Enabling LDO or DCDC on nrf connect sdk

[MOHAMED AHMED ALI MAHMOUD ELSABAGH]

I am using nrf connect sdk with nrf52832 to interface RFID reader with custom board nrf52832 over SPI, the firmware is working very well on my custom board when the RTT debugger is running, but when the RTT is not activated the board is unable to detect the cards.

I am not sure if this is a firmware or hardware problem, I am trying to deactivate the DCDC and use LDO to check if this is a power issue, how can this be done using nrf connect sdk?

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi,

 

For the nRF52832, the DCDC is disabled by setting:

CONFIG_BOARD_ENABLE_DCDC=n

 

Please note that the default setting is to enable both DCDC and external 32k. If your design does not include an external 32k source, you can use the internal 32k RC oscillator instead by adding this:

CONFIG_CLOCK_CONTROL_NRF_K32SRC_RC=y

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[MOHAMED AHMED ALI MAHMOUD ELSABAGH]

I have tried ```CONFIG_BOARD_ENABLE_DCDC=n``` but it is giving error undefined symbol CONFIG_BOARD_ENABLE_DCDC, I am using sdk ver 2.3.0

[Håkon Alseth]

Which board (ex: nrf52dk_nrf52832) are you using?

This shall be present in ncs v2.3.0: https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/2.3.0/kconfig/index.html#CONFIG_BOARD_ENABLE_DCDC

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[MOHAMED AHMED ALI MAHMOUD ELSABAGH]

I am using a custom board of nrf52832 here is my proj.conf

# Config PINCTR

CONFIG_PINCTRL=y

# Config GPIO

CONFIG_GPIO=y

# Config logger

CONFIG_LOG=y

# CONFIG_SERIAL=y

CONFIG_CONSOLE=y

CONFIG_LOG_BACKEND_SHOW_COLOR=y

CONFIG_LOG_MODE_IMMEDIATE=y

# Use console with RTT

CONFIG_USE_SEGGER_RTT=y

CONFIG_RTT_CONSOLE=y

CONFIG_LOG_BACKEND_RTT=y

# comment if RTT console not used

CONFIG_SEGGER_RTT_BUFFER_SIZE_UP=2048

# Use console with UART

# CONFIG_UART_CONSOLE=y

# CONFIG_LOG_BACKEND_UART=y

CONFIG_DEBUG_THREAD_INFO=y

CONFIG_DEBUG_OPTIMIZATIONS=n

CONFIG_NO_OPTIMIZATIONS=n

# Config PWM

CONFIG_PWM=y

CONFIG_PWM_NRFX=y

CONFIG_PWM_LOG_LEVEL_DBG=n

# Config PWM for LEDs and Buzzer

CONFIG_NRFX_PWM0=y

CONFIG_NRFX_PWM1=y

# Config SPI

CONFIG_SPI=y

CONFIG_SPI_NRFX=y

# Config NVS/Flash

CONFIG_NVS=y

CONFIG_FLASH=y

CONFIG_FLASH_PAGE_LAYOUT=y

CONFIG_FLASH_MAP=y

CONFIG_SETTINGS=y

CONFIG_MPU_ALLOW_FLASH_WRITE=y

# NVS logs

CONFIG_NVS_LOG_LEVEL_DBG=n

CONFIG_NVS_LOG_LEVEL_OFF=n

# Config Stack

CONFIG_MAIN_STACK_SIZE=4096

CONFIG_HEAP_MEM_POOL_SIZE=4096

# Config Power Management

CONFIG_PM_CPU_OPS=y

CONFIG_PM_DEVICE=y

CONFIG_PM=y

CONFIG_PM_DEVICE_RUNTIME=y

CONFIG_PM_STATS=y

CONFIG_STATS=y

CONFIG_MINIMAL_LIBC=y

CONFIG_NEWLIB_LIBC=y

CONFIG_NEWLIB_LIBC_FLOAT_PRINTF=y

# Config Bluetooth

CONFIG_SYSTEM_WORKQUEUE_STACK_SIZE=4096

CONFIG_BT=y

CONFIG_BT_DEBUG_LOG=n

CONFIG_BT_SMP=y

CONFIG_BT_SIGNING=y

CONFIG_BT_PERIPHERAL=y

CONFIG_BT_DIS=y

CONFIG_BT_ATT_PREPARE_COUNT=5

CONFIG_BT_PRIVACY=y  # setting to y will use random address, while setting to n will use fixed public address

