# Light / packing NodeRed

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/light-packing-nodered/55912>\
**Category:** General\
**Tags:** node-red-dashboard\
**Created:** [30 December 2021 23:02 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/light-packing-nodered/55912 "2021-12-30T23:02:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![thalesmaoa](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/thalesmaoa/32/17067_2.png) [@thalesmaoa](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/thalesmaoa)\
**Post date:** [30 December 2021 23:02 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/light-packing-nodered/55912/1 "2021-12-30T23:02:06Z")

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Hi there, I've been using NodeRed for almost everything now. Since I have a server running, I send almost everything to it and deploy. Fast curve of development. Mainly with sensors and IoT.

However, I'm facing a peculiar condition. I'm developing a control system for a 4-stroke engine. The 4-stroke need, almost, real time dashboard. I went straight to NodeRed. However, in the field, I don't have access to my server. Besides, the computer available is not so good.

I also need to hardwire the sensors to the computer.

Is there a way to use NodeRed, besides Docker, which has a minimum installation, bare bones, to build a dashboard? Something like a AppImage, portable app or alike?

I will use python for almost everything. After that, I will send data to the NodeRed dashboard, and receive some command controls. I don't need most of the nodes. I don't feel comfortable to install a lot of stuffs in a bad pc with things that I don't need.

(4-stroke) --\> Sensors --\> (UART, RS485, CAN) --\> PC --\> Dashboard (NodeRed) --\> PC --\> (UART, RS485, CAN) --\> Actuators

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**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [31 December 2021 00:48 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/light-packing-nodered/55912/2 "2021-12-31T00:48:26Z")

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Why not use a local Raspberry Pi with Node-RED on it? Low cost, low(ish) power. Run it with Rasbian with no desktop, install node.js and npm install node-red. Or even don't bother with Node-RED locally if you are happy with Python. But perhaps send via MQTT?

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**Author:** ![thalesmaoa](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/thalesmaoa/32/17067_2.png) [@thalesmaoa](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/thalesmaoa)\
**Post date:** [31 December 2021 13:50 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/light-packing-nodered/55912/3 "2021-12-31T13:50:54Z")

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I have a lot of common voltage loop in the engine. In the past, I tried to power a raspberry from it and it froze from time to time, that is why I need to use this old notebook.

Indeed I can add more hardware, but I'm not sure if it will speed or slow down development. In fact, my servos are bouncing now, and I will start debug with a dashboard and some digital data. This is why I'm looking for alternatives.

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**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [31 December 2021 15:15 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/light-packing-nodered/55912/4 "2021-12-31T15:15:45Z")

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Hard to say more without knowing more about what you need to control in the engine.

To fix the local Pi power issues, you would want a battery or super-cap and charging circuit - or a good power circuit - to completely divorce the power loop from the Pi.

If you need better control than a remote Node-RED instance, I'd say that you need to move more of the logic into local processing but again that either means a local Pi or a local microprocessor such as an Arduino. An MPS would give you a lot better "real-time" control for sure than any SBC but is likely to be harder to program unless your C++ skills are up to it.

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**Author:** ![dceejay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dceejay/32/38_2.png) [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)\
**Post date:** [31 December 2021 16:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/light-packing-nodered/55912/5 "2021-12-31T16:05:15Z")

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Indeed vehicle power supplies are often very “noisy”. Best thing would be to get a proper power supply designed for auto use eg with a 9 to 34v input. You can try homebuilt but for the 40 quid or so it’ll stop frying your pi or whatever. I've used these before with good results - [mini-itx.com - store - power supplies](https://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=10#picoPSU-80-WI-32)

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**Author:** ![thalesmaoa](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/thalesmaoa/32/17067_2.png) [@thalesmaoa](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/thalesmaoa)\
**Post date:** [31 December 2021 19:14 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/light-packing-nodered/55912/6 "2021-12-31T19:14:51Z")

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I'm modding a single cylinder 3kW generator to use butane as fuel. I'm using STM32F103 to do real time stuffs, however I just want a visual feedback of the system. A dashboard with gauges, sliders and so on. That is why I was considering NodeRed.

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**Author:** ![dceejay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dceejay/32/38_2.png) [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)\
**Post date:** [31 December 2021 19:17 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/light-packing-nodered/55912/7 "2021-12-31T19:17:29Z")

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Well this guy did something neat in 2016 [Hovercraft Instrumentation – Itinerant Ham](https://kk4oyj.wordpress.com/2016/10/09/hovercraft-instrumentation/amp/)

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [1 March 2022 19:17 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/light-packing-nodered/55912/8 "2022-03-01T19:17:47Z")

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