raspberry pi tools addon : 5V fans installation

joey · June 14, 2021 at 10:11 PM

as title, 5V fans are expected to be installed recently.

pi-tools addons is downloaded from the add-ons download, but

" This is a console-only addon" is prompted out when i try to run the program.

Could another one tell me how to control the GPIO pin4 on/off 5V ? thanks

system details
rpi 4B (RPi2.arm)

Versions: 9.2.6 LibreELEC, Kodi 18.9(18.9.0)

**Da Flex** · June 14, 2021 at 10:30 PM Official Post

The prompt is correct.

You can't switch pin #4 on / off. Use the programmable pin #33 (GPIO 13) and it's opposite Ground pin #34 instead.

Create /storage/.config/autostart.sh :

Bash

#!/bin/sh

(
    python /storage/.kodi/userdata/scripts/fan.py
) &

Create a /storage/.kodi/userdata/scripts folder.

Create /storage/.kodi/userdata/scripts/fan.py :

Python

#!/usr/bin/python

import sys
sys.path.append('/storage/.kodi/addons/virtual.rpi-tools/lib')
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import os

fan_gpio_number = 13
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
GPIO.setup(fan_gpio_number, GPIO.OUT)
GPIO.output(fan_gpio_number, True)

Display More

This will turn the fan on at system start. Adapt the script for your needs.

joey · June 15, 2021 at 2:16 AM

Thanks at first.

I have created the fan.py file and autostart.sh file, but the fan didn't switch on.

I have tried the command:
python fan.py

and it prompt out that:

fan.py:10: Runtime Warning: This channel is already in use, continuing anyway. Use GPIO.setwarnings(False) to disable warnings.

**Da Flex** · June 15, 2021 at 3:50 AM Official Post

I'm using the same scripts with an LED instead of a fan. The warning is normal. The RPi Tools add-on seems to have a bug on it's current version, because my LED switches off after a while without obvious reason. I think we have to wait for a fix.

joey · June 15, 2021 at 3:51 AM

thank, i will wait for it

Mario77 · June 16, 2021 at 8:57 PM

Don't connect fan directly to gpio..use gpio to control relay/transistor for on/off or pwm whatever you need to achieve..