Node-RED & 7" Panel PC tutorial: How to test inputs and outputs

Node-RED and 7" Panel PC Applications
May 11, 2021 by
Node-RED & 7" Panel PC tutorial: How to test inputs and outputs
Boot & Work Corp. S.L., Fernandez Queralt Martinez

Introduction

Node-RED has multiple applications, such as monitoring different values from inputs and outputs from open source projects.

So, in this post you will learn how to activate different outputs, and how to check what is the value for the inputs from your open source Panel PC.

 If you want to know more about basics about inputs and outputs from our 7" Panel PC for industrial monitoring, check out the link below:

More info  >>

Node-RED - Node-RED & 7" Panel PC tutorial: How to test inputs and outputs

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Explanation

In this post, you are going to learn how to make a UI dashboard with Node-RED. By doing this, you will be able to enable or disable the outputs, and if outputs are enabled, you will be able to get the input values.

So let's start creating our Node-RED Application!

1. First of all, plug the Ethernet cable in your HMI industrial Panel PC, and power it on. 

2. Next, let's make sure that you already have Node-RED installed in your Panel PC for industrial automation by typing the following in a terminal window:

sudo systemctl status nodered.service

If you see that it is activated and running like in the picture below, it is working:

Terminal window - Node-RED and 7" Panel PC tutorial: How to test inputs and outputs

3. Go to your browser, and click the following link to connect through SSH to the Node-RED from the panel PC for industrial control:

http://10.10.10.20:1880/

4. Once you can see the browser-based editor, let's install first some nodes so that you can make a Dashboard easily:

    1. Go to the right menu  right menu - Dashboard node-red

    2. Click on Manage palette.

    3. Go to Install.

    4. Type and install: node-red-dashboard

    5. Type and install: node-red-contrib-ui-led

5. Now, add 5 switch nodes from Dashboard, one for each output. And configure each of them so that, when pressed, it sends a number 1 if it is On, and a number 0 when the switch node is Off:

Switch node- Node-RED and 7" Panel PC tutorial: How to test inputs and outputs

6. Now, add five led nodes for each output, just to show the status for the switch nodes and the outputs. Connect them:

Edit led node - Node-RED & 7" Panel PC tutorial: How to test inputs and outputs

7. Let's execute the commands and set the digital outputs when the switch nodes change their status. So, add five exec nodes and connect them to the switch nodes:

Connect exec nodes to the switch nodes - Node-RED & 7" Panel PC tutorial: How to test inputs and outputs

8. To keep getting the values of the inputs, you will follow only if the msg.payload.code is 0 while executing the command "set-digital-output" in your Industrial Panel PC monitoring. So, to each exec node, connect a switch node from the Return code output like shown below:

Connect a switch node from the Return code output - Node-RED & 7" Panel PC tutorial: How to test inputs and outputs

9. Once you have checked that the configuration of the digital output has been successful, let's get the values of the digital inputs. Add five exec node next to the switch nodes, connect them and configure each one like this:

Add five exec node next to the switch nodes - Node-RED & 7" Panel PC tutorial: How to test inputs and outputs

10. As the value you get from getting the input value is a string + '\n', you are going to delete the '\n' and convert it to a single number. Also, let's set it to the msg.payload, to be able to get it from the ui led node:

Set it to the msg.payload - Node-RED & 7" Panel PC tutorial: How to test inputs and outputs

11. Once the msg.payload is the number that you get from the get-digital-input command, let's add five more nodes to add a led for each input:

Add a led node for each input - Node-RED & 7" Panel PC tutorial: How to test inputs and outputs

12. Then, go to the Dashboard menu on the right > Layout > Tabs & Links > Hover on your tab > Layout.

Layout - Node-RED & 7" Panel PC tutorial: How to test inputs and outputs

13. You will see the Dashboard layout editor to display your Dashboard as you like!

Display your Dashboard - Node-RED & 7" Panel PC tutorial: How to test inputs and outputs


14. Finally, click on the Deploy red button to save your changes and display your Dashboard successfully in:

http://10.10.10.20:1880/ui


Tips

If in the Dashboard layout editor, you cannot resize the widgets, go to each Dashboard node, and modify the size section. Replace the Auto with any other, like 3x1. You will be able to modify them later on the Dashboard layout editor.

Now, enjoy your application using Node-RED and the Industrial Panel PC control from Industrial Shields to create as many open source projects as you want! 


Dashboard - Node-RED & 7" Panel PC tutorial: How to test inputs and outputs






Check out our YouTube channel to know more about Node-RED projects with our PLCs:

  • IOT Demo with Arduino Industrial PLC and industrial Raspberry Pi Panel PC. Dashboard created with Node-RED  >>
  • Node-RED inputs on INDUSTRIAL ARDUINO PLC. Example lesson from our FREE COURSE >>

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Node-RED & 7" Panel PC tutorial: How to test inputs and outputs
Boot & Work Corp. S.L., Fernandez Queralt Martinez May 11, 2021
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