Sensortag Debugger DevPack overheating

Asier Azaceta

When powering a sensortag from the debbuger devpack, I've detected an extreme overheating that almost melted the plastic case of the sensortag. Luckily I reacted before it broke.

As per http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/Debug_DevPack_User_Guide I understand is a possibility to power it this way so, could be this a bug or malfunctioning?

Reading the aforementioned guide, it states that, in order to power the sensortag from the devpack, if the sensortag version is 1.3 and earlier, it must have the coin battery in. My boards are v1.1.3, and I didn't have the coin battery in, can this be the issue? why is this a requirement? does it really power from usb or from the coin battery?

Lot's of questions on this new product ;-)

I have to mention the affected sensortag is running the sample zigbee application for reporting temp and switch, without any tweaking.

By the way, is there any documentation about the accepted inputs for the sensortag bat+/bat- connections? Could I power it directly from a 3.7v LiPo battery?

Thanks a lot, it's a great product!!

Best regards,

Asier.

over 10 years ago

0 YiKai Chen over 10 years ago

Guru 735685 points

Can you take a picture to show how you connect your CC-DevPack-Debugger with sensortag?

0 Asier Azaceta over 10 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Intellectual 865 points

Hi,

sure, see attached pictures of the devpack connected with the sensortag in its plastic case, plus the status of the plastic case and the devpack after the overheating.

Something to remark is that the micro-USB connector on the Devpack board was really hot.

Yesterday I did a partial test without the plastic case and the onboard micro-USB connector was really getting warm again when I had to stop (due to external events).

The source for the micro-USB is a USB hub from D-Link which has never produced this effect in any device I've connected or had any electrical issue.

0 YiKai Chen over 10 years ago in reply to Asier Azaceta

Guru 735685 points

Try to connect CC-DEVPACK-DEBUGGER (don't mount it to SensorTag) using micro-USB to your PC. You should see XDS110 shows up on COM and LPT in device manager.

0 Asier Azaceta over 10 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Intellectual 865 points

I have no problem getting to use the DevPack debugger, but the problem is it's temperature when powering a sensortag for a "long" time

0 YiKai Chen over 10 years ago in reply to Asier Azaceta

Guru 735685 points

I don't know why you have this problem. My CC-DEVPACK-DEBUGGER won't get high temperature after power for a long time. This is really strange. I would suggest you to remove plastic cover while using it.

0 Asier Azaceta over 10 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Intellectual 865 points

I tried that yesterday but stopped when the usb connector in the devpack started to warm up again

0 YiKai Chen over 10 years ago in reply to Asier Azaceta

Guru 735685 points

It is dangerous. I suggest you to contact TI estore to replace your CC-DEVPACK-DEBUGGER and SensorTag.

0 Nico Mack over 9 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Prodigy 55 points

Dear all...

I ran into the same overheating issue. The DevPack worked fine for quiet a while until out of the blue it started to get really hot, to the point where one component fell off (unsoldered itself). The component in question was U3, but I reckon the actual heat source is the TM4C1294 chip. My Sensortag case looks exactly the same as in the pictures above, i.e. it melted. I had the battery in when the overheating occurred. My SensorTag 2 is Hardware Revision 1.2, my DevPack is Version 1.2 as well, however the DevPack Firmware was updated as described here https://e2e.ti.com/support/wireless_connectivity/f/538/p/435274/1612764#1612764 with firmware built on 24th of July 2015. TI Support replaced by broken unit, however I would like to know how to prevent this kind of meltdown. Could a depleted battery be the cause ?

0 Davide Giovanelli over 9 years ago

Expert 1275 points

I had similar problem but after some time the debugger stopped working. I think that it is an hardware production problem (a short circuit I suppose).
BTW I ask for replacement to the distributor (I didn't buy it from TI store) and they are now sending a new one.

0 Jarle Boe over 9 years ago in reply to Davide Giovanelli

TI__Intellectual 1740 points

TI appreciates being made aware of any incidents like this, so we can follow up to investigate what happened. If any other readers are experiencing something like this, we’d appreciate it if you would contact TI sales support to return the parts and get a replacement.

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Sensortag Debugger DevPack overheating