Issue with PWM DMA on Timer 3 Channel 1 with F401 using HAL

Forum|Forum|10 hours ago
October 4, 2026
3 replies
15 views

I’m having an issue where I get no output when trying to do PWM with DMA using Timer 3, Channel 1 on an STM32F401RET6.

I am using PB4 for my Timer 3, Channel 1 pin.

Regular PWM output works perfectly on this channel and pin.

But if I try and do DMA transfers, there is no PWM output (voltage stays at 0).

I’ve confirmed that I can do PWM DMA on another timer, Timer 2 Channel 1; this works perfectly. But when I switch to Timer 3, Channel 1, there is no output.

My timer setup:

/* TIM2 init function */
void MX_TIM2_Init(void)
{

  /* USER CODE BEGIN TIM2_Init 0 */

  /* USER CODE END TIM2_Init 0 */

  TIM_ClockConfigTypeDef sClockSourceConfig = {0};
  TIM_MasterConfigTypeDef sMasterConfig = {0};
  TIM_OC_InitTypeDef sConfigOC = {0};

  /* USER CODE BEGIN TIM2_Init 1 */

  /* USER CODE END TIM2_Init 1 */
  htim2.Instance = TIM2;
  htim2.Init.Prescaler = 0;
  htim2.Init.CounterMode = TIM_COUNTERMODE_UP;
  htim2.Init.Period = 90-1;
  htim2.Init.ClockDivision = TIM_CLOCKDIVISION_DIV1;
  htim2.Init.AutoReloadPreload = TIM_AUTORELOAD_PRELOAD_DISABLE;
  if (HAL_TIM_Base_Init(&htim2) != HAL_OK)
  {
    Error_Handler();
  }
  sClockSourceConfig.ClockSource = TIM_CLOCKSOURCE_INTERNAL;
  if (HAL_TIM_ConfigClockSource(&htim2, &sClockSourceConfig) != HAL_OK)
  {
    Error_Handler();
  }
  if (HAL_TIM_PWM_Init(&htim2) != HAL_OK)
  {
    Error_Handler();
  }
  sMasterConfig.MasterOutputTrigger = TIM_TRGO_RESET;
  sMasterConfig.MasterSlaveMode = TIM_MASTERSLAVEMODE_DISABLE;
  if (HAL_TIMEx_MasterConfigSynchronization(&htim2, &sMasterConfig) != HAL_OK)
  {
    Error_Handler();
  }
  sConfigOC.OCMode = TIM_OCMODE_PWM1;
  sConfigOC.Pulse = 0;
  sConfigOC.OCPolarity = TIM_OCPOLARITY_HIGH;
  sConfigOC.OCFastMode = TIM_OCFAST_DISABLE;
  if (HAL_TIM_PWM_ConfigChannel(&htim2, &sConfigOC, TIM_CHANNEL_1) != HAL_OK)
  {
    Error_Handler();
  }
  /* USER CODE BEGIN TIM2_Init 2 */

  /* USER CODE END TIM2_Init 2 */
  HAL_TIM_MspPostInit(&htim2);

}
/* TIM3 init function */
void MX_TIM3_Init(void)
{

  /* USER CODE BEGIN TIM3_Init 0 */

  /* USER CODE END TIM3_Init 0 */

  TIM_ClockConfigTypeDef sClockSourceConfig = {0};
  TIM_MasterConfigTypeDef sMasterConfig = {0};
  TIM_OC_InitTypeDef sConfigOC = {0};

  /* USER CODE BEGIN TIM3_Init 1 */

  /* USER CODE END TIM3_Init 1 */
  htim3.Instance = TIM3;
  htim3.Init.Prescaler = 0;
  htim3.Init.CounterMode = TIM_COUNTERMODE_UP;
  htim3.Init.Period = 90-1;
  htim3.Init.ClockDivision = TIM_CLOCKDIVISION_DIV1;
  htim3.Init.AutoReloadPreload = TIM_AUTORELOAD_PRELOAD_DISABLE;
  if (HAL_TIM_Base_Init(&htim3) != HAL_OK)
  {
    Error_Handler();
  }
  sClockSourceConfig.ClockSource = TIM_CLOCKSOURCE_INTERNAL;
  if (HAL_TIM_ConfigClockSource(&htim3, &sClockSourceConfig) != HAL_OK)
  {
    Error_Handler();
  }
  if (HAL_TIM_PWM_Init(&htim3) != HAL_OK)
  {
    Error_Handler();
  }
  sMasterConfig.MasterOutputTrigger = TIM_TRGO_RESET;
  sMasterConfig.MasterSlaveMode = TIM_MASTERSLAVEMODE_DISABLE;
  if (HAL_TIMEx_MasterConfigSynchronization(&htim3, &sMasterConfig) != HAL_OK)
  {
    Error_Handler();
  }
  sConfigOC.OCMode = TIM_OCMODE_PWM1;
  sConfigOC.Pulse = 0;
  sConfigOC.OCPolarity = TIM_OCPOLARITY_HIGH;
  sConfigOC.OCFastMode = TIM_OCFAST_DISABLE;
  if (HAL_TIM_PWM_ConfigChannel(&htim3, &sConfigOC, TIM_CHANNEL_1) != HAL_OK)
  {
    Error_Handler();
  }
  /* USER CODE BEGIN TIM3_Init 2 */

