Anyone Farming Bitcoin in their Garage or outdoor Shed?

[nhando]

DMwardjr, that picture with the insulation and Duct Tape is not Kilo's setup.   I took it from a Centrix sale item picture on Amazon.  I buy a lot of stuff from them so I like how they manage their environment, all the way to how they package and resell used stuff.  All 3 of my S3 from them look like brand new.  Although I'm sure Kilo's setup is going to be pretty sweet and just as efficient once he gets his Plenum install.

[nhando]

It's funny to see your equipment sweating in garages, out here in Canada there is no need for cooling 
And guess what, the electricity price in Montreal is 6cents per kilowatt hour. 

Wow!!  You got an ideal environment then!  Maybe I should move to Montreal....eh?  I love Quebec, Toronto and Montreal.  Used to live in Boston so I would travel up to those city very often. 

[dmwardjr]

DMwardjr, that picture with the insulation and Duct Tape is not Kilo's setup.   I took it from a Centrix sale item picture on Amazon.  I buy a lot of stuff from them so I like how they manage their environment, all the way to how they package and resell used stuff.  All 3 of my S3 from them look like brand new.

Okay, thanks for letting me know.  I looked for it online, even Amazon under the search, "Centrix" and found NOTHING.  So, I went to Lowe's and found something that looks just like it but it's called Perma R.  However, IT IS COMBUSTIBLE.  Meaning, it would provide fuel to start a fire like gasoline.  Is the Centrix stuff combustible?  If so, DO NOT USE IT for this application with mining bitcoin!

I absolutely LOVE the idea.  However, If I cannot find a similar item that is light weight and NON-COMUSTIBLE, I'm buying fire retardant sheet rock.  I would cut the sheet rock to fit exactly on top of 6 x S7's at a time.  I would put duct tape around all of the edges to keep the chalky like sheet rock stuff from getting inside the rigs.  In other words, I would seal the edges of the fire retardant sheet rock with duct tape.  Even the edges I did not cut.

I did find a possible candidate.  It is TechLite Insulation.

Here is the spec sheet on their specialty product indicating it's a "... polymeric foam containing no
toxic or carcinogenic materials, is highly fire resistant, has low smoke, produces low out thermal and acoustical properties.
gassing, and has outstanding thermal and acoustical properties."  http://www.techlite.net/Files/Specification_Data/079_Specification_Sheet_2014.pdf

Here is a photo of what it looks like when sold through zoro.com:  http://www.zoro.com/b/TECHLITE%20INSULATION/

It can be expensive but I feel it's well worth the cost for higher efficiency during summer months.  Zoro.com is cheaper than Amazon on TechLite Insulation.

[dmwardjr]

I would have 6 x S7's locked together via the tongue and groove system made on the sides like what you see in the following screenshot:  



Then cut a non combustible product to the following shape and tape it down with metallic duct tape while making sure not to cover up the ethernet port, lights and reset button.

The non combustible product is in the color red and the tape is white in the screenshot.  A non-combustible product would also be underneath the S7's in between each PSU. I think putting them together in this fashion will make for a cleaner setup.  You could also post a sticky note on the panel above each rig with it's credentials (Rig #, IP address, etc...)

[icem3lter]

It's funny to see your equipment sweating in garages, out here in Canada there is no need for cooling 
And guess what, the electricity price in Montreal is 6cents per kilowatt hour. 

Wow!!  You got an ideal environment then!  Maybe I should move to Montreal....eh?  I love Quebec, Toronto and Montreal.  Used to live in Boston so I would travel up to those city very often. 

That's cool, I used to live in Toronto but the electricity price there was 18cents per kilowatt during peak times. It was crazy mining there.

[nhando]

Centrix is just the name of the company that does bitcoin mining and they resell their old equipments online via Ebay and Amazon.  Picture was taken from the link below.

http://www.amazon.com/Supply-Antminer-Original-HP-X-Adapter/dp/B019M4AOPA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1452472945&sr=8-2&keywords=hp+1000w+psu


Wow, DMwardjr, really, really like that clean look.  That is pretty awesome and I think the way Centrix does it will work perfectly for you while providing a very clean and almost work of art look as it would hide all the cablings.  Just add a Apple Sticker and it's ART.  =)

[dmwardjr]

Centrix is just the name of the company that does bitcoin mining and they resell their old equipments online via Ebay and Amazon.  Picture was taken from the link below.

http://www.amazon.com/Supply-Antminer-Original-HP-X-Adapter/dp/B019M4AOPA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1452472945&sr=8-2&keywords=hp+1000w+psu


Wow, DMwardjr, really, really like that clean look.  That is pretty awesome and I think the way Centrix does it will work perfectly for you while providing a very clean and almost work of art look as it would hide all the cablings.

