2 Modifying the Curiosity Nano Board

The AVR128DA48 Curiosity Nano board comes equipped with the microcontroller mentioned above, a regulator, and a Nano Embedded Debugger. These devices are helpful for programming quickly through the USB port, but they introduce power consumption, and accurate power readings cannot be obtained.

Fortunately, the Curiosity Nano board offers two holes for pins. The holes are connected with a copper trace labeled POWER. If this trace is cut off and pins are soldered in the two holes, an ammeter can be connected at these points that will provide accurate consumption for the device.

Figure 2-1. Curiosity Nano Board

The current flows from the hole closest to the USB connector to the one closest to the microcontroller.

Cutting the trace means that to program the microcontroller, the two soldered pins need to be connected by a jumper when in normal use.

Figure 2-2. Modified Curiosity Nano Board

Figure 2-2 shows a modified board where two pins have been connected by a jumper to allow programming.