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diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d88c3ff --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,40 @@ +# rpi-temp-control + +A temperature monitor and control program for the Raspberry Pi's CPU. This is done by monitoring the reported temperature +of the combined CPU and GPU package, which is fed into a PID loop that controls the speed of a fan mounted above it. + +I wrote this so my Pi would be quite when it is doing simple tasks, but would be able to enable a fan to cool the CPU +when I need to compile things or surf the web. + +# Using + +To run this program, you are going to need root privileges but can be run by simply entering + +``` +# python rpi-temp-control.py +``` + +This will leave the program running forever, and you should notice the fan changing speed as the Pi gets warmer and +cooler. At some point I will turn this into a proper daemon service that can be setup and forgotten about. + +There are only a couple of things that should be noted when using this, first that you need to connect a fan to the Pi +in a safe way. You should NOT drive the fan from the gpio pins on the Pi directly, but instead the pin that this +program controls should be some sort of enable line on either a power transistor or motor control board. The second +thing is that this program is writing a pwm signal to that pin, which means the fan is really turning on and off quickly +and may make not allow this program to work with motor controllers that use other methods to control motor speed. Also +be aware that there is probably a minimum speed (or pulse rate) that the fan will work at, so the minimum fan speed +may need to be tweaked because of that. + +Please don't expect this to solve all overheating issues your Pi may experience, this just a dumb PID loop. Really any +Raspberry Pi 3 (at least in my experience) should have at least a heatsink on their CPU to help with limiting when +thermal throttling will happen. A case or mounting for a fan should have enough airflow for the fan so it won't burn out +the motor, but if the air the fan is moving across the CPU will limit how cool it can make the CPU. +# Copyright and License + +2018 Matt Kohls +GPL v3 + +Based on the work by [rudybrian](https://github.com/rudybrian/PID_Fan_Control) + +This program is distributed in the hope it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty +of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
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