I see what you mean now.  The Centrix name seen on the panel around those rigs was only like a water mark for the photo.  It was not actually on the paneling.  That means they more than likely used what I saw at Lowe's.  Which is Perma Board.  Don't get me wrong... I LOVE THE IDEA.  However, Perma Board is the last thing one should use in this application.  This is my honest opinion.  If an S7 were to go up in flames, the Perma Board would combust (go up in flames) and make all of the other cables on the rigs susceptible to burning up as well.  

Again, this is my opinion:  Fire retardant sheet rock or the TechLite Insulation would be a better choice.  The TechLite Insulation in a 24" x 96" x 1" panel at $74.78 each and ships free http://www.zoro.com/techlite-insulation-insulation-sheet-24-x-96-x-1-in-0079-2496ss100-sh-0000-00/i/G2727514/

The fire retardant sheet rock will run you less money and may work better in fire resistance.  Not sure though...  http://www.homedepot.com/p/Sheetrock-Firecode-Core-5-8-in-x-4-ft-x-12-ft-Gypsum-Board-14211011312/100321595

[kilo17]

Kilo have all Avalon 6 from the picture shown.  Those miners are very quiet especially when the ambient temperature is cool as the fan hardly go above 3300 RPM.  They are as quiet as Antminer S3 in a cool room and a much louder in a warm room (higher RPM) but definitely no where near as loud as the S7.  I will let Kilo respond regarding the noise level of the 2880W PSU.  They're loud but he actually have a very cool setup that combines 3 x 2880W and are cooled by 1 very large FAN which makes them super quiet.  It's the same FAN that I have picture above in the Roast duck picture.  

I have Dell 750W PSU, HP 1000W PSU, EVGA G2 1300W and IBM 2KW PSU.  The only PSU that is noisy from that list are the Dell but their loud fan also keep them much cooler than the HP .  The IBM 2KW PSU are very compact and the noise level depends on the fan type you use.  I use the Ultra Kaze fans with the IBM PSU and they are very quiet.

P.S I just saw this very cool ideal on how to separate the hot and cool zone for the S7 using the 2x1000W HP PSU.  

https://i.imgur.com/zBPgPDS.jpg

I got the 50 amp PDU's from finsky and he has great prices on them.  Then I am running 6 total 50 amp sockets.  Here is the plugs (which are monsterous in size). As for cooling, I am building a plenum in the garage currently and hope to have it done when the 200 amp panel is finished this week.  I will have the miners separated into hot/cold with the hot air going inside the plenum and directed out.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dindustrial&field-keywords=Cs6369

Hi Kilo,

Thanks for sharing the idea with the insulation panel and duct tape.  I'm going to use your idea to do something a little different.  All of my PCI-e cords will be behind the insulation panel.  The only visible cord in the cool isle will be the RG6 cables for internet.  All of my PSU's are IBM 2880's and IBM 2980's.  I'm getting 2980's from here on out.  With the breakout board and PCI-e cords on the rear of the IBM 2880's and 2980's, I'll be able to have them on the hot isle side of the insulation.

Thanks again for the idea!!!

That pic was from nhando I believe, my plenum will be pretty air tight for the most part.  I am not using insulation panel but will try and find a link to what I am using and post it

[dmwardjr]

That pic was from nhando I believe, my plenum will be pretty air tight for the most part.  I am not using insulation panel but will try and find a link to what I am using and post it

Thanks!

I'm looking forward to seeing what you may have found.

[nhando]

Standardizing on the Dual 2KW IBM PSU and using the 4K Boards.  This makes this PSU combo a huge winner with plenty of connections / power and so quiet with the Ultra Kaze fans.  I can also stack them 4 PSU high if I want and which I will to maximize on the rack space.  Makes cabling so much cleaner and sexier. 

<a href="http://imgur.com/t7K1rDB"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/t7K1rDB.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

<a href="http://imgur.com/8fhfYx5"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/8fhfYx5.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

[dmwardjr]

I thought I would share this in case anyone is considering doing a setup similar to mine.  Who knows, you might get inspiration for a different idea from mine in which we can combine ideas.  Who knows...

