Themaltake Toughpower 1200W Gold burnup after 30 hours powering Avalon A6

[daemondazz]

I've just had a brand new Thermaltake Toughpower 1200W Gold that I purchased yesterday burn up (literally!) after powering an Avalon A6 miner for about 30 hours. Luckily I was in the room when it went and smelt it before it actually burst into flames.

Wondering whether I just got a bad power supply (seems to be my luck) or if it just wasn't up to the job. Thoughts?

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[philipma1957]

I've just had a brand new Thermaltake Toughpower 1200W Gold that I purchased yesterday burn up (literally!) after powering an Avalon A6 miner for about 30 hours. Luckily I was in the room when it went and smelt it before it actually burst into flames.

Wondering whether I just got a bad power supply (seems to be my luck) or if it just wasn't up to the job. Thoughts?

give me a minute  to look that one up.


http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=243

is this it?

and whether it is or is not  please look at the 12 volt rails   there is a 12v1 for 40 amps and a 12 v2 for 85 amps

that is not good for a avalon 6

what does your  psu read for the 12 volt rails

[NotFuzzyWarm]

^^ Eeep. If that is what it has bet the 2 rails got tied together feeding 1 card....
Very fast way to kill a PSU and has been well covered throughout all miner threads...

[sidehack]

Even without that, 40A is borderline for half an Avalon. Probably not failing in 30 hours kind of borderline, but certainly pushing it for long-term.

[nuanicaj]

I've just had a brand new Thermaltake Toughpower 1200W Gold that I purchased yesterday burn up (literally!) after powering an Avalon A6 miner for about 30 hours. Luckily I was in the room when it went and smelt it before it actually burst into flames.

Wondering whether I just got a bad power supply (seems to be my luck) or if it just wasn't up to the job. Thoughts?

Go on ebay and buy if you can find the butteryfly labs PSU that were meant to mine 24/7 they are beefy.

Butterfly Labs BFL 1250W 80+ Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply New Sealed Box

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Butterfly-Labs-BFL-1250W-80-Gold-ATX-Fully-Modular-Power-Supply-New-Sealed-Box-/162446818423?hash=item25d295bc77:g:1TkAAOSwnGJWT4H1

I got one for my home computer.

[adaseb]

I don't think crossing the rails will do anything.

Read

   Many PSUs that have "multiple 12v rails" in fact only have one supply circuit, with multiple over-current/short-circuit protection channels.  To find out what your PSUs has, connect an ohm-meter between the two 12v rails that you want to connect together (with the PSU off, of course).  If it reads a low resistance (like <2 ohms), they are connected together inside the PSU, and the PSU shouldn't know any different if you connect them together externally.

    Now let me explain why PSUs have multiple 12v rails.  As CPUs and GPUs have become more hungry for 12v power, the amperage that PSUs must be able to supply has increased.  The problem is that the individual 12v output wires aren't very thick, and now, a PSU capable of 50A on the 12v rail could present a fire hazard if one of the cables got shorted (or overloaded), since a single wire may not be strong enough to trip the PSU, and will certainly overload long before the PSU does.  So the multiple "rails" on many cheaper PSUs are really there only for safety, rather than anything to do with isolation or providing extra power.
    So, when connecting 12v rails together, you would be circumventing this protection—which should be OK if you know what you are doing and there is no chance of a single 12v wire being treated differently than the others.

[HagssFIN]

HP DPS-1200 server PSU with breakout board would be a better option than a BFL power supply.
HP's are available via sidehack (USA) or bitshopper.de (EU).

[NotFuzzyWarm]

I've just had a brand new Thermaltake Toughpower 1200W Gold that I purchased yesterday burn up (literally!) after powering an Avalon A6 miner for about 30 hours. Luckily I was in the room when it went and smelt it before it actually burst into flames.

Wondering whether I just got a bad power supply (seems to be my luck) or if it just wasn't up to the job. Thoughts?

