Back-power through the 3.3V pin?

Products & Technology XIAO
1

Can I back-power the XAIO (ESP32C6) through the 3.3V pin, bypassing the 5->3.3V buck regulator on the board? My devices all run at 3.3-3.6V.

2

Hi mdredmond,
See Figre2.Block Diagram in the SGM6029 datasheet.When 3.3V is applied externally to the 3V3 pin, the SW pin gets 3.3V and the VIN pin gets 3.3V through the PMOS body diode.It looks like the SGM6029 will work. (I have not verified this with the actual device)

SGM6029
SGM6029847×640 104 KB

3

The voltage you supply to the 3.3V pin is within the acceptable range for the ESP32C6, typically 3.3V ± 0.3V. Supplying a voltage outside this range can damage the microcontroller. Make sure that your 3.3V power supply is stable and can provide sufficient current for the ESP32C6 and any peripherals connected to it. The ESP32C6 can have significant power spikes, especially during Wi-Fi transmissions, so your power supply should be able to handle these without dropping voltage.