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Hi all,

I know a lot of people are excited about receiving their BFL product and BFL is really starting to catch up on back orders, so I thought I'd share my experience.

I received my tracking number on 9/18/2013. The subject of the email was "Your order has been shipped!".

On 9/20/2013 I received the package from USPS (yes, they ship express mail, the worst possible courier option).

The product was fitted in to a "large flat rate" box. The box is not very sturdy, so when the unit arrived it was a little banged up and scratched despite being shipped surrounded by custom foam inserts.

Items in the box:
1 power supply (Made in China)
1 power supply to dual PCIe connector cable.
1 USB cable (they've started shipping longer USB cables since people complained I guess)
1 Butterfly Labs Single SC
1 instruction card

I was very excited to get mining with the product so I took it out, read the instructions thoroughly several times.

To get the setup instructions you have to go to a website and download a PDF. That's a good way to save money on printing costs.

After I made sure I understood the setup instructions I connected the power supply to the Single SC and plugged it into the wall socket.

Nothing.

The light on the power supply did not come on. The fans on the Single did not spin and make noise like I had seen in Youtube videos.

I checked the 110/220 switch on the power supply to make sure it was in the right position. I tried toggling it, but when I attempted to slide the switch the switch backed off into the interior of the power supply and felt like it would snap off with the gentlest touch, so I tossed the power supply aside and sent email to BFL to request a replacement.

Of course it will probably be months before BFL responds to my email, so I just went to Best Buy and bought a cheap 500W ATX power supply.

I then jammed a paper clip into the black and green contacts on the mother board connector of the power supply, plugged the two PCIe connectors into the BFL Single SC and plugged the new power supply into the wall socket.

Bam. Everything started up. BFL had shipped a faulty power supply.

I first tried mining with bfgminer. Bfgminer detected both my Single SC and 29 of my 30 Block Erupters (I've had trouble off and on with getting Erupter #30 detected).

However, I had trouble getting work from the mining pool I had been mining with because it doesn't support Strata and couldn't send work fast enough for my gear to work at its full potential.

So I downloaded and installed BFL's Easyminer. It's not just a clever name, it's pretty easy to set up.

Easyminer is pretty braindead and so its functionality is also very limited: There are two options for configuring your mining pools. The first is to choose between two provided pools and the second is to set up everything completely manually by typing your command line switches for your miner (bfgminer or cgminer are your only choices and there's no way to add other miner softwares).

I decided to go ahead and use the two provided pools with the default settings and pasted in my bitcoin address to receive payments.

Once I started up Easyminer with the default settings it quickly received plenty of work from the pool and began hashing at a steady 59.248 GH/s.

Since that was working I decided to start up my own install of bfgminer to see what would happen.

I was happy to see that bfgminer skipped the SC Single that was already in use and started up with the available Block Erupters.

So I now have the Single SC running in Easyminer hashing away on the new pool and my Block Erupters hashing away on the old pool, both on the same computer.

Now that I have replaced the power supply I am happy with my purchase. I knew going into this that the power supply was a free gimme and I was half expecting to have to provide my own power supply anyways.

I suspect that BFL is running damage control by shipping using a cheap courier in flat rate boxes and ignoring people who complain about receiving banged up and broken equipment for months so they can get product out the door and stop the bleeding.

After waiting almost exactly one year for my product I'm just glad I've finally received it and got it working so I can finally disengage with their snotty little ecosystem of arrogant and flippant employees who screwed up my order several times and then acted like it was my fault.

Now to set expectations for those still waiting for shipment:

• There's a good chance when you get your package your shit will be broken. It is packaged exceptionally poorly for such an expensive piece of equipment.
• If your shit is broken you probably won't get a replacement for several months at which point your investment will no longer be of any value.
• Just go ahead and go buy a power supply and have it ready for when your product arrives and save yourself the headache.
• Whichever pool you're on, if it's not specifically set up for ASIC mining, you probably won't be able to hash at full speed because getworks will be too slow so pick a pool that is specifically for ASIC mining.
• The Single SC is VERY LOUD. It sounds like a salon grade hair dryer. You'll want to put it somewhere that you won't be sleeping.