I've been doing research on MULTIPLE smaller fans to install behind each 14" x 25" grille in the doors of my mining closet because I had concerns about exactly what you are talking about in the event a BIG fan goes down.  I found radiator fans for automobile engines that run off of 12 volt supply.  So, I'm about to order 16 of them and wire them up to IBM 2000W PSU's using J4bberwock's breakout board that would be mounted to each door.  I was going to special order PCI-e cords custom length from him to use in this application in the door.  

THIS IS A TOTAL OF 32,000 CFM if you combine all 16 fans together at 2,000 CFM each.  This is why I thought it would be important to also install a tube axial fan equivalent to 32,000 CFM with a 5 HP belt driven motor.  All of this was going to be a surprise.  However, it's probably better I share it now to kind of put me on the spot and hold me accountable to get it done as soon as possible.  At least by the time the power upgrade is completed or shortly after.

Here is a link for the fan:  http://www.amazon.com/Electric-Radiator-Cooling-Mount-Unversal/dp/B015PQ90CC/ref=sr_1_8?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1452553193&sr=1-8&keywords=12+inch+radiator+fans

Here are the specs on the fan:

Size: 12"; Color: Red
10 Blades, 12 Volts, 80 Wattage, Thickness=2.5"
Maximum FAN CFM=2000 CFM, Maximum Fan RPM=2250 RPM, 6.6 AMP DRAW
OE Fitment or Replacement, Push or Pull Type
Brand new radiator cooling fan blade for universal use. It is good for stock cooling, Perfect for turbo applications.

Here is a photo of the fan and where the fans would be located with two of them in behind each grille INSIDE of the door [Not on the outside]:




Here is a photo of both doors together with 16 x 2000 CFM 12" fans for a total of 32,000 CFM [The drawing is to scale - every little square is 2 inches square]:




Tell me what you think of the idea if you think it would be necessary to have 2 large fans outside of the mining closet.  I value your opinion, Sir!  What I LOVE about this is the fact of using only 1,280 watts to provide 32,000 CFM.  In reality, this would not be quite 32,000 CFM because of the fan not actually being inside of a box or tube.  However, I still believe this application would be beneficial to my setup.

By the way, the 2 x IBM 2000W PSU's would be connected to a 30A/240V outlet coming from the 200A Load Center for the house.  All of the rigs will be connected to power coming from the other 200A panels I'm about to have installed.

[nhando]

Love the idea as both of my HVAC guys told me, it's better to have multiple FANs for redundancy then just depend on 1 Large Fan especially when down time for replacement = $$ lost from no being able to Mine.  This is also the reason why you invested in the separate motor fan so that it's a quicker replacement.  So my setup will be vented up as hot air rise by a 5K CFM FAN as that's really my only option for my brick walled garage.  The 2nd smaller 2400 CFM Fan will be installed at a later date as a helping FAN as well as redundancy before summer hit and more $$ is earned.  I have no where close to your CFM rating so your setup will be absolutely awesome. 

P.S Where can I find that 2000 CFM so small?  That would be perfect for my garage door vent outlets / inlets.

[dmwardjr]

P.S Where can I find that 2000 CFM so small?  That would be perfect for my garage door vent outlets / inlets.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_0_20?url=search-alias%3Dautomotive&field-keywords=12+inch+radiator+fans&sprefix=12+inch+radiator+fan%2Ccomputers%2C171

[nhando]

Wow, that is an awesome deal at $23.00!  David, so how would the cabling work?  We just use any 2 of the Ground and Positive and not use the extra 4?

[dmwardjr]

Let me do research to see how long of a duty cycle they have.  Prelude said, they may not have a very long duty cycle.  So, I'm doing some research.

[nhando]

Yeah but at this price, you can easily replace them as they fail.  There are so many fans as backup.  I may test this one out for additional venting.  Just not sure if it's truly even close to their rating.

[dmwardjr]

Yeah but at this price, you can easily replace them as they fail.  There are so many fans as backup.  I may test this one out for additional venting.  Just not sure if it's truly even close to their rating.

That's what I just told prelude.  I believe it is pretty close.  It's a hell of a lot more CFM than any other 12 volt DC fans I have seen.

[dmwardjr]

I just sent a message to the seller on Amazon asking them if they know the duty cycle of these running 24/7 at 100%.  I said, let me know how many hours continuous these can run at 100% 24/7.

[dmwardjr]

Might consider this switch in that application as well:

http://www.amazon.com/Unique-Goods-Controller-Adjustable-Reversible/dp/B00RYRXFW2

EDIT:  Scratch that.  3 amps output and I would need 6.6 amps.

[nhando]

Let me know how the FAN works out for you David.  I'm interested if they're anywhere as powerful as the listed ratings.