# Nesso N1: Brownout using tone() **URL:** \ **Category:** Nesso N1\ **Created:** [January 31, 2026, 10:54pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/nesso-n1-brownout-using-tone/1428342 "2026-01-31T22:54:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![xfpd](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/xfpd/32/1120236_2.png) [@xfpd](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/xfpd)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 10:54pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/nesso-n1-brownout-using-tone/1428342/1 "2026-01-31T22:54:24Z")
After using NessoN1 on the issued USB cable and successfully compiling, uploading and running many sketches, I started working on my "tones" section using `tone()` in `setup()` when NessoN1 rebooted and restarted `setup()`. I tried another `tone()` sketch and the sketch worked without issue. > **the "good" sketch** > > ```arduino > /* > sit - SPECIAL INFORMATION TONE > > (Frequency Hz) Cadence (S): (913.8) 0.274 ON (1370.6) 0.274 ON (1776.7) 0.38 ON 1.0 OFF. > > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_information_tone > */ > > char text[] = { "We're sorry. You have reached a number that has been disconnected or is no longer in service. If you feel you have reached this recording in error, please check the number, and try your call again." }; > int textsize = sizeof(text) / sizeof(text[0]); > > float sitfreq[] = { 913.8, 1370.6, 1776.7, 0 }; > int duration[] = { 274, 274, 380, 1000 }; > > unsigned long timer; > byte i; > > byte slowbaud = 40; // teletype effect > > void setup() { > Serial.begin(115200); > delay(1000); > Serial.println(); > pinMode(BEEP_PIN, OUTPUT); > } > > void loop() { > printText(); > } > > void printText() { > if (millis() - timer > slowbaud) { // slow text output > timer = millis(); > if (i == textsize - 1) { > Serial.println(); > makeTone(); // text complete, now tone > i = 0; > } > Serial.print(text[i]); > i++; > } > } > > void makeTone() { > delay(250); > for (byte i = 0; i < 4; i++) { > tone(BEEP_PIN, sitfreq[i]); > delay(duration[i]); > } > noTone(BEEP_PIN); > } > > ``` I tried a third `tone()` sketch and got this crash, reboot, and warning... ```arduino 0E BOD: Brownout detector was triggered ESP-ROM:esp32c6-20220919 Build:Sep 19 2022 rst:0x3 (LP_SW_HPSYS),boot:0xc (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT) Saved PC:0x4001974a SPIWP:0xee mode:DIO, clock div:2 load:0x40875730,len:0x12e0 load:0x4086b910,len:0xdc8 load:0x4086e610,len:0x3180 entry 0x4086b910 ``` > **One of the "bad" sketches** > > ```arduino > // passive buzzer musical scales > // keyboard scale: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/cf/72/9a/cf729ae2213a849fe6b8cc527a0e7471.png > > #include > #include "freqs.h" // adapted from pitches.h: https://gist.github.com/mikeputnam/2820675 > > int duration, dur = 200; > const int notes = 10; > const int scales = 12; > > const int scale[scales][notes] = { > // N = natural S = sharp > // O- W W H W W H W W S // Octave lower, Whole-step, Half-step > { CN3, CN4, DN4, EN4, FN4, GN4, FN4, EN4, DN4, CN4 }, // C > { CS3, CS4, DS4, FN4, FS4, GS4, FS4, FN4, DS4, CS4 }, // C# > { DN3, DN4, EN4, FS4, GN4, AN4, GN4, FS4, EN4, DN4 }, // D > { DS3, DS4, FN4, GN4, GS4, AS4, GS4, GN4, FN4, DS4 }, // D# > { EN3, EN4, FS4, GS4, AN4, BN4, AN4, GS4, FS4, EN4 }, // E > { FN3, FN4, GN4, AN4, AS4, CN5, AS4, AN4, GN4, FN4 }, // F > { FS3, FS4, GS4, AS4, BN4, CS5, BN4, AS4, GS4, FS4 }, // F# > { GN3, GN4, AN4, BN4, CN5, DN5, CN5, BN4, AN4, GN4 }, // G > { GS3, GS4, AS4, CN5, CS5, DS5, CS5, CN5, AS4, GS4 }, // G# > { AN3, AN4, BN4, CS5, DN5, EN5, DN5, CS5, BN4, AN4 }, // A > { AS3, AS4, CN5, DN5, DS5, FN5, DS5, DN5, CN5, AS4 }, // A# > { BN3, BN4, CS5, DS5, EN5, FS5, EN5, DS5, CS5, BN4 } // B > }; > > void setup() { > Serial.begin(115200); > delay(3000); // Nesso needs a delay to connect before output to Serial Monitor > Serial.println(); > pinMode(KEY1, INPUT_PULLUP); > > Serial.println("Press KEY1"); > while (digitalRead(KEY1)) {}; // wait for KEY1 press > delay(500); // slight delay > > for (byte j = 0; j < scales; j++) { > if (j + 1 < 10) > Serial.print(" "); // alignment > Serial.print(j + 1); // counting numbers > Serial.print(" of "); > Serial.print(scales); > Serial.print(" scales in fifths: "); > > for (byte i = 0; i < notes; i++) { > Serial.print(i); > if (i == 0 || i == 9) // first and last note in scale > duration = dur * 2; // double note duration > else > duration = dur; > tone(BEEP_PIN, scale[j][i], duration); > delay(duration); > } > noTone(BEEP_PIN); // end tone > Serial.println(); > } > } > > void loop() {} > > ``` Reading the forum... one solution was "bad USB cable"... not the problem here... another was "setting fuses on the ESP32".... um... would Arduino do that to Nesso?... another was a peripheral was pulling the ESP into brownout... and this one was something with "Wire.h" (maybe interrupts shared with Wire.h and `tone()`? > [@Brownout trigger code](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/brownout-trigger-code/1415364/9): > > Doh, I should have checked, the code has been updated since last week, and there is now a comprehensive battery management API that was added in [https://github.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/pull/12052](https://github.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/pull/12052) : See here: The talk is that it will be released as part of the next arduino-esp32 core, within the next fortnight. It also contains details in the pull request link for unbricking your nesso if the battery got too low. Maybe I found the magic "brown-note" (musicians might know about it)... but I want to avoid it. My plan is to step through every note I have tried to produce, looking for that m\*. Sorry for breaking Nesso every day. ---
**Author:** ![qubits-us](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5daacb/32.png) [@qubits-us](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/qubits-us)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 11:34pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/nesso-n1-brownout-using-tone/1428342/2 "2026-01-31T23:34:38Z")
I’m wondering if it’s just your battery is getting low due to never being told to charge?? load a sketch that show battery level.. or it’s just too cold, brrr.. strange.. ~q ---
**Author:** ![xfpd](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/xfpd/32/1120236_2.png) [@xfpd](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/xfpd)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/nesso-n1-brownout-using-tone/1428342/3 "2026-01-31T23:40:12Z")
> [@qubits-us](#): > > battery is getting low due to never being told to charge?? I never disconnect Nesso from USB, or I two-press RESET/BOOT/OFF verifying a disconnect. Checking with `mazes` (battery indicator)... ---
**Author:** ![qubits-us](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5daacb/32.png) [@qubits-us](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/qubits-us)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 11:41pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/nesso-n1-brownout-using-tone/1428342/4 "2026-01-31T23:41:39Z")
in the last release of mazes i still had battery charging off, so make sure to turn it on.. ~q ---
**Author:** ![xfpd](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/xfpd/32/1120236_2.png) [@xfpd](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/xfpd)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/nesso-n1-brownout-using-tone/1428342/5 "2026-01-31T23:43:48Z")
> [@qubits-us](#): > > make sure to turn it on Is the "don't use Nesso battery charging" warning over? I thought a warning was sent out. ---
**Author:** ![qubits-us](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5daacb/32.png) [@qubits-us](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/qubits-us)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 11:45pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/nesso-n1-brownout-using-tone/1428342/6 "2026-01-31T23:45:05Z")
nope it’s over with that release of the esp32 core that added battery management.. but we still do have to tell it to charge.. ~q ---
**Author:** ![xfpd](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/xfpd/32/1120236_2.png) [@xfpd](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/xfpd)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 12:23am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/nesso-n1-brownout-using-tone/1428342/7 "2026-02-01T00:23:27Z")
!Battery at 3.3v... 8%... Charging enabled (`battery.enableCharge();`)... up to 3.7v and climbing. Changes seen when KEY1 is pressed. Thank you for this utility. I am now reading up on M5 and Nesso battery code. ---
