[Guide] HP HSTNS-PL11 PSU for Avalon6 (auto-start and voltage adjust)

[tlhIlwI]

For anyone interested, I've uploaded a video to YouTube showing how to modify an HP HSTNS-PL11 (not a DPS) power supply to use with an Avalon 6 bitcoin miner:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwHlO8LHEtw

Topics Include:

1 - Supply Overview
2 - PSU startup
3 - Modification for auto-start
4 - Adjusting the output voltage for over/under volting

Parts Used:
HP HSTNS-PL11 (Part numbers 490594-001, 438203-001, or 498152-001)
470ohm resistor
100uF capacitor
NPN transistor (any general purpose NPN, TIP31 used in video)

Additional parts (optional for DIY pigtail):
Molex 45559-0002
Molex 44476-1111

This video marks the debut of my new Bitcoin Mining channel.  I plan to release more videos soon.

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[Gornidah]

Awesome, continue the good work, I'm going to subscribe   

[Prelude]

Good job on the video. You can skip the resistor and the complicated time delayed setup and just solder a small wire to the pins to short them out. That's all that is needed to power them on.

[kilo17]

Looks familiar 

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1294058.0

[tlhIlwI]

Good job on the video. You can skip the resistor and the complicated time delayed setup and just solder a small wire to the pins to short them out. That's all that is needed to power them on.

I did try that (among other things) and found that it didn't work with my four HSTNS-PL11 supplies (the supply starts up if the short is applied after the power cord, but it will not auto-start without the delay).  I believe it might work with other HP supplies (DPS series / PD11 maybe? -- I haven't tried one of those yet) but it did not work with my four HSTNS-PL11 ones.  The only way I could get them to reliably auto-start was to introduce the RC charge delay to turn them on with the NPN transistor.  YMMV due to variation in PSU batches, but at least some of these (my four) require the delay.

[tlhIlwI]

Looks familiar  

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1294058.0

Yes, the HSTNS-PL11 is very similar to the PD11/DPS supplies (they are siblings almost).  The potentiometers are in different locations on the board and there is the startup quirk I ran into which may or may not be required depending on the individual supply (I found several reports online where these will auto-start with 470/560/short across the pins, but mine required extra effort/parts.)  I'm told (but I have not confirmed) that the voltage pot runs opposite on the PL11 vs the PD11 (on my PL11 less resistance means more voltage and only the undervolt range can be extended with a larger value pot.  I've read that the PD11/DPS is the opposite and more resistance means more voltage so the overvolt range can be extended with a higher value pot-- can you confirm?)

I went with the PL11 since I already had three of them that I've been using with SP20s for a year and they were already familiar to me.  As for why I chose the PL11 a year ago: it was the cheaper one on eBay at the time.  I picked up a fourth PL11 to mod for this video.  I've been impressed with the efficiency (I get a consistent 93% when running an SP-20 at full speed @ 12.0V).  These are also extremely quiet-- quieter than the DPS I'm told, but I haven't done a side by side comparison.  Maybe one day I will pick up a DPS series to to do a side by side shootout to determine which is more efficient, quieter, etc.

[Caladan]

Hi, do you know if it's possible to get this power supply (HP HSTNS-PL11)  to deliver 14.3V?

Best regards,
R