Go on ebay and buy if you can find the butteryfly labs PSU that were meant to mine 24/7 they are beefy.
Butterfly Labs BFL 1250W 80+ Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply New Sealed Box

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Butterfly-Labs-BFL-1250W-80-Gold-ATX-Fully-Modular-Power-Supply-New-Sealed-Box-/162446818423?hash=item25d295bc77:g:1TkAAOSwnGJWT4H1
I got one for my home computer.

Pleas do note that the 1,200w applies to TOTAL output of all rails including the 5v and 3.3v ones. The 12v rail is rated for 84A = 1kw.

[nuanicaj]

I've just had a brand new Thermaltake Toughpower 1200W Gold that I purchased yesterday burn up (literally!) after powering an Avalon A6 miner for about 30 hours. Luckily I was in the room when it went and smelt it before it actually burst into flames.

Wondering whether I just got a bad power supply (seems to be my luck) or if it just wasn't up to the job. Thoughts?

Go on ebay and buy if you can find the butteryfly labs PSU that were meant to mine 24/7 they are beefy.
Butterfly Labs BFL 1250W 80+ Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply New Sealed Box

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Butterfly-Labs-BFL-1250W-80-Gold-ATX-Fully-Modular-Power-Supply-New-Sealed-Box-/162446818423?hash=item25d295bc77:g:1TkAAOSwnGJWT4H1
I got one for my home computer.

Pleas do note that the 1,200w applies to TOTAL output of all rails including the 5v and 3.3v ones. The 12v rail is rated for 84A = 1kw.

the guy is selling both units.. 1250w and 1000w

[SA Bitcoin Brothers]

Is the Bitmain or Canaan PSUs not the best to use? I mean the price is not to bad

[HagssFIN]

Canaan PSU = ??

Yes. Bitmain APW3 and APW5 power supplies are good to use with the A6 as well.

[NotFuzzyWarm]

I don't think crossing the rails will do anything.

Read

  Many PSUs that have "multiple 12v rails" in fact only have one supply circuit, with multiple over-current/short-circuit protection channels.  To find out what your PSUs has, connect an ohm-meter between the two 12v rails that you want to connect together (with the PSU off, of course).  If it reads a low resistance (like <2 ohms), they are connected together inside the PSU, and the PSU shouldn't know any different if you connect them together externally.

    Now let me explain why PSUs have multiple 12v rails.  As CPUs and GPUs have become more hungry for 12v power, the amperage that PSUs must be able to supply has increased.  The problem is that the individual 12v output wires aren't very thick, and now, a PSU capable of 50A on the 12v rail could present a fire hazard if one of the cables got shorted (or overloaded), since a single wire may not be strong enough to trip the PSU, and will certainly overload long before the PSU does.  So the multiple "rails" on many cheaper PSUs are really there only for safety, rather than anything to do with isolation or providing extra power.
    So, when connecting 12v rails together, you would be circumventing this protection—which should be OK if you know what you are doing and there is no chance of a single 12v wire being treated differently than the others.

The key word in ^^ is "Many".

Unless you can confirm that the 12v comes from 1 regulator - don't do it! They will fight each other and eventually 1 or both rails will fail. Over the years I have come across many high power ATX PSU's that DO use independent rails. The better ones will spell out if they use a single rail.

Of course the BEST solution is to use server PSU's from Sidehack or others here or Bitmain's. I've been running Bitmain's APW1600's for years with zero issues.

[philipma1957]

If you are 110/120 volt the Evga 1300 g2 should work

[daemondazz]

Thanks for all the replies guys! Went to bed after posting and got up expecting a few views and no replies. Surprise!

The sticker on the power supply only mentions one 12V rail, with a total power of 1200W available (100A). I was using the 4 PCIe connectors out of the supply to connect to each of of the connectors on the Avalon, ie, not using the double headers at the miner end.

I'm in 240V land.

I'm using a couple of HP DPS-1200 power supply on a pair SP20s, so I might swap out the Avalon for one of the SP20s. Reason I got this Thermaltake power supply is the SP20s are at work and I only go in to the office a couple of days so it was easier to get the A6 up and running.

[QuintLeo]

I'm in 240V land.

 The Bitmain power supplies should work fine for you then - though my favorite Seasonic X1250 Gold and the widely-popular EVGA 1300 G2 Gold DO also work on 240.

