fanctl is a Python daemon that proportionally controls a 4-pin PWM fan (e.g. the Noctua NF-A4x10 5V) based on the Raspberry Pi's CPU temperature. It also has a '0db' mode in which the fan does not spin if the CPU temperature is below the trigger point.
fanctl depends on the pigpio daemon and Python 3 library. To install them on the RPi, run:
sudo apt install python3-pigpio pigpio
sudo systemctl enable pigpiod.service
sudo systemctl start pigpiod.service
Once pigpio is installed, clone this repo to your home directory on your RPi:
cd ~/
git clone https://github.com/process1183/rpi-fanctl.git
First, add the following lines to /boot/config.txt below the Additional overlays and parameters are documented /boot/overlays/README line(s), then reboot:
# Set initial states for fan GPIO pins
# https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/config_txt.html#gpio-control
gpio=6=ip,pu
gpio=13=op,dl
Note: By default, the Makefile installs the systemd unit file for the current user, as the fanctl.py daemon does not need root privileges. If you wish to change which user it is installed for, edit the DAEMON_USER variable in the Makefile.
To install the script, config file, and systemd unit file:
cd ~/rpi-fanctl
make install
The fanctl daemon will not yet be started in case you wish to change any settings (see configuration section). To start the daemon, run sudo systemctl start fanctld@$(whoami).service, or reboot the RPi.
Once installed, you can change several fanctl parameters such as trigger temp and PWM pin by editing /opt/fanctl/fanctl.conf. The various available options and their defaults are detailed in the .conf file.
To uninstall the daemon and related files:
cd ~/rpi-fanctl/
make uninstall