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HelloWorld4
Visitor II
April 25, 2026
Solved

NUCLEO-L452RE-P current consumption way more than expected - ~ 20µA - 30µA in Shutdown Mode

  • April 25, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 525 views

Hello everyone,

I am currently working with the NUCLEO-L452RE-P board and trying to evaluate its low-power performance.

I am measuring the current consumption using jumper JP6 (IDD measurement point). The jumper is removed and a multimeter is connected in series.

My setup:

  • Board powered via ST-LINK USB (then power-cycled before measurement)

  • No external peripherals connected

  • All GPIOs configured as analog, no pull-up/pull-down

  • Debug set to "Serial Wire" (no trace)

  • No RTC or wake-up sources enabled

  • My code is as follows (I intentionally included the complete code to avoid missing any relevant detail):

/* USER CODE BEGIN Header */
/**
 ******************************************************************************
 * @file : main.c
 * @brief : Main program body
 ******************************************************************************
 * @attention
 *
 * Copyright (c) 2026 STMicroelectronics.
 * All rights reserved.
 *
 * This software is licensed under terms that can be found in the LICENSE file
 * in the root directory of this software component.
 * If no LICENSE file comes with this software, it is provided AS-IS.
 *
 ******************************************************************************
 */
/* USER CODE END Header */
/* Includes ------------------------------------------------------------------*/
#include "main.h"

/* Private includes ----------------------------------------------------------*/
/* USER CODE BEGIN Includes */

/* USER CODE END Includes */

/* Private typedef -----------------------------------------------------------*/
/* USER CODE BEGIN PTD */

/* USER CODE END PTD */

/* Private define ------------------------------------------------------------*/
/* USER CODE BEGIN PD */

/* USER CODE END PD */

/* Private macro -------------------------------------------------------------*/
/* USER CODE BEGIN PM */

/* USER CODE END PM */

/* Private variables ---------------------------------------------------------*/

/* USER CODE BEGIN PV */

/* USER CODE END PV */

/* Private function prototypes -----------------------------------------------*/
void SystemClock_Config(void);
static void MX_GPIO_Init(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();
 /* USER CODE BEGIN 2 */
 HAL_Delay(2000);
 HAL_PWREx_EnterSHUTDOWNMode();
 /* USER CODE END 2 */

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

 /* USER CODE BEGIN 3 */
 }
 /* USER CODE END 3 */
}

/**
 * @brief System Clock Configuration
 * @retval None
 */
void SystemClock_Config(void)
{
 RCC_OscInitTypeDef RCC_OscInitStruct = {0};
 RCC_ClkInitTypeDef RCC_ClkInitStruct = {0};

 /** Configure the main internal regulator output voltage
 */
 if (HAL_PWREx_ControlVoltageScaling(PWR_REGULATOR_VOLTAGE_SCALE2) != HAL_OK)
 {
 Error_Handler();
 }

 /** Initializes the RCC Oscillators according to the specified parameters
 * in the RCC_OscInitTypeDef structure.
 */
 RCC_OscInitStruct.OscillatorType = RCC_OSCILLATORTYPE_MSI;
 RCC_OscInitStruct.MSIState = RCC_MSI_ON;
 RCC_OscInitStruct.MSICalibrationValue = 0;
 RCC_OscInitStruct.MSIClockRange = RCC_MSIRANGE_8;
 RCC_OscInitStruct.PLL.PLLState = RCC_PLL_NONE;
 if (HAL_RCC_OscConfig(&RCC_OscInitStruct) != HAL_OK)
 {
 Error_Handler();
 }

 /** Initializes the CPU, AHB and APB buses clocks
 */
 RCC_ClkInitStruct.ClockType = RCC_CLOCKTYPE_HCLK|RCC_CLOCKTYPE_SYSCLK
 |RCC_CLOCKTYPE_PCLK1|RCC_CLOCKTYPE_PCLK2;
 RCC_ClkInitStruct.SYSCLKSource = RCC_SYSCLKSOURCE_MSI;
 RCC_ClkInitStruct.AHBCLKDivider = RCC_SYSCLK_DIV1;
 RCC_ClkInitStruct.APB1CLKDivider = RCC_HCLK_DIV1;
 RCC_ClkInitStruct.APB2CLKDivider = RCC_HCLK_DIV1;

 if (HAL_RCC_ClockConfig(&RCC_ClkInitStruct, FLASH_LATENCY_2) != HAL_OK)
 {
 Error_Handler();
 }
}

