Reply by Karl Adler August 12, 20032003-08-12
Omer,
Try first changing the software , just put the LCD in LPM3 mode after you setup
the ports.
Karl.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Omer Yalhi 
  To: msp430@msp4... 
  Sent: Monday, August 11, 2003 12:38 AM
  Subject: RE: [msp430] Unreasonably high power consumption


  Since the board is already made and it is smd I will start by removing
  (cutting traces) parts.  I have the msp and 3 other major parts plus the
  lcd.  I'll let you know what happens.



  


        
             
       
       

  .



   





Beginning Microcontrollers with the MSP430

Reply by Omer Yalhi August 11, 20032003-08-11
Since the board is already made and it is smd I will start by removing
(cutting traces) parts.  I have the msp and 3 other major parts plus the
lcd.  I'll let you know what happens.
 





Reply by onestone August 7, 20032003-08-07
What is the power source for the board, and what power regulation if 
any, sorry I missed a couple of earlier posts, didn't make it past the 
firewall. Do you have any power management of peripherals?

Al

Bruce Cannon wrote:

> If this is a custom board the absolutely easiest
way to go is to populate
> it one element at a time.  Start with the MSP430, verify that you do indeed
> get the current you want to see, then add one more element at a time,
> retesting as you go.  If you only have the one PCB you can cut traces like
> crazy, then reconnect them one at a time.  Or work in reverse, severing one
> element at a time, but this is not as straightforward.
> 
> I think no one will be able to remote debug a system for you.
> 
> --Bruce
> 
> 
>>Ok, now, all the pins have correct settings, the lcd on and the power
>>consumption is 600uA while sleeping.  I still think that this is way too
>>high.  It should be about 20 or 30 uA at most when LPM3.  Any more
>>ideas?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> .
> 
>  
> 
> ">http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 
> 
> 
> 


Reply by Bruce Cannon August 7, 20032003-08-07
> All unconnected pins outputs set low.

If an unconnected pin is made output high will there be measurably more
current consumption than if it were output low, due to leakage through the
output's lower transistor?  No, wait, the same type of relationship would
exist if the pin were output low.  So there's no difference.  Or is there?

--Bruce



Reply by John Speth August 7, 20032003-08-07
Been down that hard road before myself.  It's easy to get low power, 
it's hard to get it lowest.

*Actively* turn off all peripherals.  Return the clock modules to 
their default values.  All unconnected pins outputs set low.

JJS

> Ok, now, all the pins have correct settings, the
lcd on and the 
power
> consumption is 600uA while sleeping.  I still
think that this is 
way too
> high.  It should be about 20 or 30 uA at most when
LPM3.  Any more
> ideas?



Reply by Bruce Cannon August 7, 20032003-08-07
If this is a custom board the absolutely easiest way to go is to populate
it one element at a time.  Start with the MSP430, verify that you do indeed
get the current you want to see, then add one more element at a time,
retesting as you go.  If you only have the one PCB you can cut traces like
crazy, then reconnect them one at a time.  Or work in reverse, severing one
element at a time, but this is not as straightforward.

I think no one will be able to remote debug a system for you.

--Bruce

> Ok, now, all the pins have correct settings, the
lcd on and the power
> consumption is 600uA while sleeping.  I still think that this is way too
> high.  It should be about 20 or 30 uA at most when LPM3.  Any more
> ideas?



Reply by Omer Yalhi August 7, 20032003-08-07
Ok, now, all the pins have correct settings, the lcd on and the power
consumption is 600uA while sleeping.  I still think that this is way too
high.  It should be about 20 or 30 uA at most when LPM3.  Any more
ideas?





Reply by Omer Yalhi August 7, 20032003-08-07
I would like to thank everyone for their replies.

There are no short circuits on the board.  It turns out max232 rx pin,
set to be output was the problem.  Setting that pin to input solved it.
I am now down to 630uA and have not configured the lcd pin directions
*correctly* yet.

Reply by Indrek Rebane August 7, 20032003-08-07
er Yalhi wrote:
> There is infact a huge difference, but I
don't know how to
> interpret this.  What does this tell me?

General case of high power consumption:
1. On input - need to eliminate floating input.
2. On output high - output pin has small resistance to ground.
3. On output low - output pin has small resistance to power rails.

In case of floating input, CMOS is working as amplifier, not
switch (both transistors not closed). In case of outputs, probably
some solder blurb or small resistor (pull-ups/downs?). 10k pullup
will consume 0.3mA for 3V. Try with outputs high, not low and
measure again.

Indrek

-- 
    Indrek Rebane           |   OU Borthwick-Pignon
    Electronics Engineer    |    Tartu Science Park
    Phone: (+372) 7 302 641 | Riia 185, 51014 Tartu
    Fax:   (+372) 7 383 041 |               Estonia
    indrek@indr...        |  http://www.bps.co.ee


Reply by Ing. Morra Antonio August 7, 20032003-08-07
In principle that means that pins shall be set exactly as they are required

by the circuit connections.
Pins that are connected to outputs of other components must be set as inputs.
Pins that are connected to inputs of other components must be set as outputs.
In your case  both the all-output and the all-input configuration is wrong.
You said you have an rs232 device connected.
This one has some output and some input pins.
Check the correct matching with the MSP430 pins.
The general rule may have some exceptions.
Sometimes there may be a different requirement for pin settings when in 
operation Vs. when idle at low power. Sorry but there is no alternative to 
careful planning of this issue.
Regards
A.Morra

At 18:27 07-08-03 +0300, you wrote:
>Russ hi,
>
>Thanks for the reply.  I did what you suggested.  Below are the results:
>
>All ports outputs set to 0, current consumption: 12.00 mA
>All ports inputs (set to 0 anyways) current con:  3.50 mA
>
>There is infact a huge difference, but I don't know how to interpret
>this.  What does this tell me?
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Troxel, Russell [mailto:Russell.Troxel@Russ...]
>Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2003 5:52 PM
>To: msp430@msp4...
>Subject: RE: [msp430] Unreasonably high power consumption
>
>
>Without seeing the circuit it is hard to know if perhaps the current
>consumption is happening outside the device. You might try setting all
>the
>connected output pins to input to see if there may be an external
>contention.
>
>
>Russ Troxel
>Analog/Digital Design Engineer
>
>
>
>.
>
>
>
>">http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/