1) If you're PSU is broken, send them an email. One of my Little Single PSUs was dead, and they sent me a replacement. No big deal.
2) That said, I did configure a server PSU to have a bunch of PCIe power connectors, so I can power 4 SC Singles off one PSU. Best part? It only cost me $60.
3) The stock PSU should work fine, and has been working for me for several months.
4) See here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=104664.0 If you're not using a pool that's "ASIC Ready", you need a new pool.
5) The SC Single us loud, but it's not hair dryer loud. Yes, I have slept in the same room as 2 of them going, and it's not unreasonable. You can minimize the noise by running it outside of it's case and without the side fans, but that's a more advanced and extreme measure. Your best bet? Stick it somewhere cool and isolated where you don't have to listen to it. Obv I don't run all of mine in the middle of my living room, but instead somewhere secure and separate, where I barely notice the noise.

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Excellent OP, thanks.

What's with the thread crapping??

+1 and another +1. :)

Behold ! The all knowing "believe what I say and stfu" crazyates. ;)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=268632.msg2888130#msg2888130

@noncecents May your asics hash long and prosper. And may they forever be.. DGM free.  ::)

Don't ever order anything from BFL! My single arrived almost 1 year late, and it now can't be paid off. Equipment arrived was already working a lot, that told me very good friend of mine who is hardware expert. They mined with our money. Butterflylabs is SCAM business. Never again!

Woah hold up! I really don't think I was thread crapping, and don't feel I was too far OT. You summed up your experiences in your last paragraph. I made some comments and added my own observations about my similar experiences. What's so wrong about that?

I have never said those words "believe what I say and stfu". And if that's the impression that you received from me, I'm sorry.

That said, I'm also sorry that you can't understand the concept that Ozcoin pays out using two different payment methods. You're the only person on these forums who believes that DGM is a broken payment method. And don't take my word for it, take the word of a number of people who are smarter than both of us. I think everyone should read that entire thread before replying to Hippie. Here's the full thing: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=268632.0;all

 ::)

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=268632.msg2900731#msg2900731

Hippy just likes crapping. He blew up my USB thread because I wouldn't sell under price.

Europeanminer ? Is that you ?

Actually crazyates post was well worded, short, informative and right on topic.
I don't get why you got all banged up about it.

 Ignore list. Use it. Love it.

It is noisy yes, but by removing (or replacing) those drilled plates the noise is reduced dramatically (also temps a bit).

Without those plates the case gets very flimsy though...
Best solution is what BTC-Engineer did, custom grills (there is a topic around here).

+1

Without knowing exactly what these look like...

Have you checked the heatsink(s), in case they skimped out or did a bad job with the thermal paste ?
 

If you don't know what they even look like, why are you even offering useless suggestions?

They use a thermal pad, not paste. It's a lot harder to screw up.

You have 2 options: either put the stock fans back in, or run it outside of it's case, without the 2 big fans, and make sure the small fans are blowing down rather than up.

I can say that because EVERY PIECE OF ELECTRONIC HARDWARE WITH A HEATSINK HAS SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS. :P

Checking the heatsink(s) to be sure they were installed properly is not a useless suggestion.

Thermal pads can slip, become squished or may not have been lined up properly. Also, trimming the excess pad will improve the air flow.

warm /hot vrms  :o :o :o
http://img.techpowerup.org/121126/PB251324 1200.jpg

uber cool vrms  8)  8)  8)
http://img.techpowerup.org/130922/PB2513261200.jpg

Silly puckhead, the zamboni fumes are getting to you.. WTF is it with pro sports fanatics being so dense ? ???  

Welcome to my ignore list. ;D

I was hoping to avoid that..  ;)

So much for that idea. lol

:)

Just saying, it prolly wont help. I tore one of my SC Single apart, replaced the thermal pads with some nice fujipoly ones, and the temps were about the same, maybe a 1C drop. Not a drastic improvement.

And why did you double up the thermal pads on those VRMs? You want your thermal pads as thin as possible, so the extra thickness doesn't make sense to me.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go drink beer and watch the Patriots lose.

And I don't have a single person on my ignore list, for the record. I choose to mentally ignore a person's stupid posts, rather than ignore the person in general. I only responded to you cuz I don't want any newbie or less-informed forum member being confused and mis-lead by your FUD crap about DGM or BFL. [cheers]  :) ;)

I agree its pretty loud. I got my Single a few days ago and tore it apart.

I'm using 2 120mm gentle typhoons (1850rpm and whisper quiet) blowing down on the heatsinks. That's about it. They do run a little hotter at 62C compared to 57C but I'll trade the temp increase for the quiet.

So what are the dimensions of the original heatsink fans? Can you post a photo?

Also how are you powering your singles? Does the brick have a fan in it?

You must sleep like a fucking overweight beer ready for hibernation...I Have a log house with a fully finished insulated basement with hvac and i can hear it through the floors in the morning making coffee.  Glad i just sold mine as for the power consumption compared to the 2 gh block erupters...