/**
 * @brief GPIO Initialization Function
 * @PAram None
 * @retval None
 */
static void MX_GPIO_Init(void)
{
 GPIO_InitTypeDef GPIO_InitStruct = {0};
 /* USER CODE BEGIN MX_GPIO_Init_1 */

 /* USER CODE END MX_GPIO_Init_1 */

 /* GPIO Ports Clock Enable */
 __HAL_RCC_GPIOC_CLK_ENABLE();
 __HAL_RCC_GPIOH_CLK_ENABLE();
 __HAL_RCC_GPIOA_CLK_ENABLE();
 __HAL_RCC_GPIOB_CLK_ENABLE();

 /*Configure GPIO pins : PC13 PC14 PC15 PC0
 PC1 PC2 PC3 PC4
 PC6 PC7 PC8 PC9
 PC10 PC11 PC12 */
 GPIO_InitStruct.Pin = GPIO_PIN_13|GPIO_PIN_14|GPIO_PIN_15|GPIO_PIN_0
 |GPIO_PIN_1|GPIO_PIN_2|GPIO_PIN_3|GPIO_PIN_4
 |GPIO_PIN_6|GPIO_PIN_7|GPIO_PIN_8|GPIO_PIN_9
 |GPIO_PIN_10|GPIO_PIN_11|GPIO_PIN_12;
 GPIO_InitStruct.Mode = GPIO_MODE_ANALOG;
 GPIO_InitStruct.Pull = GPIO_NOPULL;
 HAL_GPIO_Init(GPIOC, &GPIO_InitStruct);

 /*Configure GPIO pins : PH0 PH1 PH3 */
 GPIO_InitStruct.Pin = GPIO_PIN_0|GPIO_PIN_1|GPIO_PIN_3;
 GPIO_InitStruct.Mode = GPIO_MODE_ANALOG;
 GPIO_InitStruct.Pull = GPIO_NOPULL;
 HAL_GPIO_Init(GPIOH, &GPIO_InitStruct);

 /*Configure GPIO pins : PA0 PA1 PA2 PA3
 PA4 PA5 PA6 PA7
 PA8 PA9 PA10 PA11
 PA12 PA15 */
 GPIO_InitStruct.Pin = GPIO_PIN_0|GPIO_PIN_1|GPIO_PIN_2|GPIO_PIN_3
 |GPIO_PIN_4|GPIO_PIN_5|GPIO_PIN_6|GPIO_PIN_7
 |GPIO_PIN_8|GPIO_PIN_9|GPIO_PIN_10|GPIO_PIN_11
 |GPIO_PIN_12|GPIO_PIN_15;
 GPIO_InitStruct.Mode = GPIO_MODE_ANALOG;
 GPIO_InitStruct.Pull = GPIO_NOPULL;
 HAL_GPIO_Init(GPIOA, &GPIO_InitStruct);

 /*Configure GPIO pins : PB0 PB1 PB2 PB10
 PB11 PB12 PB13 PB14
 PB15 PB3 PB4 PB5
 PB6 PB7 PB8 PB9 */
 GPIO_InitStruct.Pin = GPIO_PIN_0|GPIO_PIN_1|GPIO_PIN_2|GPIO_PIN_10
 |GPIO_PIN_11|GPIO_PIN_12|GPIO_PIN_13|GPIO_PIN_14
 |GPIO_PIN_15|GPIO_PIN_3|GPIO_PIN_4|GPIO_PIN_5
 |GPIO_PIN_6|GPIO_PIN_7|GPIO_PIN_8|GPIO_PIN_9;
 GPIO_InitStruct.Mode = GPIO_MODE_ANALOG;
 GPIO_InitStruct.Pull = GPIO_NOPULL;
 HAL_GPIO_Init(GPIOB, &GPIO_InitStruct);

