FanControl.Liquidctl

Important: This plugin requires the .NET 10 version of FanControl. Make sure you are running a FanControl release built on .NET 10.

A FanControl plugin that integrates liquidctl to provide comprehensive sensor data and pump control for various All-in-One (AIO) liquid coolers and smart devices.

Features

• Temperature Monitoring: Real-time fluid temperature readings from your AIO cooler
• Pump Control: Adjust pump speeds with precise duty cycle control
• Fan Control: Monitor and control fan speeds on supported devices
• Wide Device Support: Compatible with all liquidctl supported devices
• Seamless Integration: Works natively with FanControl's interface
• Error Recovery: Automatic refresh and recovery from communication errors
• Auto-Linking: Automatically pairs control sensors with their corresponding speed sensors

Tested Devices

• NZXT Kraken X63
• NZXT Smart Device V2

Note: Should work with any liquidctl-supported device, but these are the ones I've specifically tested.

Prerequisites

• Windows 11 22H2 or higher or .NET 10 installed manually
• FanControl installed
• Compatible AIO cooler or smart device

Installation

1. Download the latest release from the Releases page
2. Extract the archive contents to your FanControl Plugins directory
   • Default location: C:\Program files (x86)\FanControl\Plugins\
3. Restart FanControl
4. Your liquidctl devices should appear automatically in the sensors and controls lists

Usage

Once installed, the plugin automatically:

1. Discovers connected liquidctl-compatible devices
2. Registers sensors for temperature, pump speed, and fan speed monitoring
3. Provides controls for pump duty and fan speed adjustment
4. Updates values in real-time within FanControl

Available Sensors

• Fluid Temperature: Coolant temperature readings
• Pump Speed: Current pump RPM
• Fan Speed: Fan RPM readings (where supported)

Available Controls

• Pump Duty: Adjust pump speed (percentage-based)
• Fan Control: Control fan speeds (where supported)

Screenshots

Troubleshooting

Plugin Not Loading

• Ensure all files are extracted to the correct Plugins directory
• Check that your AIO is properly connected and recognized by Windows
• Restart FanControl after installation
• Verify .NET 10 runtime is available

No Devices Detected

• Verify your device is supported by liquidctl
• Try running liquidctl directly from command line to test device connectivity
• Check Windows Device Manager for any driver issues

Communication Errors

• The plugin automatically manages the Python bridge process
• If issues persist, try restarting FanControl
• Check FanControl logs for detailed error messages

Architecture

The plugin consists of two main components:

1. .NET Plugin - Integrates with FanControl's plugin system
2. Python Bridge - Wraps liquidctl functionality and communicates via Named Pipes

Development

Prerequisites

• .NET 10 SDK
• uv

Building

# Build C# plugin
cd src/FanControl.Liquidctl
dotnet build

# Build Python bridge
cd src/liquidctl_server
uv sync
uv build

Repository Structure

FanControl.LiquidCtl/
├── src/
│   ├── FanControl.Liquidctl/    # C# Plugin
│   └── liquidctl_server/        # Python Server
└── docs/                        # Documentation & images

Contributing

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Make your changes with clear commits
4. Add tests for new functionality
5. Submit pull request with description

References

• FanControl Plugin Documentation
• liquidctl Documentation
• Coolercontrol most of the liquidctl wrapper code comes from it