This guide will take you from zero to a working AI‑driven trading workflow running inside n8n that connects to Alpaca. It covers everything you need to know — from importing JSON workflows to connecting APIs and understanding indicator logic.

• A workflow automation tool that connects apps and APIs without heavy coding.

• Each workflow is a graph of nodes (steps) — from triggers to logic to HTTP requests.

• Workflows are stored as JSON, which you can import/export.

• Alpaca is a brokerage API that lets you place trades programmatically (paper or live).

• You’ll need API keys from Alpaca (paper trading for testing).

• These keys go into an HTTP Request node in n8n to place buy/sell orders.

• Indicators are signals based on price data:

  • RSI (Relative Strength Index) → overbought/oversold

  • RMI → momentum version of RSI

  • SuperTrend → trend direction indicator

• You can compute these using code nodes or by pulling from a market data API (TwelveData, EODHD).

📌 Required Accounts

1. n8n — Self‑hosted or cloud account

2. Alpaca — Paper trading API keys

3. Market Data API — (e.g., TwelveData) for price & indicators

4. Google Cloud — For Gmail + Google Sheets (OAuth credentials)

📌 Nodes You’ll Use in n8n

• Schedule Trigger — runs your bot (e.g., every minute during market hours)

• HTTP Request — fetch market data & place trades

• Code Node — compute custom indicators and parse JSON

• Google Sheets — log trades

• Email / Alerts — Gmail or Telegram alerts

n8n workflows are stored as JSON — you can copy/paste entire automation flows:

1. Open your n8n instance

2. Go to Workflows → Create Workflow

3. Click on the canvas and paste the JSON (Ctrl/Cmd + V)

4. n8n auto‑creates all nodes and connections

5. Configure credentials (API keys) inside each relevant node

If a node has a red warning icon after import, it usually means credentials are missing.

• Use the Schedule Trigger node

• Set it to run every 1–5 minutes during market hours

• Create an HTTP Request node

• Pull recent OHLC prices (candles) via a Market Data API

• You’ll use this for indicators

Example call for price data (TwelveData or similar):

GET https://api.marketdata.com/v1/quote?symbol=AAPL&interval=1min

Use a Code Node to calculate:

• RMI

• SuperTrend

• RSI
  Your code should parse the price JSON and output structured indicator values.

Example code structure (pseudo‑JS):

const data = items[0].json;
const prices = data.priceArray;
const rmi = calculateRMI(prices);
const superTrend = calculateSuperTrend(prices);
return [{json: {rmi, superTrend}}];

You can find tutorials on building Code Nodes and handling JSON in n8n online.

For more advanced setups, use an AI Agent Node:

• It takes your technical data

• Outputs structured JSON ⇨ {"signal":"BUY","confidence":0.72}

Example prompt:

Analyze this price and indicator data and return BUY or SELL
in this JSON format:
{"signal":"BUY","confidence":"0.80"}

Place buy/sell orders using Alpaca:

Example:

POST https://paper-api.alpaca.markets/v2/orders
Headers: API Key + Secret
Body JSON:
{
  "symbol": "AAPL",
  "qty": 1,
  "side": "buy",
  "type": "market",
  "time_in_force": "day"
}

Repeat with "side":"sell" for exits.

Log executed trades with:

• Timestamp

• Symbol

• Price

• Signal

• P/L

You can do this with the Google Sheets node — just connect your Google OAuth first.

Use Gmail or Telegram nodes to send alerts:

Bought AAPL at $X based on RMI/SuperTrend BUY signal"

[Schedule Trigger] 
    ➝ [HTTP Request: Get Price Data] 
        ➝ [Code: Compute Indicators]
            ➝ [IF/AI Agent: Decide Signal]
                ➝ [Alpaca Buy/Sell HTTP Calls]
                    ➝ [Google Sheets Log]
                        ➝ [Email/Telegram Alert]

Understanding how indicators work under the hood
How to fetch live market data in real time
Processing and structuring data with JavaScript
Triggering trades based on logic or AI decisions
Logging and automating your entire trading loop

🔹 Always start with paper trading before going live
🔹 Add risk controls: stop‑loss/take‑profit rules
🔹 Backtest your logic before letting it run
🔹 Use structured JSON outputs so indicators feed cleanly into decision logic

👉 n8n Beginner → Advanced Guides — Workflow building fundamentals, code nodes, and APIs explained.
👉 Official n8n Docs — step‑by‑step guides for triggers and nodes.
👉 n8n JSON import tutorial — actually shows how importing works in practice.

Get the full n8n workflow JSON + step-by-step setup guide for only $9.99:

Buy the Full AI Scalper Flow Setup Here →

Includes:
Ready-to-import JSON workflow
Step-by-step PDF + video guide
Pre-configured indicator & AI logic nodes
Alpaca paper trading integration
Google Sheet logging + Gmail alerts