node-red-contrib-influxdb3

Node-RED nodes for writing data to InfluxDB v3.

This package provides Node-RED integration with InfluxDB v3 using the official @influxdata/influxdb3-client JavaScript library.

Installation

From npm (when published)

cd ~/.node-red
npm install node-red-contrib-influxdb3

From local directory

cd ~/.node-red
npm install /path/to/node-red-contrib-influxdb3

Development Installation

1. Clone this repository
2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

3. Link to your Node-RED installation:

   cd ~/.node-red
   npm install /path/to/node-red-contrib-influxdb3

4. Restart Node-RED

Nodes

This package includes two nodes:

InfluxDB v3 Config Node

A configuration node that stores connection details for your InfluxDB v3 instance.

Configuration:

• Name: A friendly name for the connection
• Host: Your InfluxDB v3 host URL (e.g., https://us-east-1-1.aws.cloud2.influxdata.com)
• Token: Your InfluxDB v3 authentication token
• Database: The default database (bucket) name

InfluxDB v3 Write Node

Writes data points to InfluxDB v3.

Configuration:

• Connection: Select an InfluxDB v3 config node
• Name: Optional node name
• Measurement: Default measurement name (can be overridden by msg.measurement)
• Database: Optional database override (uses connection default if not set)

Usage

Input Message Formats

The write node accepts data in multiple formats:

1. Line Protocol String

Send data as a string in InfluxDB line protocol format:

msg.payload = "temperature,location=room1 value=21.5";
return msg;

2. Object with Fields and Tags

Send an object with explicit fields and tags properties:

msg.measurement = "temperature";
msg.payload = {
    fields: {
        value: 21.5,
        humidity: 65
    },
    tags: {
        location: "room1",
        sensor: "dht22"
    },
    timestamp: Date.now() // optional
};
return msg;

3. Simplified Object Format

Send an object where all properties (except 'tags' and 'timestamp') are treated as fields:

msg.measurement = "environment";
msg.payload = {
    temperature: 21.5,
    humidity: 65,
    pressure: 1013.25,
    tags: {
        room: "bedroom",
        floor: "2"
    }
};
return msg;

Data Types

Important: By default, all numbers are written as floats to avoid schema conflicts in InfluxDB. This is because JavaScript doesn't distinguish between 1.0 and 1 (both equal 1), which can cause issues when InfluxDB expects a float but receives an integer.

When using object format, the node handles data types as follows:

• Numbers: Written as float fields by default
• Integers: Must be explicitly marked (see below)
• Booleans: Written as boolean fields
• Strings: Written as string fields
• Tags: Always converted to strings

Writing Integer Fields

To write integers explicitly, use one of these methods:

Method 1: Using the integers array

msg.payload = {
    fields: {
        temperature: 21.5,   // float
        count: 42,           // will be float by default
        total: 100           // will be float by default
    },
    integers: ['count', 'total']  // mark these as integers
};

Method 2: Using the i suffix

msg.payload = {
    fields: {
        temperature: 21.5,   // float
        count: "42i",        // integer (note the string with 'i' suffix)
        total: "100i"        // integer
    }
};

Example with both floats and integers:

msg.measurement = "sensor_data";
msg.payload = {
    temperature: 21.5,      // float
    humidity: 65.0,         // float (even though it looks like an integer)
    event_count: "50i",     // integer
    tags: {
        location: "room1"
    }
};

Message Properties

The following message properties can be used to override node configuration:

• msg.measurement - Override the measurement name
• msg.database - Override the database name
• msg.timestamp - Set the timestamp for the data point (Date object or milliseconds)
• msg.payload.integers - Array of field names to write as integers (e.g., ['count', 'total'])

Examples

Example 1: Temperature Sensor

// Function node
msg.measurement = "temperature";
msg.payload = {
    value: 21.5,
    tags: {
        location: "living_room",
        sensor_id: "temp_001"
    }
};
return msg;

