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Get a Pironman 5 Fan Back Under Control After a Kernel Update

Pironman 5 CPU and GPIO/RGB fans use different control paths. Identify the fan first, then check the temperature curve, kernel version, IO Expander jumper, and service log.
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First identify which fan is staying on: the Pironman 5 CPU fan follows a Raspberry Pi temperature curve, while its GPIO/RGB fans are controlled through the case’s IO Expander. The fixes differ. SunFounder documented a GPIO/RGB control problem on Raspberry Pi kernel 6.6.47 in September 2024; its workaround may not apply to current releases, so check your kernel and fan type before changing system software.

Identify the fan and its control path

The CPU fan and GPIO/RGB fans do not share the same control mechanism. A CPU fan running briefly during startup, or stopping once the Pi cools, can be normal. GPIO/RGB fans that ignore the dashboard’s mode or speed controls point to a different software or IO Expander path.

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  • CPU PWM fan: controlled according to Raspberry Pi system temperature.
  • GPIO/RGB fans: controlled through the Pironman 5 IO Expander and its software.

If the CPU PWM fan is staying on

Check the temperature curve

SunFounder’s documented default CPU-fan curve is off below 50°C, then 30% at 50°C, 50% at 60°C, 70% at 67.5°C, and 100% at 75°C. Read the current temperature with vcgencmd measure_temp. If the Pi is hot, the fan may be following the curve as intended. See SunFounder’s Pironman 5 FAQ.

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Check whether PWM control is automatic

SunFounder documents these commands for the CPU fan pin:

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  • pinctrl FAN_PWM op dl — enable the output, low active.
  • pinctrl FAN_PWM op dh — disable the output, high active.
  • pinctrl FAN_PWM a0 — return the pin to automatic mode.

Use the automatic-mode command if the pin was manually set and you want the system temperature policy to control it again. These pin commands address the CPU PWM fan; they do not fix GPIO/RGB fan control.

Adjust the temperature thresholds only if needed

SunFounder says the CPU-fan thresholds can be adjusted in /boot/firmware/config.txt with dtparam=cooling_fan=on and fan_temp parameters, followed by a reboot. Match any changes to your Raspberry Pi OS version and existing configuration rather than copying settings blindly.

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If the GPIO/RGB fans ignore their controls after an update

Check whether your case matches the reported kernel issue

In a September 2024 forum exchange, a SunFounder moderator said the GPIO/RGB control issue had been reproduced on kernel 6.6.47, while 6.6.31 had worked, and attributed that specific issue to gpiozero. The thread concerns a historical kernel-era compatibility problem, not every case of a fan running continuously. You can review the exchange in SunFounder’s GPIO-fan kernel thread.

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Try the dated device-path workaround cautiously

The 2024 thread offered this command as a workaround, followed by testing RGB fan control in the PC dashboard:

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sudo ln -s gpiochip0 /dev/gpiochip4

This is dated advice, and the thread does not establish that the device path is correct or the workaround is suitable for current Raspberry Pi OS releases. Check your kernel with uname -r and confirm the procedure applies to your setup before running it.

Do not treat the old kernel downgrade as a universal fix

The same 2024 discussion mentioned sudo rpi-update 44a287fe97c04506841fe3b3e794c70a2e01c7de, describing that commit as a working 6.6.44-era version. This historical option changes system software; the forum does not confirm it as appropriate for current installations. Avoid using it as a routine first step, particularly on a production system.

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Separate a software fault from a hardware-path fault

  1. Record the installed kernel with uname -r.
  2. Check the Pironman dashboard and service log for control errors.
  3. Verify that the IO Expander FAN jumper is in place. SunFounder troubleshooting discussions address jumper and fan-control checks: Piornman5 Fan Issues and RGB Cooling fans.
  4. Test the documented GPIO or direct-power path. SunFounder says that if the fan operates when connected directly to Raspberry Pi 5V and GND, the IO Expander may be faulty and support should be contacted.

If the fan works when powered directly but not through the case control path, that result points toward the IO Expander or its control path rather than proving the fan itself is defective. If direct-power checks do not resolve the diagnosis, contact SunFounder support rather than assuming a kernel fix will address a physical fault.

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