# Cant Add a own value Number to an Object Payload
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321
**Category:** General
**Created:** [19 June 2026 11:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321 "2026-06-19T11:52:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Starfoxfs](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Starfoxfs)
#### Post date: [19 June 2026 11:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321/1 "2026-06-19T11:52:01Z")
Hi,
i have a Problem to add in a function Node to a Msg.Payload (is an Object) a normal value like a Number.
Its to add the Total Watthours from an old Inverter to the New Inverters Value:
```auto
var time = new Date();
var totalkwh = msg.payload["opendtu/12123/0/yieldtotal"];
var field1 = "totalkwh";
var totalkwhnew = totalkwh+1544;
msg.params = [time, totalkwhnew, field1];
return msg;
```
The 1544 are not added but why ?
---
### Author:  [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)
#### Post date: [19 June 2026 11:57 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321/2 "2026-06-19T11:57:16Z")
You are not putting `1544` into `msg.payload`
Have you set the debug to output the complete message?
What do you see in debug panel if you change code to this:
```js
var time = new Date();
var totalkwh = msg.payload["opendtu/12123/0/yieldtotal"];
var field1 = "totalkwh";
var totalkwhnew = totalkwh+1544;
msg.params = [time, totalkwhnew, field1];
msg.warn({ totalkwh, totalkwhnew, payload: msg.payload, params: msg.params })
return msg;
```
---
### Author:  [@dynamicdave](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dynamicdave)
#### Post date: [19 June 2026 12:17 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321/3 "2026-06-19T12:17:02Z")
Try this...
```auto
var time = new Date();
var totalkwh = Number(msg.payload["opendtu/12123/0/yieldtotal"]);
if (isNaN(totalkwh)) {
node.error("yieldtotal is not a number");
return null;
}
var field1 = "totalkwh";
var totalkwhnew = totalkwh + 1544;
msg.params = [time, totalkwhnew, field1];
return msg;
```
---
### Author:  [@Starfoxfs](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Starfoxfs)
#### Post date: [19 June 2026 12:29 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321/4 "2026-06-19T12:29:48Z")
> [@dynamicdave](#):
>
> ```auto
> var time = new Date();
>
> var totalkwh = Number(msg.payload["opendtu/12123/0/yieldtotal"]);
>
> if (isNaN(totalkwh)) {
> node.error("yieldtotal is not a number");
> return null;
> }
>
> var field1 = "totalkwh";
> var totalkwhnew = totalkwh + 1544;
>
> msg.params = [time, totalkwhnew, field1];
>
> return msg;
>
> ```
It appears to bypass the function node without effect.
I think it's a problem with the join node before the function node
---
### Author:  [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)
#### Post date: [19 June 2026 12:38 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321/5 "2026-06-19T12:38:52Z")
Post deleted
---
### Author:  [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)
#### Post date: [19 June 2026 12:39 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321/6 "2026-06-19T12:39:37Z")
> [@Starfoxfs](#):
>
> It appears to bypass the function node without effect.
>
> I think it's a problem with the join node before the function node
Maybe _we_ need to check the _value_ of `msg.payload["opendtu/12123/0/yieldtotal"]`
@dynamicdave put in a _check_ that exits if it is not a number. (`NaN`)
So if it isn't a number, it will just exit.
Are you seeing/getting the `node.error("yieldtotal is not a number");` message?
---
### Author:  [@Starfoxfs](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Starfoxfs)
#### Post date: [19 June 2026 12:44 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321/7 "2026-06-19T12:44:26Z")
Yes i get this if i set the Join Node to Array or String, if i set the Join Node (before the Function Node) to "a key /value Object " with msg.topic as the key then it bypass the function Node and i dont see the `node.error("yieldtotal is not a number");`
---
### Author:  [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)
#### Post date: [19 June 2026 12:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321/8 "2026-06-19T12:45:05Z")
Show us the message going into the function node
---
### Author:  [@Starfoxfs](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Starfoxfs)
#### Post date: [19 June 2026 12:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321/9 "2026-06-19T12:52:38Z")
I post the complete JSON:
```auto
[
{
"id": "e181ab23ca2013dc",
"type": "tab",
"label": "Flow 1",
"disabled": false,
"info": "",
"env": []
},
{
"id": "a51b2b36cf83199b",
"type": "mqtt in",
"z": "e181ab23ca2013dc",
"name": "",
"topic": "opendtu/12123/0/yieldtotal",
"qos": "0",
"datatype": "json",
"broker": "722c90e4f8ec0db9",
"nl": false,
"rap": true,
"rh": 0,
"inputs": 0,
"x": 270,
"y": 260,
"wires": [
[
"0184268473772f5f"
]
]
},
{
"id": "0184268473772f5f",
"type": "join",
"z": "e181ab23ca2013dc",
"name": "",
"mode": "custom",
"build": "object",
"property": "payload",
"propertyType": "msg",
"key": "topic",
"joiner": "\\n",
"joinerType": "str",
"useparts": true,
"accumulate": false,
"timeout": "",
"count": "1",
"reduceRight": false,
"reduceExp": "",
"reduceInit": "",
"reduceInitType": "",
"reduceFixup": "",
"x": 630,
"y": 240,
"wires": [
[
"d185134d62647599"
]
]
},
{
"id": "d185134d62647599",
"type": "function",
"z": "e181ab23ca2013dc",
"name": "function 2",
"func": "var time = new Date();\n\nvar totalkwh = Number(msg.payload[\"opendtu/12123/0/yieldtotal\"]);\n\nif (isNaN(totalkwh)) {\n node.error(\"yieldtotal is not a number\");\n return null;\n}\n\nvar field1 = \"totalkwh\";\nvar totalkwhnew = totalkwh + 1544;\n\nmsg.params = [time, totalkwhnew, field1];\n\nreturn msg;",