Example 2: Multi-Sensor Data

// Function node
msg.measurement = "environment";
msg.payload = {
    fields: {
        temperature: 22.3,
        humidity: 58,
        co2: 412,
        light: 850
    },
    tags: {
        room: "office",
        floor: "3",
        building: "A"
    }
};
return msg;

Example 3: MQTT to InfluxDB

[MQTT In] --> [JSON Parse] --> [Function] --> [InfluxDB v3 Write]

Function node:

// Parse MQTT topic for location
const location = msg.topic.split('/')[1];

msg.measurement = "sensor_data";
msg.payload = {
    temperature: msg.payload.temp,
    humidity: msg.payload.hum,
    tags: {
        location: location
    }
};
return msg;

Example 4: Using Line Protocol

// Function node - direct line protocol
const location = "warehouse";
const temp = 18.5;
const humidity = 72;

msg.payload = `climate,location=${location} temperature=${temp},humidity=${humidity}`;
return msg;

Example 5: Multiple Databases

// Write to different databases based on data type
if (msg.payload.type === "critical") {
    msg.database = "critical-events";
} else {
    msg.database = "general-logs";
}

msg.measurement = "events";
msg.payload = {
    severity: msg.payload.severity,
    message: msg.payload.msg,
    tags: {
        type: msg.payload.type
    }
};
return msg;

Sample Flow

Import this flow into Node-RED to get started:

[
    {
        "id": "influxdb3-config-node",
        "type": "influxdb3-config",
        "name": "My InfluxDB v3",
        "host": "https://us-east-1-1.aws.cloud2.influxdata.com",
        "database": "my-database"
    },
    {
        "id": "inject-node",
        "type": "inject",
        "name": "Generate Data",
        "props": [{"p": "payload"}],
        "repeat": "5",
        "topic": "",
        "payload": "",
        "payloadType": "date",
        "x": 140,
        "y": 100,
        "wires": [["function-node"]]
    },
    {
        "id": "function-node",
        "type": "function",
        "name": "Format Data",
        "func": "msg.measurement = 'temperature';\nmsg.payload = {\n    value: 20 + Math.random() * 10,\n    tags: {\n        location: 'office'\n    }\n};\nreturn msg;",
        "x": 320,
        "y": 100,
        "wires": [["influxdb3-write-node"]]
    },
    {
        "id": "influxdb3-write-node",
        "type": "influxdb3-write",
        "name": "Write to InfluxDB",
        "influxdb": "influxdb3-config-node",
        "measurement": "",
        "database": "",
        "x": 530,
        "y": 100,
        "wires": [["debug-node"]]
    },
    {
        "id": "debug-node",
        "type": "debug",
        "name": "Debug",
        "x": 730,
        "y": 100,
        "wires": []
    }
]

Configuration with Environment Variables

You can use environment variables in the configuration node:

• INFLUX_HOST - InfluxDB v3 host URL
• INFLUX_TOKEN - Authentication token
• INFLUX_DATABASE - Default database name

Simply reference them in the Node-RED UI using ${INFLUX_HOST} syntax (if using Node-RED environment variable substitution).

Troubleshooting

Connection Issues

• Verify your host URL is correct and includes https://
• Check that your token has write permissions for the database
• Ensure the database name exists in your InfluxDB v3 instance

Data Not Appearing

• Check the node status - it should show "written" briefly after successful writes
• Verify at least one field is provided (InfluxDB requires at least one field)
• Check that field values are not null or undefined

Error Messages

The node will display error status and log details to the Node-RED debug panel:

• "no config" - The InfluxDB v3 config node is not selected
• "error" - Check the debug panel for details

Requirements

• Node-RED v2.0.0 or higher
• InfluxDB v3 instance (Cloud or Edge)

License

MIT

Links

• InfluxDB v3 JavaScript Client
• InfluxDB v3 Documentation
• Node-RED

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.