# CONFIG_BT_DIS_MANUF="DK"

CONFIG_BT_DEVICE_NAME="DK"

# CONFIG_BT_DEVICE_APPEARANCE=833

CONFIG_BT_DEVICE_NAME_DYNAMIC=y

CONFIG_BT_DEVICE_NAME_MAX=5

CONFIG_BT_SETTINGS=y

CONFIG_BT_CTLR_TX_PWR_0=y

# CONFIG_SETTINGS_RUNTIME=y   #might not be required

# CONFIG_SETTINGS_NONE=y      #might not be required

CONFIG_BT_GATT_SERVICE_CHANGED=y

CONFIG_BT_MAX_CONN=1

# CONFIG_BT_DEBUG_HCI_CORE=n

# CONFIG_BT_DEBUG_NONE=y

# CONFIG_BT_FIXED_PASSKEY=y

CONFIG_BT_BONDABLE=y

# CONFIG_BT_BONDING_REQUIRED=n

# CONFIG_BT_CTLR_PHY_CODED=y

CONFIG_BT_EXT_ADV=y

CONFIG_BT_USER_PHY_UPDATE=y

CONFIG_BT_BUF_ACL_RX_SIZE=256

CONFIG_BT_L2CAP_TX_MTU=252

CONFIG_BT_KEYS_OVERWRITE_OLDEST=y

# Config Date Time

CONFIG_DATE_TIME=y

# CONFIG_DATE_TIME_MODEM=n

CONFIG_DATE_TIME_NTP=n

CONFIG_DATE_TIME_UPDATE_INTERVAL_SECONDS=0

CONFIG_DATE_TIME_TOO_OLD_SECONDS=0

# Enable System reboot functionality

CONFIG_REBOOT=y

# Config ADC

CONFIG_ADC=y

# Config NFC

# CONFIG_NFC_T4T_NRFXLIB=y

# CONFIG_NFC_T2T_NRFXLIB=y

# CONFIG_NFC_NDEF=y

# CONFIG_NFC_NDEF_MSG=y

# CONFIG_NFC_NDEF_RECORD=y

# CONFIG_NFC_NDEF_TEXT_RECORD=y

# CONFIG_NFC_NDEF_URI_REC=y

# CONFIG_NFC_NDEF_URI_MSG=y

# CONFIG_WATCHDOG=y

# Enable mcumgr.

# CONFIG_MCUMGR=y

# Ensure an MCUboot-compatible binary is generated.

# CONFIG_BOOTLOADER_MCUBOOT=y

# Enable the Bluetooth (unauthenticated) and shell mcumgr transports.

# CONFIG_MCUMGR_SMP_BT=y

# CONFIG_MCUMGR_SMP_BT_AUTHEN=n

# Enable most core commands.

# CONFIG_MCUMGR_CMD_IMG_MGMT=y

# CONFIG_MCUMGR_CMD_OS_MGMT=y

CONFIG_TIMESLICING=y

# CONFIG_SOC_SERIES_NRF52X=y

# CONFIG_SOC_NRF52832_QFAA=y

# CONFIG_ARM=y

# CONFIG_ARM_MPU=n

# CONFIG_BOARD_ENABLE_DCDC=n

# CONFIG_CLOCK_CONTROL_NRF_K32SRC_RC=y

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi,

 

If your board does not have a kconfig entry for this, then it will not be available:

https://github.com/nrfconnect/sdk-zephyr/blob/v3.2.99-ncs2/boards/arm/nrf52dk_nrf52832/Kconfig#L6-L10

 

You can verify this by checking the build/zephyr/.config file and search for symbol "SOC_DCDC_NRF52X". This should not be selected in your case.

 

You'll still need this set:

MOHAMED AHMED ALI MAHMOUD ELSABAGH said:

CONFIG_CLOCK_CONTROL_NRF_K32SRC_RC=y

 

Kind regards,

Håkon