  /* USER CODE END TIM3_Init 2 */
  HAL_TIM_MspPostInit(&htim3);

}

void HAL_TIM_Base_MspInit(TIM_HandleTypeDef* tim_baseHandle)
{

  if(tim_baseHandle->Instance==TIM2)
  {
  /* USER CODE BEGIN TIM2_MspInit 0 */

  /* USER CODE END TIM2_MspInit 0 */
    /* TIM2 clock enable */
    __HAL_RCC_TIM2_CLK_ENABLE();

    /* TIM2 DMA Init */
    /* TIM2_CH1 Init */
    hdma_tim2_ch1.Instance = DMA1_Stream5;
    hdma_tim2_ch1.Init.Channel = DMA_CHANNEL_3;
    hdma_tim2_ch1.Init.Direction = DMA_MEMORY_TO_PERIPH;
    hdma_tim2_ch1.Init.PeriphInc = DMA_PINC_DISABLE;
    hdma_tim2_ch1.Init.MemInc = DMA_MINC_ENABLE;
    hdma_tim2_ch1.Init.PeriphDataAlignment = DMA_PDATAALIGN_WORD;
    hdma_tim2_ch1.Init.MemDataAlignment = DMA_MDATAALIGN_WORD;
    hdma_tim2_ch1.Init.Mode = DMA_CIRCULAR;
    hdma_tim2_ch1.Init.Priority = DMA_PRIORITY_VERY_HIGH;
    hdma_tim2_ch1.Init.FIFOMode = DMA_FIFOMODE_DISABLE;
    if (HAL_DMA_Init(&hdma_tim2_ch1) != HAL_OK)
    {
      Error_Handler();
    }

    __HAL_LINKDMA(tim_baseHandle,hdma[TIM_DMA_ID_CC1],hdma_tim2_ch1);

  /* USER CODE BEGIN TIM2_MspInit 1 */

  /* USER CODE END TIM2_MspInit 1 */
  }
  else if(tim_baseHandle->Instance==TIM3)
  {
  /* USER CODE BEGIN TIM3_MspInit 0 */

  /* USER CODE END TIM3_MspInit 0 */
    /* TIM3 clock enable */
    __HAL_RCC_TIM3_CLK_ENABLE();

    /* TIM3 DMA Init */
    /* TIM3_CH1_TRIG Init */
    hdma_tim3_ch1_trig.Instance = DMA1_Stream4;
    hdma_tim3_ch1_trig.Init.Channel = DMA_CHANNEL_5;
    hdma_tim3_ch1_trig.Init.Direction = DMA_MEMORY_TO_PERIPH;
    hdma_tim3_ch1_trig.Init.PeriphInc = DMA_PINC_DISABLE;
    hdma_tim3_ch1_trig.Init.MemInc = DMA_MINC_ENABLE;
    hdma_tim3_ch1_trig.Init.PeriphDataAlignment = DMA_PDATAALIGN_WORD;
    hdma_tim3_ch1_trig.Init.MemDataAlignment = DMA_MDATAALIGN_WORD;
    hdma_tim3_ch1_trig.Init.Mode = DMA_CIRCULAR;
    hdma_tim3_ch1_trig.Init.Priority = DMA_PRIORITY_VERY_HIGH;
    hdma_tim3_ch1_trig.Init.FIFOMode = DMA_FIFOMODE_DISABLE;
    if (HAL_DMA_Init(&hdma_tim3_ch1_trig) != HAL_OK)
    {
      Error_Handler();
    }

    /* Several peripheral DMA handle pointers point to the same DMA handle.
     Be aware that there is only one stream to perform all the requested DMAs. */
    __HAL_LINKDMA(tim_baseHandle,hdma[TIM_DMA_ID_CC1],hdma_tim3_ch1_trig);
    __HAL_LINKDMA(tim_baseHandle,hdma[TIM_DMA_ID_TRIGGER],hdma_tim3_ch1_trig);


    /* TIM3 interrupt Init */
    HAL_NVIC_SetPriority(TIM3_IRQn, 0, 0);
    HAL_NVIC_EnableIRQ(TIM3_IRQn);
  /* USER CODE BEGIN TIM3_MspInit 1 */

  /* USER CODE END TIM3_MspInit 1 */
  }
}
void HAL_TIM_MspPostInit(TIM_HandleTypeDef* timHandle)
{

  GPIO_InitTypeDef GPIO_InitStruct = {0};
  if(timHandle->Instance==TIM2)
  {
  /* USER CODE BEGIN TIM2_MspPostInit 0 */

