Can't flash external PCB with nRF52 DK (No idcode detected)

Hi Jonathan,

thanks for your answer !

What types of bypass capacitors would you recommend ? For this use of testing would ceramic or electrolytic be fine ? Could you recommend me a good suplier ?

I have found:

Correct ?

For the first program I would like to flash into the chip is modified example of blinky.

#include <stdbool.h>
#include <stdint.h>

// Library for functions: nrf_gpio_cfg_output, nrf_gpio_pin_set, nrf_gpio_pin_clear
#include "nrf_gpio.h"

// Library for functions: nrf_delay_ms
#include "nrf_delay.h"

// Define variable LED with pin 17
#define LED 17

int main(void)
{
	// Initialize pin
    nrf_gpio_cfg_output(LED);

    while (true)
    {
		// Turn the LED on
        nrf_gpio_pin_set(LED);

        // Wait 1000 ms
        nrf_delay_ms(1000);

        // Turn the LED off
		nrf_gpio_pin_clear(LED);

		// Wait 1000 ms
        nrf_delay_ms(1000);
    }
}

Do you have any Gerber or Sheet files for PCB program like EasyEDA ? (For the Schematic you send)

I am worried that the nrf_delay_ms function would not work because I have no timers (marked as X1, X2) ? Or those components looking like a clock ?


This symbol is for Ground (GND), correct ?

So If I understand this correctly:

1. Pin 1 to C4 (100nF) and into the Ground (GND) ?
2. Pin 13 to C5 (100nF) and into the Ground (GND) and also into the VDD on the nRF52 DK board ?
3. Pin 33 to C7 (100pF) and into the Ground (GND) ?
4. Pin 36 to the VDD on the nRF52 DK board and also into the C8 (100nF) and into the Ground (GND) ?
5. Pin 45 to the Ground (GND) and also to C10 (1.0uF capacitor) also from the C10 to pin 46 ?
6. Pin 48 to the VDD on the nRF52 DK board and also to C9 (4.7uF) and also into the Ground (GND) ?

As I said I am software developer, so basically I am beginner, started a month ago. So please forgive me if I sound dumb 

Thank you for your time you spend on my comment, I appreciate it very much 

Currently Badly wired schema:



Brown cable is the pin 17, other pins similar to standard colors (Black GND, RED Power, Orange SWD IO, Purple SWD CLK)





Also I think that there might be a problem in the wiring, should I use one pin/wire and split it into two to the nRF52 DK, like this ?

nRF52-DK           Custom / External Board

VDD ------+-------------> VDD
         /
VTG ----+

GND ------------+-------> GND
               /
GND DETECT ---+

SWD IO -----------------> SWD IO

SWD CLK ----------------> SWD CLK

JirkaMartinec said:

What types of bypass capacitors would you recommend ? For this use of testing would ceramic or electrolytic be fine ? Could you recommend me a good suplier ?

We have listed the type of components in our reference files, so you can find everything there but for you it might be difficult to implement on a breadboard. And since capacitors will be very far away from the chip compared to our reference design so there will be some extra capacitance and such, and if you are using a breadboard there is also some extra capacitance in the breadboard also. 

You have the right amount of components and values in the table you listed, but I want to be very clear.  The design I shared is not to be used in any actual design or prototype. It is extremely limited and is lacking essential parts. So it is only for your current design that you all ready have so that you can test and see if you are able to program the chip. Not something we recommend that you actually follow for any future projects. It might not work at all, cant say for sure. 

For the components you can see the specs here: https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/com.nordic.infocenter.nrf52832.ps.v1.1/ref_circuitry.html?cp=4_2_0_52_0#schematic_qfn48_ldo 


I marked the components that matches the previous schematic I shared. 

JirkaMartinec said:

What types of bypass capacitors would you recommend ? For this use of testing would ceramic or electrolytic be fine ? Could you recommend me a good suplier ?

For a new design use ceramic components that matches Bill of Material (BOM). But you can try electrolyte if find that easier to test if you can program the device you now have. 

