RAK4631 + RAK5005-O Consume High Current (@350uA)

himansu.donga · February 13, 2023, 5:08am

Hi All,

I am developing a sensor node using RAK4631 + RAK5005-O Baseboard and facing high current consumption issuse.

Hardware Setup-1: (it is Working OK)
Board: RAK4631 Module
Firmware: Zephyr RTOS LORAWAN Class A Sample
Current : @15uA

Hardware Setup-2: (it is consuming high Current)
Board: RAK4631 Module + RAK5005-O Base Board
Firmware: Zephyr RTOS LORAWAN Class A Sample
Current : @350uA

I am facing high current consumption an Issue when using hardware setup 2 ( RAK4631 Module + RAK5005-O Base Board)

Please let me know why hardware setup consume high current.

Thanks
Himansu

beegee · February 13, 2023, 6:32am

Welcome to the forum @himansu.donga

Do I understand that you have two different hardware setups?

RAK4631 only (how do you use it)
RAK4631 + RAK5005-O

himansu.donga · February 13, 2023, 9:33am

Do I understand that you have two different hardware setups?
Ans: Two Different types of Setup. Hardware Pices is same.
Total Device With me for Test:

RAK4631 Module 1 pcs
RAK5005-O Base board 1 pcs
Note: RAK4631 Module is same for both hardware setup, I am adding base board in second hardware setup.

RAK4631 only (how do you use it)
Ans:
Use +3V3 , GND, and RST Pin for the Current consumption Setup.

beegee · February 13, 2023, 12:28pm

The RAK4631 is not built for single power supply or to be used without the base board.
You need to supply 3.3V and VBAT (3.6 to 4.2V) to get it working. Most likely in your setup (1) the SX1262 LoRa transceiver inside the module will not work at all, the nRF52 might work. That’s why you see a low current. Permanently powering the RAK4631 like this might damage the device.

On both setups, do you have a working firmware running?
Is the device setup for LoRa P2P or LoRaWAN?
If LoRa P2P, are you forcing the LoRa transceiver into sleep mode
If LoRaWAN, is the device connecting to a LoRaWAN server.

If not forcing transceiver sleep in P2P mode or connecting to a LoRaWAN server, the LoRa transceiver will consume a higher current. Don’t ask me how to do this with Zephyr, I don’t know anything about Zephyr, no-one from RAK R&D is using it.

himansu.donga · February 13, 2023, 1:22pm

Hi,

Any Sample Firmware for LoRaWAN Class A Current Current consumption Test Available. If Yes, Please send me the details.

How much current take for RAK4631 + RAK5005-O Board with LoRawan Class A Firmware ?

On both setups, do you have a working firmware running?
Ans: Setup-2 is working with Class A, Setup-1, I will Update you shortly.

Is the device setup for LoRa P2P or LoRaWAN?
Ans: Is for LoRa LoRaWAN Class A Device
If LoRa P2P, are you forcing the LoRa transceiver into sleep mode
If LoRaWAN, is the device connecting to a LoRaWAN server.
Ans: Setup-2 is working with Class A and staying connected with server, Setup-1, I will Update you shortly.

Thanks,
Himansu Donga

himansu.donga · February 13, 2023, 3:08pm

Below is my Hardware Setup
J2 PIN 1 : +3V3 => Connected to +3V3V Power Supply
J2 PIN 4 : GND => Connected to GND Power Supply
J2 PIN 5 : RST => Connected to +3V3 Power Supply

I am following your recommendation for RAK4631 in other post.
Excessive Current Consumption in Blank Sketch - WisBlock - RAKwireless Forum

Thanks,
Himansu

beegee · February 14, 2023, 2:55am

The way you power the RAK4631 is WRONG.
The RAK4631 is built to work with WisBlock Base and not to be powered by 3.3V only.
If the RAK4631 is damaged, you have void warranty and we will NOT replace it.

This is the power supply the RAK4631 needs and it can be only achieved when using the WisBlock connector.

I left a new comment on the old thread, do not follow this guide.

himansu.donga · February 14, 2023, 10:55am

Hi @beegee ,
Thanks.

I want to know, How much power consume by RAK4631 + RAK5005-O baseboard when in sleep mode(BLE Off, LoRa Tx Only)?

Thanks,
Himansu Donga

beegee · February 14, 2023, 12:24pm

Using Arduino IDE, only RAK5005-O and RAK4631, LoRaWAN mode, connected to LNS, I am getting ~50uA supply current at 4V input (from battery).

Example code using Arduino BSP, PlatformIO and WisBlock-API-V2 ==> Low-Power-Pio

Botched1 · February 17, 2023, 5:00pm

Another reference point (15 uA in this case… using the RUI3 firmware). Feel free to search the forum, others have posted power usage info as well.