"outputs": 1,
"timeout": 0,
"noerr": 0,
"initialize": "",
"finalize": "",
"libs": [],
"x": 860,
"y": 260,
"wires": [
[
"20ebe008a74ff4f5"
]
]
},
{
"id": "20ebe008a74ff4f5",
"type": "debug",
"z": "e181ab23ca2013dc",
"name": "debug 2",
"active": true,
"tosidebar": true,
"console": false,
"tostatus": false,
"complete": "false",
"statusVal": "",
"statusType": "auto",
"x": 1140,
"y": 260,
"wires": []
},
{
"id": "722c90e4f8ec0db9",
"type": "mqtt-broker",
"name": "Mqtt Server",
"broker": "mosquitto",
"port": "1883",
"clientid": "",
"autoConnect": true,
"usetls": false,
"protocolVersion": "5",
"keepalive": "60",
"cleansession": true,
"autoUnsubscribe": true,
"birthTopic": "",
"birthQos": "0",
"birthPayload": "",
"birthMsg": {},
"closeTopic": "",
"closeQos": "0",
"closePayload": "",
"closeMsg": {},
"willTopic": "",
"willQos": "0",
"willPayload": "",
"willMsg": {},
"userProps": "",
"sessionExpiry": ""
}
]
```
Frist Message is from MQTT to Join Node to Function Node to Debug
---
### Author:  [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)
#### Post date: [19 June 2026 12:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321/10 "2026-06-19T12:52:47Z")
Edit: _Shrug_
---
### Author:  [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)
#### Post date: [19 June 2026 13:04 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321/11 "2026-06-19T13:04:44Z")
As @Steve-Mcl has mentioned, set the debug to show complete message object, as the result of your addition is in msg.params.
or if you want the result in msg.payload
change
```auto
msg.params = \[time, totalkwhnew, field1\];
```
to
```auto
msg.payload = [time, totalkwhnew, field1];
```
---
### Author:  [@Starfoxfs](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Starfoxfs)
#### Post date: [19 June 2026 13:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321/12 "2026-06-19T13:35:15Z")
This works, but how to insert this into Postgresql ?
My Postgres Node is as follows:
```auto
INSERT INTO solar (time, field1) VALUES ($1, $2),($1, $2);
```
Heres explained only with msg.params
> **[node-red-contrib-postgresql](https://flows.nodered.org/node/node-red-contrib-postgresql)**
>
> Node-RED node for PostgreSQL, supporting parameters, split, back-pressure
---
### Author:  [@Starfoxfs](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Starfoxfs)
#### Post date: [19 June 2026 18:06 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321/13 "2026-06-19T18:06:46Z")
It works with msg.params i just didnt see it because i had a debug node with msg.payload
In the Database its all fine !
---
### Author:  [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)
#### Post date: [19 June 2026 18:47 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321/14 "2026-06-19T18:47:34Z")
> [@Steve-Mcl](#):
>
> Have you set the debug to output the complete message
Just saying ^ 😅
---
### Author:  [@ThingsTinkerer](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ThingsTinkerer)
#### Post date: [23 June 2026 10:38 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321/15 "2026-06-23T10:38:49Z")
From my experience setting debug to show entire msg is nr1 most important thing when dragging a new debug node into a flow. Ideally I'll copy an existing one instead to get it configured correctly automatically.
---
### Author:  [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)
#### Post date: [23 June 2026 10:44 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321/16 "2026-06-23T10:44:38Z")
See this PR already merged into v5 to set default the way you want it.
>
>
> and add commented example to blank settings file
>
>
>
> \- \[\] Bugfix (non-breaki…ng change which fixes an issue)
> \- \[x\] New feature (non-breaking change which adds functionality)
>
>
>
> \## Proposed changes
>
> As per discussions on forum - this enables the ability for a user to override a nodes default properties by entries in the settings.js file - this is useful for setting up a default way of working for a team to save everyone having to change the default output of the debug node for example - or indeed a single user.
>
> NOTE: This only changes the defaults - ie the user can still edit the settings in the editor UI - this doesn't lock anything - it just allows changing the defaults for a new dragged on node to something the user may wish to use more often.
>
> To do this the user adds an entry like this to their settings.js file
> \`\`\`
> nodeDefaults: {
> debug: {
> complete: true,
> console:true,
> active:false
> },
> inject: {
> props: \[{"p":"payload"}\],
> payload: "Hello World",
> payloadType: "str"
> }
> }
> \`\`\`
>
>
>
>
> \## Checklist
>
>
> \- \[x\] I have read the \[contribution guidelines\](https://github.com/node-red/node-red/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md)
> \- \[x\] For non-bugfix PRs, I have discussed this change on the forum/slack team.
> \- \[x\] I have run \`npm run test\` to verify the unit tests pass
> \- \[\] I have added suitable unit tests to cover the new/changed functionality
---
### Author:  [@ThingsTinkerer](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ThingsTinkerer)
#### Post date: [23 June 2026 10:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321/17 "2026-06-23T10:45:10Z")
Glorious!
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [7 July 2026 10:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/cant-add-a-own-value-number-to-an-object-payload/101321/18 "2026-07-07T10:45:46Z")
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