Using a simple Blinky could work.

JirkaMartinec said:

Do you have any Gerber or Sheet files for PCB program like EasyEDA ? (For the Schematic you send)

We don not have any EasyEDA files, and not for the version I sheared(Again not a design we will recommend). You can find all our Hardware files in the products home page. They include the GERBER and Alitum files as well as PDF format. 
https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF52832/Download?lang=en#infotabs 

JirkaMartinec said:

I am worried that the nrf_delay_ms function would not work because I have no timers (marked as X1, X2) ? Or those components looking like a clock ?

There is the internal clock, so I believe it should work, it is less accurate but should do the job. 

JirkaMartinec said:

This symbol is for Ground (GND), correct ?

Yes, that is correct. 

JirkaMartinec said:

So If I understand this correctly:

Yes, point 1 to 4 and 6, is correct.  

JirkaMartinec said:

5. Pin 45 to the Ground (GND) and also to C10 (1.0uF capacitor) also from the C10 to pin 46 ?

Pin 45 can go directly to GND. Don't have to touch the C10 capacitors negative(GND) side. 



As for the wiring, this is uncharted territory, you will just have to try, it might not work at all, loose and poor contact + extra capacitance form the cables and breadboard might make this task very hard, and probably somewhat unpredictable.  


So, might get it to work, but not something I would develop on.

Regards,
Jonathan

JirkaMartinec said:

What types of bypass capacitors would you recommend ? For this use of testing would ceramic or electrolytic be fine ? Could you recommend me a good suplier ?

We have listed the type of components in our reference files, so you can find everything there but for you it might be difficult to implement on a breadboard. And since capacitors will be very far away from the chip compared to our reference design so there will be some extra capacitance and such, and if you are using a breadboard there is also some extra capacitance in the breadboard also. 

You have the right amount of components and values in the table you listed, but I want to be very clear.  The design I shared is not to be used in any actual design or prototype. It is extremely limited and is lacking essential parts. So it is only for your current design that you all ready have so that you can test and see if you are able to program the chip. Not something we recommend that you actually follow for any future projects. It might not work at all, cant say for sure. 

For the components you can see the specs here: https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/com.nordic.infocenter.nrf52832.ps.v1.1/ref_circuitry.html?cp=4_2_0_52_0#schematic_qfn48_ldo 


I marked the components that matches the previous schematic I shared. 

JirkaMartinec said:

What types of bypass capacitors would you recommend ? For this use of testing would ceramic or electrolytic be fine ? Could you recommend me a good suplier ?

For a new design use ceramic components that matches Bill of Material (BOM). But you can try electrolyte if find that easier to test if you can program the device you now have. 

Using a simple Blinky could work.

JirkaMartinec said:

Do you have any Gerber or Sheet files for PCB program like EasyEDA ? (For the Schematic you send)

We don not have any EasyEDA files, and not for the version I sheared(Again not a design we will recommend). You can find all our Hardware files in the products home page. They include the GERBER and Alitum files as well as PDF format. 
https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF52832/Download?lang=en#infotabs 

JirkaMartinec said:

I am worried that the nrf_delay_ms function would not work because I have no timers (marked as X1, X2) ? Or those components looking like a clock ?

There is the internal clock, so I believe it should work, it is less accurate but should do the job. 

JirkaMartinec said:

This symbol is for Ground (GND), correct ?

Yes, that is correct. 

JirkaMartinec said:

So If I understand this correctly:

Yes, point 1 to 4 and 6, is correct.  

JirkaMartinec said:

5. Pin 45 to the Ground (GND) and also to C10 (1.0uF capacitor) also from the C10 to pin 46 ?

Pin 45 can go directly to GND. Don't have to touch the C10 capacitors negative(GND) side. 



As for the wiring, this is uncharted territory, you will just have to try, it might not work at all, loose and poor contact + extra capacitance form the cables and breadboard might make this task very hard, and probably somewhat unpredictable.  


So, might get it to work, but not something I would develop on.

Regards,
Jonathan