 Sadly, the newer supplies from both (the "Prime" and the "G3") went to a sleeve-bearing design fan, I CAN NOT RECOMMEND EITHER OF THOSE.
 Stick with the older designs with ball bearing fans designed to last for MANY MANY years.

[Unacceptable]

I've just had a brand new Thermaltake Toughpower 1200W Gold that I purchased yesterday burn up (literally!) after powering an Avalon A6 miner for about 30 hours. Luckily I was in the room when it went and smelt it before it actually burst into flames.

Wondering whether I just got a bad power supply (seems to be my luck) or if it just wasn't up to the job. Thoughts?

Go on ebay and buy if you can find the butteryfly labs PSU that were meant to mine 24/7 they are beefy.

Butterfly Labs BFL 1250W 80+ Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply New Sealed Box

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Butterfly-Labs-BFL-1250W-80-Gold-ATX-Fully-Modular-Power-Supply-New-Sealed-Box-/162446818423?hash=item25d295bc77:g:1TkAAOSwnGJWT4H1

I got one for my home computer.

Why would ANYONE buy ANYTHING with Butterfly Labs name on it??  No way to warranty or fix their shit anymore............

Just buy brand name PSU's that have MORE than enough wattage to do what you need?? Simple  

[daemondazz]

Why would ANYONE buy ANYTHING with Butterfly Labs name on it??  No way to warranty or fix their shit anymore............

Heh. BFL were just starting to get a bad rep the first time I was mining before I moved house interstate and had to stop mining.

Just buy brand name PSU's that have MORE than enough wattage to do what you need?? Simple  

Well, that is what I thought I'd done!

The Bitmain APW3 supply looks ok and seems to be a reasonable price. Anyone had any issues with them? By the time I factor in getting the HP DPS1200 supply, PCIe cables and either a breakout board or time to solder the pigtails straight to the connector, the price seems to be quite good.

My current two HP power supplies were out of a decommissioned server at work, so free.

[nuanicaj]

I've just had a brand new Thermaltake Toughpower 1200W Gold that I purchased yesterday burn up (literally!) after powering an Avalon A6 miner for about 30 hours. Luckily I was in the room when it went and smelt it before it actually burst into flames.

Wondering whether I just got a bad power supply (seems to be my luck) or if it just wasn't up to the job. Thoughts?

Go on ebay and buy if you can find the butteryfly labs PSU that were meant to mine 24/7 they are beefy.

Butterfly Labs BFL 1250W 80+ Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply New Sealed Box

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Butterfly-Labs-BFL-1250W-80-Gold-ATX-Fully-Modular-Power-Supply-New-Sealed-Box-/162446818423?hash=item25d295bc77:g:1TkAAOSwnGJWT4H1

I got one for my home computer.

Why would ANYONE buy ANYTHING with Butterfly Labs name on it??  No way to warranty or fix their shit anymore............

Just buy brand name PSU's that have MORE than enough wattage to do what you need?? Simple  

  Those power supplies were made to run 24/7 mining.. that is why I said to buy that one.

[fanatic26]

Just to throw this out there...if you have a first gen avalon 6 it pulls about 1100-1150w on a 92% efficiency PSU. Since you Are driving that one so hard it is only at about 86% efficiency based on the link that was posted on the PSU.

This is driving an ATX PSU way too hard and it is not surprising that it failed. If you are going to buy ATX PSUs to run industrial equipment you need to build a better buffer in there. Get a 1300+ watt PSU if you are going to stick with these kinds of PSUs.

[NotFuzzyWarm]

<snip>
The Bitmain APW3 supply looks ok and seems to be a reasonable price. Anyone had any issues with them? By the time I factor in getting the HP DPS1200 supply, PCIe cables and either a breakout board or time to solder the pigtails straight to the connector, the price seems to be quite good.

My current two HP power supplies were out of a decommissioned server at work, so free.

Go for the Bitmain PSU's. I used to use the HP's and yes even have a few IBM 2Kw PSU's but for the same reasons you mentioned (hassle factor) I started using the Bitmain ones soon after they came out a few years ago. Have a couple dozen of them now and zero problems ever.