**Author:** ![xfpd](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/xfpd/32/1120236_2.png) [@xfpd](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/xfpd)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 2:42am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/nesso-n1-brownout-using-tone/1428342/8 "2026-02-01T02:42:06Z")
Two hours later... update on power display in `mazes`... charge level at 4.1, but progress bar and % "seem" static at 13% (I think that was when the voltage read 3.7v). Pressing RESET or KEY1 updated and show 4.2v and 14%... but another hour later, remained 4.2/14. Nesso N1 battery sketch reports... [https://docs.arduino.cc/tutorials/nesso-n1/user-manual/#battery-management](https://docs.arduino.cc/tutorials/nesso-n1/user-manual/#battery-management) ```arduino Voltage: 4.19 V, Percentage: 100 %, Charging: Yes ``` M5 battery routine reports... [m5-docs](https://docs.m5stack.com/en/arduino/arduino_nesso_n1/power) (no camera) > "Bat: 4192mv, Level: 100%, Charging: NO" ---
**Author:** ![qubits-us](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5daacb/32.png) [@qubits-us](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/qubits-us)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 2:46am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/nesso-n1-brownout-using-tone/1428342/9 "2026-02-01T02:46:12Z")
did you re-test the tone sketches?? just hope it stops all the brownouts.. ~q ---
**Author:** ![xfpd](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/xfpd/32/1120236_2.png) [@xfpd](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/xfpd)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 3:14am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/nesso-n1-brownout-using-tone/1428342/10 "2026-02-01T03:14:41Z")
Returning to `mazes`... 4.2v and 100%. ---
**Author:** ![xfpd](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/xfpd/32/1120236_2.png) [@xfpd](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/xfpd)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 3:20am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/nesso-n1-brownout-using-tone/1428342/11 "2026-02-01T03:20:18Z")
> [@qubits-us](#): > > re-test the tone sketches Works like a champ! ```arduino Press KEY1 1 of 12 scales in fifths: 0123456789 2 of 12 scales in fifths: 0123456789 3 of 12 scales in fifths: 0123456789 4 of 12 scales in fifths: 0123456789 5 of 12 scales in fifths: 0123456789 6 of 12 scales in fifths: 0123456789 7 of 12 scales in fifths: 0123456789 8 of 12 scales in fifths: 0123456789 9 of 12 scales in fifths: 0123456789 10 of 12 scales in fifths: 0123456789 11 of 12 scales in fifths: 0123456789 12 of 12 scales in fifths: 0123456789 ``` Thank you for your help, again! ---
**Author:** ![xfpd](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/xfpd/32/1120236_2.png) [@xfpd](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/xfpd)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2026, 8:13pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/nesso-n1-brownout-using-tone/1428342/12 "2026-05-26T20:13:01Z")
> [@qubits-us](#): > > battery management From of this issue, and because of your help, I load this Nesso N1 template so I know the Nesso N1 is "running" and the battery does not fully discharge. Thank you. ```arduino #include NessoBattery battery; // create battery instance unsigned long blinkTimer, blinkInterval[] = { 100, 900 }; // ON for 100ms/1000ms bool blinkState = 0; // state for LED_BUILTIN void setup() { pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT); // configure LED_BUILTIN battery.begin(); // initialize battery instance battery.enableCharge(); // Enable charging } void loop() { if (millis() - blinkTimer >= blinkInterval[blinkState]) { // test for interval blinkTimer = millis(); // store timer blinkState = !blinkState; // toggle state digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, blinkState); // set LED_BUILTIN state } } ```