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Explorer II
March 18, 2025
Question

STM32 overheating when SMBUS device connected

  • March 18, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 818 views

I am using a STM32L4R9ZGJ6 that has the following issue: When it is powered up and a SMBUS slave device is connected, the CLK line over heats and destroys the processor. 

This is the device we are plugging into the board: 

jdolins2_0-1742311541266.png

 

This is the STM32 with the CLK and DATA lines shown on PB6 and PB7:

jdolins2_1-1742311638976.png

What could be happening that causes the processor to fail? Immediately upon plugin the STM32 gets red hot and burns. 

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    2 replies

    Super User
    March 18, 2025

    Do the processors share a ground? If not, common mode is probably killing you. Measure voltage between ground of one and ground of the other.

    jdolins2Author
    Explorer II
    March 18, 2025

    Separate grounds that are connected via this 0805 short:

    jdolins2_0-1742315747792.png

     

    Super User
    March 18, 2025

    This is within a board. I am talking about the ground between one board and the other.

    Graduate II
    March 18, 2025

    >>What could be happening that causes the processor to fail?

    You've created a conduction path through the MCU, and an excessive amount of current is flowing.

    Like you have a board with significant power differentials, and the grounding between them is not working, or presents more resistance than the path it's found here.

    Are these parts on the same board?

    What voltages involved?

    If you remove the STM32 from the circuit, what current flows between this pin, and ground or the supply?

    Double check the netlists for the board, make sure you've not created multiple separate islands that should have been connected, and weren't or were miss-named.

    jdolins2Author
    Explorer II
    March 18, 2025

    One is a main board for the product, the other is a battery management IC. They connect via a simple molex connector. The pin on the main board is pulled up to 3.3V with a 10k, the other board is a slave device tolerant to much higher voltage than we are using. I'm unable to prototype removing the STM at this time but I'll check on the other things, thank you