Deep-sleep high consumption (IDFGH-3987)

[tsarquis88]

Environment

• Development Kit: ESP32-DevKitC
• Kit version (for WroverKit/PicoKit/DevKitC): v4
• Module or chip used: ESP32-WROOM-32D
• IDF version: v4.0.1-441-g6093407d7
• Build System: idf.py
• Compiler version: xtensa-esp32-elf-gcc (crosstool-NG esp-2020r3) 8.4.0
• Operating System: Linux
• Using an IDE?: No
• Power Supply: external 3.3V

Problem Description

The consumption in deep-sleep mode is very high.

Expected Behavior

A current value of ~150uA

Actual Behavior

A current value of ~3mA

Steps to reproduce

Just testing your system/deep-sleep example.

Other items if possible

• My measurement method is placing the multimeter in serial between the 3.3V battery and the 3.3V pin.
• I read [#3418] about modifying the PCB would give me better results... What would be exactly those modifications? Besides of removing the red LED.
• Is there any change in sdkconfig that would help me?

[igrr]

Hi @tsarquis88, ESP32 DevKit-C contains components such as USB-UART adapter which continue to draw current even when the ESP32 is in deep sleep mode. For this reason, with DevKit-C it is very hard to get accurate current measurement for the ESP32 module only.

To measure current consumption of the ESP32, suggest one of the following options:

• use a bare ESP32-WROOM-32 or WROVER-32 module, connecting the power supply, TXD/RXD, EN, GPIO0 pins to an external programmer.
• use ESP32-MeshKit-Sense board, which has dedicated jumpers on board to facilitate current measurements.
• use the WROVER-KIT board. Right next to the top left corner of the module, there is a zero ohm shunt resistor. You can desolder it or replace it with larger shunt, and do current measurements.

[tsarquis88]

Hello @igrr. Thank you for the quick answer.

Okay, I won't get that micro-amperage in my DevKit, but I could be sure that the deep-sleep consumption will be the correct one in a ESP32 module.