Node-RED - with InfluxDB

First things

1. Install the node-red-contrib-influxdb Palette. (You'll kinda need it.)
2. Create a database in InfluxDB for use from Node-Red.
   • I'll be using a test DB named FooBar
   • I'll also be using input from a Tasmota-based BME280 sensor device.

Connecting to the Database

The first time you add an influxdb node to a flow, its Server box will contain Add a new influxdb...

1. Click the edit button (pencil icon) next to the box.
2. Enter the hostname or IP of the host running InfluxDB.
3. Fill in the Database box (FooBar in these examples).
4. Fill in the Measurement box (Readings in these examples).
5. Fill in the Username and Password boxes if you've set up the database to require them.
6. Put something meaningful in the Name box. (I put InfluxDB Testing)
7. Click the Add button.

Sending data to the Database

The MQTT in node is subscribed to tele/Inside_Weather/SENSOR

The JSON node simply ensures that any data being passed forward is passed as JSON

The FUNCTION node formats the data into what InfluxDB wants to see.

Its content:

msg.measurement = "Readings"

msg.payload = {Sensor:"Inside_Weather",

    Temperature:msg.payload.BME280.Temperature,

    Humidity:msg.payload.BME280.Humidity,

    DewPoint:msg.payload.BME280.DewPoint,

    Pressure:msg.payload.BME280.Pressure

    };

return msg;

The InfluxDB out node sends the data to the database. (At this point, the only thing entered into the Properties of this node is the Server entry we created above)

This creates an entry in a table named Readings with 4 data-points in the database every time the device spits out SENSOR telemetry. (Temperature, Humidity, DewPoint & Pressure)

Getting data from the Database

The INJECT node just triggers the sequence. (You could replace this with any kind of trigger you like. You could even inject things to cause the Create Query function to modify the query...)

The first FUNCTION node generates the QUERY for the database

Its content:

msg.query = "SELECT Temperature, Humidity, DewPoint, Pressure FROM Readings Where Sensor = 'Inside_Weather'"; return msg;

The InfluxDB in node sends the query off to the database. (Again, at this point, the only thing entered into the Properties of this node is the Server entry we created above)

The second FUNCTION node formats the data to be passed on to the CHART node

Its content:

var series = ["temp DegC"];

var labels = ["Data Values"];

var data = "[[";

var thetime;

for (var i=0; i < msg.payload.length; i++) {

thetime = Number(msg.payload[i].time); // Some manipulation of the time may be required

data += '{ "x":' + thetime + ', "y":' + msg.payload[i].Temperature + '}';

if (i < (msg.payload.length - 1)) {

data += ","

} else {

data += "]]"

}

}

var jsondata = JSON.parse(data);

msg.payload = [{"series": series, "data": jsondata, "labels": labels}];

return msg;

(yup... that's every bit as FUGLY as it seems...)

The CHART node puts the data out on a dashboard.