  /* USER CODE END TIM2_MspPostInit 0 */
    __HAL_RCC_GPIOA_CLK_ENABLE();
    /**TIM2 GPIO Configuration
    PA15     ------> TIM2_CH1
    */
    GPIO_InitStruct.Pin = GPIO_PIN_15;
    GPIO_InitStruct.Mode = GPIO_MODE_AF_PP;
    GPIO_InitStruct.Pull = GPIO_NOPULL;
    GPIO_InitStruct.Speed = GPIO_SPEED_FREQ_LOW;
    GPIO_InitStruct.Alternate = GPIO_AF1_TIM2;
    HAL_GPIO_Init(GPIOA, &GPIO_InitStruct);

  /* USER CODE BEGIN TIM2_MspPostInit 1 */

  /* USER CODE END TIM2_MspPostInit 1 */
  }
  else if(timHandle->Instance==TIM3)
  {
  /* USER CODE BEGIN TIM3_MspPostInit 0 */

  /* USER CODE END TIM3_MspPostInit 0 */

    __HAL_RCC_GPIOB_CLK_ENABLE();
    /**TIM3 GPIO Configuration
    PB4     ------> TIM3_CH1
    */
    GPIO_InitStruct.Pin = GPIO_PIN_4;
    GPIO_InitStruct.Mode = GPIO_MODE_AF_PP;
    GPIO_InitStruct.Pull = GPIO_NOPULL;
    GPIO_InitStruct.Speed = GPIO_SPEED_FREQ_LOW;
    GPIO_InitStruct.Alternate = GPIO_AF2_TIM3;
    HAL_GPIO_Init(GPIOB, &GPIO_InitStruct);

  /* USER CODE BEGIN TIM3_MspPostInit 1 */

  /* USER CODE END TIM3_MspPostInit 1 */
  }

}

My relevant code from main.c:

uint32_t data[] = {
	10,
	20,
	30,
	40,
	50,
	60,
	70,
	80,
	90,
};

/* USER CODE END PV */

/* Private function prototypes -----------------------------------------------*/
void SystemClock_Config(void);
/* USER CODE BEGIN PFP */

/* USER CODE END PFP */

/* Private user code ---------------------------------------------------------*/
/* USER CODE BEGIN 0 */

/* USER CODE END 0 */

/**
  * @brief  The application entry point.
  * @retval int
  */
int main(void)
{

  /* USER CODE BEGIN 1 */

  /* USER CODE END 1 */

  /* MCU Configuration--------------------------------------------------------*/

  /* Reset of all peripherals, Initializes the Flash interface and the Systick. */
  HAL_Init();

  /* USER CODE BEGIN Init */

  /* USER CODE END Init */

  /* Configure the system clock */
  SystemClock_Config();

  /* USER CODE BEGIN SysInit */

  /* USER CODE END SysInit */

  /* Initialize all configured peripherals */
  MX_GPIO_Init();
  MX_DMA_Init();
  MX_TIM3_Init();
  MX_TIM2_Init();
  /* USER CODE BEGIN 2 */



  //HAL_TIM_PWM_Start(&htim3, TIM_CHANNEL_1);
  //__HAL_TIM_SET_COMPARE(&htim3, TIM_CHANNEL_1, 10);
  //HAL_TIM_PWM_Start(&htim2, TIM_CHANNEL_1);
  //__HAL_TIM_SET_COMPARE(&htim2, TIM_CHANNEL_1, 10);
  //HAL_TIM_PWM_Start_DMA(&htim2, TIM_CHANNEL_1, data, 9);
  HAL_TIM_PWM_Start_DMA(&htim3, TIM_CHANNEL_1, data, 9);


  /* USER CODE END 2 */

  /* Infinite loop */
  /* USER CODE BEGIN WHILE */
  while (1)
  {
    /* USER CODE END WHILE */

    /* USER CODE BEGIN 3 */

  }
  /* USER CODE END 3 */
}

I don’t have a lot of experience debugging DMA within CubeIDE (as it’s always worked for me in the past), so any directions of how to approach that are appreciated.

I am unclear as to what is going on and would appreciate any suggestions!

zeitkunstAuthor

As an update: I discovered that the DMA based on that above code *does* work, but only for one cycle (even though I have it set for circular). To get it to run continuously, I have to write the following code:

void HAL_TIM_PWM_PulseFinishedCallback(TIM_HandleTypeDef *htim) {

	if (htim == &htim3) {
		HAL_TIM_PWM_Start_DMA(&htim3, TIM_CHANNEL_1, data, 9);
	}
}

So why does circular mode work for Timer 2 but not for Timer 3? All of the other settings are exactly the same.

TDK

Show the full project. Probably DMA is not set to circular.

"If you feel a post has answered your question, please click ""Accept as Solution""."

AScha.3

Super User

>So why does circular mode work for Timer 2 but not for Timer 3? All of the other settings are exactly the same.

Your settings are same, right, but the timers not . Tim2 is 32b timer, Tim3 is 16b.

But you always try to write 32b , your data[x] , to the compare register, see manual:

So write 16b data to the 16b timer.

If you feel a post has answered your question, please click on " Best Answer ".

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