Pimoroni Automation Hat Mini

[PCgoDK]

Anyone know how to get the display on Pimoroni Automation Hat Mini to work in Node-RED?
br. PCgo

[TotallyInformation]

@PCgoDK

Pimoroni Automation Hat

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.

[PCgoDK]

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.

[TotallyInformation]

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.

[PCgoDK]

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

Pimoroni Automation Hat Mini - display at Node-RED

[jbudd]

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.

[PCgoDK]

Thanks for your input.
I have easily control of the outputs of this hat. The tricky part is the lcd display.

[jbudd]

That's promising! Can you share how you do that from node-red?

[PCgoDK]

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": []
    }
]

[PCgoDK]

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.