# Making a Dashboard for the 7 inch TFT display
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/making-a-dashboard-for-the-7-inch-tft-display/2546
**Category:** Dashboard
**Created:** [24 August 2018 23:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/making-a-dashboard-for-the-7-inch-tft-display/2546 "2018-08-24T23:25:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [25 August 2018 21:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/making-a-dashboard-for-the-7-inch-tft-display/2546/21 "2018-08-25T21:28:29Z")
> [@janvda](#):
>
> So @davidcgu , did you succeed in a stable setup running 24x7 hours ? If so, I would be very interested in knowing what you did to achieve this.
Assuming the tablet is running Android (though just as easy on Windows), use an automation tool to do something to keep the tablet alive. Also you should automate the browser to reload the page occasionally which should help reduce issues. Changing tabs on Dashboard isn't enough as all of that is in memory.
Also remember that the Dashboard uses both Angular v1 and JQuery libraries which makes the browser page very large. If you really want something that runs 24x7 I would recommend using a dedicated app or a lighter weight custom webpage dashboard.
---
### Author:  [@janvda](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/janvda)
#### Post date: [26 August 2018 10:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/making-a-dashboard-for-the-7-inch-tft-display/2546/22 "2018-08-26T10:33:00Z")
> [@TotallyInformation](#):
>
> > [@janvda](#):
> >
> > So @davidcgu , did you succeed in a stable setup running 24x7 hours ? If so, I would be very interested in knowing what you did to achieve this.
>
> Assuming the tablet is running Android (though just as easy on Windows), use an automation tool to do something to keep the tablet alive. Also you should automate the browser to reload the page occasionally which should help reduce issues. Changing tabs on Dashboard isn't enough as all of that is in memory.
> ...
Thanks for the advice.
1. I am actually wondering what exactly the automation tool must do to keep the tablet alive.
2. I am even more interested in how I can automate the brower to reload the page occasionally in case I am using the Node-RED dashboard.
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### Author:  [@janvda](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/janvda)
#### Post date: [26 August 2018 10:48 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/making-a-dashboard-for-the-7-inch-tft-display/2546/23 "2018-08-26T10:48:22Z")
> [@BartButenaers](#):
>
> You can use ethernet or wifi. Since I want to use to turn my alarm system on and off, I don't want wifi (and risc don't being able to turn the alarm off within 20 seconds). Didn't found tablets with an ethernet cable.
If availability is very important - which is apparently the case for you as you need to be able to switch off the alarm within 20 seconds - I would be very careful with handcrafted solutions. The tablet option in that case seems a no-go to me as it would add extra complexity and a proper 24x7 stable dashboard solution is not known.
Regarding the pi with TFT touch screen option: I certainly would go through a lengthy test phase before putting this into production. Switching on/off your alarm system is not the first IoT use case I would recommend.
best luck
Jan.
---
### Author:  [@davidcgu](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/davidcgu)
#### Post date: [26 August 2018 12:11 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/making-a-dashboard-for-the-7-inch-tft-display/2546/24 "2018-08-26T12:11:32Z")
specifically for the alarm and daily use after several test I moved to an RFID reader which is the most easy solution even I made the keypad with node red and still have it.
For android there is also a specific app for a MQTT alarm panel which works well:
> **[thanksmister/android-mqtt-alarm-panel](https://github.com/thanksmister/android-mqtt-alarm-panel)**
>
> Android Alarm Panel for Home Assistant and Home Automation Platforms (http://thanksmister.com/android-mqtt-alarm-panel/) - thanksmister/android-mqtt-alarm-panel
And if you plan to do a dedicated panel with a raspi and a 3,5" display there was an interesting prject here:
As told, in my case I integrated the keypad directly on node red but I'm using the RFID for simplicity, cost is around 5$.
In the past also tested what could be an easy and good solution with a 4x4 matrix keypad which was also working well and is 1$ cost
Here you have a few ideas....
Regards
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### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [26 August 2018 12:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/making-a-dashboard-for-the-7-inch-tft-display/2546/25 "2018-08-26T12:16:30Z")
> [@janvda](#):
>
> Thanks for the advice.
>
> 1. I am actually wondering what exactly the automation tool must do to keep the tablet alive.
> 2. I am even more interested in how I can automate the brower to reload the page occasionally in case I am using the Node-RED dashboard.
I'm not an Android person so probably not the best person to ask. But I believe that most people use Tasker for Android automation. You may well find some settings hidden away that will let you keep the device on as well. Certainly I have my old iPad set to never turn off as I only read RSS news feeds on it these days.
A [Google search](https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=androind+browser+automation) turned up some possibilities for browser automation. But it is easy enough to get a web page to reload itself periodically.
---
### Author:  [@ghayne](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ghayne)
#### Post date: [26 August 2018 13:14 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/making-a-dashboard-for-the-7-inch-tft-display/2546/26 "2018-08-26T13:14:25Z")
On Android, under Developer options there is a Stay Awake while charging function.
You can enable the developer menu by opening the "about phone" menu and pressing the "build number" tab 7 times.
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### Author:  [@janvda](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/janvda)
#### Post date: [27 August 2018 07:01 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/making-a-dashboard-for-the-7-inch-tft-display/2546/27 "2018-08-27T07:01:46Z")
Hi Garry,
I have tried that but keeping my old android tablet always connected (awake) did result in a freeze of my tablet which required me to reboot it.
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### Author:  [@ghayne](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ghayne)
#### Post date: [27 August 2018 07:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/making-a-dashboard-for-the-7-inch-tft-display/2546/28 "2018-08-27T07:52:45Z")
You might be able to update it:
> **[LineageOS – LineageOS Android Distribution](https://lineageos.org/)**
>
> LineageOS Android Distribution
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### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [27 August 2018 09:12 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/making-a-dashboard-for-the-7-inch-tft-display/2546/29 "2018-08-27T09:12:07Z")
> [@janvda](#):
>
> I have tried that but keeping my old android tablet always connected (awake) did result in a freeze of my tablet which required me to reboot it
I suggest doing an automated restart from time to time.
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### Author:  [@Iustin96](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Iustin96)
#### Post date: [14 June 2020 13:08 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/making-a-dashboard-for-the-7-inch-tft-display/2546/30 "2020-06-14T13:08:26Z")
how can i control 4x4 matrix keypad with node red?
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### Author:  [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)
#### Post date: [14 June 2020 13:13 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/making-a-dashboard-for-the-7-inch-tft-display/2546/31 "2020-06-14T13:13:54Z")
Topic closed - please stick to your [original thread](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/can-i-control-a-keypad-4x4-with-node-red/28307/3)
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### Author:  [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)
#### Post date: [14 June 2020 13:13 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/making-a-dashboard-for-the-7-inch-tft-display/2546/32 "2020-06-14T13:13:57Z")
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