Anyone know how to get the display on Pimoroni Automation Hat Mini to work in Node-RED?
br. PCgo
Sadly looks like they only have a Python library. So your only option (other than spending time converting the Python library to Node.js!) would probably be to use the exec node to call Python scripts.
Thanks for your input.
Yes, it's a shame, as I was really hoping for the use of this nice hat in NodeRed. I will continue to hope
that some experienced developers will build a node that will be easy to use. Or produce a StepByStep guide to use the existing library from Pimoroni.
You could try reaching out to them. I met one of the founders at a maker faire here in Sheffield when they were first getting going, seemed like nice folk.
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I did... and did not get closer 
Answer:
" I'm afraid we're not really too familiar with NodeRed as an ecosystem so I don't think we'll be able to help much here. You could try posting on the forums to see if anyone's already tried this?
https://forums.pimoroni.com/ "
So I did that too - and still waiting for a helping hand 
It looks like the python script to control the board runs continuously, so a relatively simple way to have it work with node-red would be for the script to publish and subscribe to MQTT messages.
Pimoroni were quick to modify the example scripts for their "Blinky" LED board when I asked for it to be able to subscribe to MQTT.
Now it's very easy for my Node-red (or any other language) to turn the individual LEDs on or off.
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Thanks for your input.
I have easily control of the outputs of this hat. The tricky part is the lcd display.
That's promising! Can you share how you do that from node-red?
To activate the outputs on the Automation Hat Mini on Raspberry Pi4:
Use node: rpi-gpio out
Configure the 4 outputs individually to use:
Output 1 = GPIO5
Output 2 = GPIO12
Output 3 = GPIO6
Output 4 = GPIO16
Connect a Inject node to send "msg.payload=1" to the gpio out node.
To automatically turn off the output I also connect a Delay node and a Switch node where "msg.payload=0". These two nodes connected in parallel to the previous.
[
{
"id": "4bb3e8710b4db7b6",
"type": "inject",
"z": "6ffcde2c5925413b",
"name": "Test Output 4",
"props": [
{
"p": "payload"
}
],
"repeat": "",
"crontab": "",
"once": false,
"onceDelay": 0.1,
"topic": "",
"payload": "1",
"payloadType": "num",
"x": 670,
"y": 740,
"wires": [
[
"ed1fb811d36fb83e",
"1d5cfc0b83f979ae"
]
]
},
{
"id": "1d5cfc0b83f979ae",
"type": "delay",
"z": "6ffcde2c5925413b",
"name": "",
"pauseType": "delay",
"timeout": "250",
"timeoutUnits": "milliseconds",
"rate": "1",
"nbRateUnits": "1",
"rateUnits": "second",
"randomFirst": "1",
"randomLast": "5",
"randomUnits": "seconds",
"drop": false,
"allowrate": false,
"outputs": 1,
"x": 890,
"y": 780,
"wires": [
[
"b764c7b0dbf6115c"
]
]
},
{
"id": "b764c7b0dbf6115c",
"type": "change",
"z": "6ffcde2c5925413b",
"name": "",
"rules": [
{
"t": "set",
"p": "payload",
"pt": "msg",
"to": "0",
"tot": "str"
}
],
"action": "",
"property": "",
"from": "",
"to": "",
"reg": false,
"x": 1080,
"y": 780,
"wires": [
[
"ed1fb811d36fb83e"
]
]
},
{
"id": "ed1fb811d36fb83e",
"type": "rpi-gpio out",
"z": "6ffcde2c5925413b",
"name": "Relay 4",
"pin": "16",
"set": true,
"level": "0",
"freq": "",
"out": "out",
"bcm": true,
"x": 1260,
"y": 740,
"wires": []
}
]
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It's a very nice hat and fits into a compact enclosure with minor modification. If only a wise person could make a node enabling the display for use to rookie like me.
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