The 2 original fans on the heatsinks are 90mm I think. The other 2 on the sides are 120mm (which I don't use anymore).

I'm using my own PSU instead of the BFL supplied PSU and yes the BFL PSU does have a fan in it.

which psu do you have?

http://www.super-flower.com.tw/products_detail.php?class=2&sn=8&ID=2&lang=en

Ok, so which connector is it on the back of the single? 8-pin or 6-pin? I'm going to need 4 since I have 2 singles coming... would really like a powersupply that has connectors on the back only so I can avoid the cable mess. Are the connectors 6+2 pin PCI-E?

2 x 6pins per single. Something like 850w and above should be suffice to power both at the same time. Definitely buy a reputable PSU brand with Gold or Platinum rating and modular so you can avoid the cable mess.

Ok, I'm starting to settle for this one:

http://www.corsair.com/us/power-supply-units/ax-series-power-supply-units/ax760-atx-power-supply-760-watt-80-plus-platinum-certified-fully-modular-psu.html

But how can I trick this PSU to start without having to connect the 24-pin ATX cable with the shortcut in it?

I need a female-female single pin cable... also can you disconnect the shortcut after the PSU has booted or does it need to stay in?

Finally, I'm thinking of putting both my singles naked (pcb and heatpipes on small risers for bottom heatsinks) side by side and having one 200mm fan on silent speed cooling both.

http://www.nzxt.com/product/detail/122-fz-200mm-non-led-case-fan.html

http://www.zalman.com/global/product/Product_Read.php?Idx=206

What do you think about that?

That looks like a good PSU but since you have 2 singles, probably a 850+ watts PSU would be better. Just to be on the safe side if there is a overclocking mod for the Single, you'll need some headroom.

http://www.yinfor.com/blog/archives/images/psu_test_jumper.jpg
This will trick the PSU into switching on.

Never remove/disconnect a PSU power cable when it's on. You'll probably do something do the PSU or at worse, your miner or at worst, yourself. Just like you would never remove your hdd or graphics card when your computer is on. Bad things will happen.

That's an interesting idea on the 200mm fan but you'll need to check if it can push air through the heatsink fins efficiently.

I prefer silence to revenue, so I will not overclock. The 760 watt corsair is alot more silent than the 860.

I know how to trick a non modular PSU, I just wonder how to trick a modular one... but I think I have just the cable out in the country house.

My question about removing was only the red cable in your picture, how much current is going through that cable?

I'm thinking about replacing the termal pads with paste; but I will have to check how leveled the chips are, has any1 done that already?

Ok FYI, corsair/seasonic made it harder to jump these modular PSUs without the mess of 24 to 18+10 ATX cable:

You need 2 short cables:

Not only do you need to short 24P-16 to any GND, but 24P-3 is GNDs too, so:

10P-3 goes to 10P-5
18P-4 goes to 18P-6

Does anyone know if you should short the other 3V3s, 5Vs and 12Vs too; to avoid the house burning down?

Also does anyone know how much current that is going through these 2 cables, will I need them to be thick?

http://www.moddiy.com/product_images/uploaded_images/ax750-850-24-pin-belegung.jpg

Just PM this guy,he's got the switch you need  8)

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=74397.0

The only pins you need to worry about for this PSU are pins 3 and 5 on the small 10 pin female connector. You do not need to worry about pins 4 and 6 on the 18 pin connector as that is just a double used ground wire. Considering this a newer digital conversion PSU you also do not need loads on the 3.3 or 5v lines as well because all voltages come from the 12v line.

I can make a switch that will work for this, just PM me.

Without that short the PSU stops after 1-2 seconds.

I think it is about security = engineers don't want you to "short use" the PSU.

Do you know if I should short the 12Vs too; to avoid the house burning down?

Also how much current is going through these cables, will I need them to be thick?

I had some setup issues with CGminer, so tried BFGminer and that went smooth as silk. Used Stratum with a diff of 32 to keep them well loaded. The Little Single 30gh/s have been busting out 32.5Gh/s each as reported by BTC-guild for well over 2 months now.

Simply impressive. Rock solid. I may buy a few more on ebay since they occasionally go cheap.

That is really interesting as I have never heard of that before.  Why would bridging a ground wire to itself keep the PSU on?

If you are just turning the PSU on for external miners then you will not need to short the 12V lines either.  The amount of current on the PSU_ON pin is very small as it is just a signal line. Regular 18AWG wire is more than sufficient.