 /* USER CODE BEGIN MX_GPIO_Init_2 */

 /* USER CODE END MX_GPIO_Init_2 */
}

/* USER CODE BEGIN 4 */

/* USER CODE END 4 */

/**
 * @brief This function is executed in case of error occurrence.
 * @retval None
 */
void Error_Handler(void)
{
 /* USER CODE BEGIN Error_Handler_Debug */
 /* User can add his own implementation to report the HAL error return state */
 __disable_irq();
 while (1)
 {
 }
 /* USER CODE END Error_Handler_Debug */
}
#ifdef USE_FULL_ASSERT
/**
 * @brief Reports the name of the source file and the source line number
 * where the assert_param error has occurred.
 * @PAram file: pointer to the source file name
 * @PAram line: assert_param error line source number
 * @retval None
 */
void assert_failed(uint8_t *file, uint32_t line)
{
 /* USER CODE BEGIN 6 */
 /* User can add his own implementation to report the file name and line number,
 ex: printf("Wrong parameters value: file %s on line %d\r\n", file, line) */
 /* USER CODE END 6 */
}
#endif /* USE_FULL_ASSERT */

 

Expected behavior:
According to the datasheet, the STM32L452RE should consume in the range of  ~67nA in Shutdown mode

Observed behavior:
I consistently measure around 20–30 µA on JP6 in Shutdown mode. The value is not perfectly stable and fluctuates.

Questions:

  1. Is this expected behavior when using the NUCLEO-L452RE board?

  2. Could the measured current be dominated by on-board components (e.g. level shifters, ST-LINK interface, SMPS, etc.) even when measuring at JP6?

  3. What additional steps are required to measure the true MCU-only Shutdown current on this board?

I want to keep using the NUCLEO board if possible, but need to reduce the current significantly for a low power application

Any guidance or experience with accurate low-power measurements on this board would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

P.S. 
I have also attached my .ioc file and a photo of my measurement setup

Edit: I observe approximately the same current consumption when using Stop2 mode which is very strange to me...

Best answer by Gyessine

Hello @HelloWorld4 

I see that you missed some steps that you should establish before calling the HAL_PWREx_EnterSHUTDOWNMode function.

Here is a project that configures the STM32 Nucleo-64 board (NUCLEO-L452RE-P) to enter shutdown mode or standby mode after toggling the LED for 10 seconds. This configuration results in power consumption at the nanoampere level.

You can base your implementation on this example.

Gyessine_0-1777384545914.png

BR
Gyessine



3 replies

Mike_ST
Mike_ST
ST Technical Moderator
April 27, 2026

Hello, 

>> Could the measured current be dominated by on-board components (e.g. level shifters, ST-LINK interface, SMPS, etc.) even when measuring at JP6?

Yes it can,

but there are some low power examples in the STM32L4 firmware package:

STM32L4 firmware package 

in STM32Cube_FW_L4_V1.18.2\Projects\NUCLEO-L452RE\Examples\PWR folder for the NUCLEO-L452RE board

and in STM32Cube_FW_L4_V1.18.2\Projects\NUCLEO-L452RE-P\Examples\PWR folder for the NUCLEO-L452RE-P board.

Please check whether you have better result with those examples.

In order to give better visibility on the answered topics, please click on 'Best answer' on the reply which solved your issue or answered your question. 
    Andrew Neil
    Andrew Neil
    Super User
    April 27, 2026
    @Mike_ST wrote:

    >> Could the measured current be dominated by on-board components (e.g. level shifters, ST-LINK interface, SMPS, etc.) even when measuring at JP6?

    Yes it can,

    Absolutely!

    @HelloWorld4 you need to check the schematics very carefully for all possible leakage paths.

    I suggest that you break-off the ST-Link section of the board to be absolutely sure that there's no leakage to the ST-Link.

    For example:

    AndrewNeil_0-1777286698006.png

    (as shown, the ST-Link part is connected via wires for programming - disconnect for current measurements!)

    A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked.A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work.
    GyessineBest answer
    ST Technical Moderator
    April 28, 2026

    Hello @HelloWorld4 

    I see that you missed some steps that you should establish before calling the HAL_PWREx_EnterSHUTDOWNMode function.

    Here is a project that configures the STM32 Nucleo-64 board (NUCLEO-L452RE-P) to enter shutdown mode or standby mode after toggling the LED for 10 seconds. This configuration results in power consumption at the nanoampere level.

    You can base your implementation on this example.

    Gyessine_0-1777384545914.png

    BR
    Gyessine



    In order to give better visibility on the answered topics, please click on 'Best answer' on the reply which solved your issue or answered your question.
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