X-NUCLEO-LPM01A PowerShield - Dynamic Current Range Too Limited?

Andrew Neil · ‎2021-04-29

The X-NUCLEO-LPM01A PowerShield has a dynamic current range maximum of only 50mA.

This is a long way short of the maximum current found in many STM32 applications; eg.

STM32WL - max Tx current is 120mA;
B-L072Z-LRWAN1 - max Tx current of the radio module is 128mA

Particularly annoying is that the PowerShield will simply abort the acquisition when the 50mA limit is exceed; eg, see:

https://community.st.com/s/question/0D53W00000KpzoVSAR/stm32l562edk-current-up-to-150ma

and:

https://community.st.com/s/question/0D53W00000ku5QLSAY/stm32cubemonpower-unhelpful-error-message-released-due-to-connection-issue

This makes the PowerShield useless in these applications.

Is there any workaround to this?

Even if it just gave an 'out-of-range' value in the logs, that would be preferable - then we could get measurements for all except the peaks using the PowerShield, and only have to find other means to measure the peaks.

Richard.Chvr · ‎2021-04-29

Hi @Andrew Neil ,

As mentioned in https://www.st.com/content/st_com/en/products/development-tools/software-development-tools/stm32-software-development-tools/stm32-performance-and-debuggers/stm32cubemonpwr.html, ST offers currently 2 solutions that allow users to monitor current.

From 100 nA up to 50 mA with ~2% accuracy for the X-NUCLEO-LPM01A expansion board
From 300 nA up to 150 mA with ~2% accuracy for the Energy Meter of the STM32L562E-DK Discovery kit

Also I think that the STM32L562E-DK Discovery kit could be the appropriate solution for your needs.

https://www.st.com/content/st_com/en/products/evaluation-tools/product-evaluation-tools/mcu-mpu-eval-tools/stm32-mcu-mpu-eval-tools/stm32-discovery-kits/stm32l562e-dk.html

Moreover a new solution with a highest max current value is currently under development. Due to business reasons we can’t communicate about future availability of this new product.

Regards

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Andrew Neil · ‎2021-04-30

Ah - thanks for that. Worth a look ...

And looking forward to the new product ...

Andrew Neil · ‎2021-09-13

At the time of starting this thread, the STM32-LPM01-XN firmware for the X-NUCLEO-LPM01A board was at v1.0.1.

I see that the STM32-LPM01-XN firmware for the X-NUCLEO-LPM01A board is now at v1.0.6.

But I can't see any Release Notes.

Has anything been done about the behaviour on overload?

Again:

"Even if it just gave an 'out-of-range' value in the logs, that would be preferable - then we could get measurements for all except the peaks using the PowerShield, and only have to find other means to measure the peaks."

EDIT

Asked as a separate question:

https://community.st.com/s/question/0D53W000014w80YSAQ/where-are-release-notes-for-the-stm32lpm01xn-firmware

c_dev05 · ‎2021-10-11

Hi Richard,

where can I download the PowerShield firmware for the STM32L562E-DK?

Did not find anything on www.st.com.

Thanks,

Wolfgang

Andrew Neil · ‎2021-10-12

@c_dev05 "where can I download the PowerShield firmware for the STM32L562E-DK?"

EDIT: Just realised that I misread, and the following is all about the Host software - not the board firmware. :tired_face:

It should be on the 'Tools & Software' tab of the STM32L562E-DK Product Page:

But, indeed, it isn't:

But you can find it via the X-NUCLEO-LPM01A (the subject of this thread) Product Page:

Or just search for "STM32CubeMonPwr" or "STM32 Cube Power Monitor"

https://www.st.com/en/development-tools/stm32cubemonpwr.html

@Richard.Chvr - so why is it not linked from the STM32L562E-DK Product Page ?

PDEFO.1 · ‎2021-10-12

Hi Andrew, You're right. We just asked to our marketing responsible to update the STM32L562E-DK product page with a link to the powershield Firmware.

Thanks & Regards

Andrew Neil · ‎2021-10-12

@PDEFO.1 I Just realised that I misread @c_dev05's post, and all I wrote in my previous post was about the Host software - but @c_dev05 wanted the board firmware. :tired_face:

I also can't see the board firmware on the product page - do you know where that is?

EDIT

I guess that's covered under 'Demonstration software' in the Data Brief?

c_dev05 · ‎2021-10-13

Hello,

this is correct. I was looking for the Board firmware.

Today I received the board and there is a firmware for current measurement v1.0.6 installed. If there is no newer version, this is OK.

I want to use this board to measure the current for my own developed PCBA. There is a connector CN20 that can be used for this purpose as written in the schematic for the board:

Output connector to supply and measure external target:
PIN 1: GND
PIN 2: Voltage source, current is not measured, it is not a copy of ourput voltage
PIN 3: Output with current measurement
PIN 4: Output voltage copy with 150R protection serial resistor, current is not measured

But I can measure no voltage on Pin 3?

Where can I find documentation how to configure the board for this purpose?

Thanks,

Wolfgang

Andrew Neil · ‎2021-10-13

That's really nothing to do with this thread - please start a new thread for the unrelated question.