As I said I am software developer, so basically I am beginner, started a month ago. So please forgive me if I sound dumb 🙏

Thank you for your time you spend on my comment, I appreciate it very much 🙏

Currently Badly wired schema:

Brown cable is the pin 17, other pins similar to standard colors (Black GND, RED Power, Orange SWD IO, Purple SWD CLK)

Also I think that there might be a problem in the wiring, should I use one pin/wire and split it into two to the nRF52 DK, like this ?

nRF52-DK           Custom / External Board

VDD ------+-------------> VDD
         /
VTG ----+

GND ------------+-------> GND
               /
GND DETECT ---+

SWD IO -----------------> SWD IO

SWD CLK ----------------> SWD CLK

RE: Can't flash external PCB with nRF52 DK (No idcode detected)

JONATHAN LL — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 12:00:24 GMT

Hi Jirka,

Thanks for choosing a Nordic chip to work with.

You might be able to use the PCB you have with the nRF52 on and successfully program when you add the missing capacitors to the correct, but the radio will not work.

So I would recommend that you start a new design and follow our guidelines including all the necessary components to make the SoC work as intended. You can ask for a review by us at Nordic and we will provide feedback on your design.

But you can try and see if you can get the one you have now to be programmed.

So you need at minimum these connections.

In this configuration you might be able to program the nRF52832 chip.

You also need to connect the center pad to the other ground points, so

pin 48, pin 36 and pin 13 needs to be connected to VDD and each other, and they should also have the corresponding decupling cap on each pin. The decupling capacitors should be as close to the chip as possible.

Pin 33, pin 46 and pin 1 needs their decupling capacitors.

Pin 45 and 49(the center pad) is your ground pins, they should be connected together and is your ground.

If you do this then you might be able to program the nRF52832, it will be very limited, radio and any critical timing will not work.

Regards,
Jonathan

RE: Can't flash external PCB with nRF52 DK (No idcode detected)

hmolesworth — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 22:31:09 GMT

Ah, not easy. Start by simply connecting pins 13 and 36 to VDD (48); andpin 31 to VSS GND (45). There will be no external crystal or decoupling, but it might work sufficiently to program the board. To work properly, however, all the non-optional components shown must be also fitted.

RE: Can't flash external PCB with nRF52 DK (No idcode detected)

Jirka Martinec — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 22:03:32 GMT

Thanks for your answer, I'm very sorry, but I'm a would-be beginner at this.

Which pins must be connected to which pins ?

Thank you so much again for your help to even look at this ticket.

RE: Can't flash external PCB with nRF52 DK (No idcode detected)

hmolesworth — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 21:57:18 GMT

You are missing some necessary connections, see for example fig 171 in PS v1.7 which is an example using internal LDO (no DC-DC), VDD, VSS and the DECn pins should also be connected to caps as shown though you might get away without caps to test: