Easy Very Low Power BLE <20uA (2022) With Arduino - Instructables

Update: 4th Dec 2024 – Added note about Nordic Online Power Profiler

Update: 11th Nov 2024 – Rev 13 of pfod_lp_nrf52_2024.zip fixed A0 to A3 pin mapping for nRF52832_BARE_MODULE and added note about comparator pins and programming wiring

Update: 23rd March 2024 – Pi Pico prorgrammer no longer recommended. Use MuseLab MuseLab DAPLink instead

Update: 10th March 2024 – pfod_lp_nrf52_2024.zip simplifies programming and handles protection on latest chip version

Update: 31st May 2023 – Rev 11 of pfod_lp_nrf52_2023.zip adds lp_comparator_isRunning() and changes lp_timer to finer ticks, 30.5us. Max 511sec, min 5 ticks =>152.5us

Update: 10th May 2023 – Skylab SKB369 back in stock at <US$5 on Aliexpress

Update: 10th April 2023 – Added Raspberry Pi Pico DIY programmer

Update: 6th February 2023 – Rev 10 of pfod_lp_nrf25_2022 adds lp_ADC_calibrate() method to calibrate the ADC offset

Update: 6th January 2023 – Rev 9 of pfod_lp_nrf25_2022 adds scanning support methods to BLEPeripheral and lp_ADC, revised Muselab programmer, added Help My Upload Failed

Update: 20th February 2022 – added MuseLab programmer

Update: 12th February 2022 – pfod_lp_nrf52_2022 Rev6 mods for 1/4 supply current (<20uA) and 4 times tx speed, corrected notes on Particle Debugger availability

Novice users can build BLE devices that can run continuously for over a year on 2 x AAA batteries or a Coin Cell

Programming Problems

For reliable programming it is best to solder the leads from the programmer to the board. While this tutorial shows jumper pins, it has been found that those connections become intermittent after repeated connects/disconnects which results in programming error messages. Soldering directly to the board overcomes those problems.

Background

This instructable completely replaces the previous Very Low Power BLE made Easy with Arduino – 2019 instructable. All the programmers and most of the BLE modules used in that 2019 tutorial are no longer available or exorbitantly expensive.

This instructiable uses Nordic Semiconductor nRF52832 modules and has been revised to handle the chip protection of the latest versions of the nRF52832 modules.

This project was originally posted in December 2018 and used a BlackMagic programming module and a Redbear Programmer for programming the Redbear Nano V2 board. Later when the Redbear Programmer was no longer available, it was replaced with a Particle Debugger. Redbear Nano V2 is discontinued and the Particle Debugger and the BlackMagic programmer are out-of-stock. The Particle Debugger appears to still be a current item, just not available as at Feb 2022. Also the original project used a SkyLab Bluetooth Module SKB369 or a GT832E_01 as an alternative to the Redbear Nano V2. The SKB369 is still available but at a quoted price of US$190 each as at January 2022. Update: 10th May 2023 – Skylab SKB369 back in stock at <US$5 on Aliexpress

This version pfod_lp_nrf52_2024 only supports programming via CMSIS-DAP programmers

The GT832E_01 (nRF52832 version), is used here as an example. It is still available at ~US$15 each, as at Jan 2022, but that price is also higher than previously. Other alternative nRF52832 modules will be covered as samples become available. The BLM_KTB522 available from via Aliexpress for ~US$6 each does not have an external low frequency 32Khz RTC crystal so should be programmed using the Generic nRF52832 (LFC RC osc) board setting. There is a XL52832-D01 from Aliexpress for ~US$5 with lots of I/O pins and Adafruit also has an in-expensive nrf52832 bare module, ~US$10, also with lots of I/O pins.

This tutorial is also available on-line at Easy Very Low Power BLE in Arduino -- Part 1 2022