Caution! Pandaminers catching fire!

[Eyedol-X]

Its not the connectors. Where it melted was the GND not the +12V lines. They got some bad grounding problem or the PSU is just faulty in someway.

This is just bad engineering...

Yeah I'd like to know more about the PSU's being used here, it could just as easily be the PSU and not the Panda's themselves.

[PanneKopp]

Yeah I'd like to know more about the PSU's being used here, it could just as easily be the PSU and not the Panda's themselves.

... any statement from pandaminer

[Sequoia93]

Can someone confirm that those 7 6-pin connectors are the only power inputs?

7 x 75w = only 525 watts?

They must be using a thicker wire to increase the capacity of the 6 pin connectors. But the 8-pin connectors have the additional ground for a good reason...

[adaseb]

Can someone confirm that those 7 6-pin connectors are the only power inputs?

7 x 75w = only 525 watts?

They must be using a thicker wire to increase the capacity of the 6 pin connectors. But the 8-pin connectors have the additional ground for a good reason...

The 6-pin and 8-pin both only have 3x +12V lines. Since a 8-pin PCIe is rated for 150Watts so should the 6-pin PCIe also.

So its more like 7 x 150w = 1050 Watts

But it needs to have proper grounding from the PCIe slot somehow.

Not surprised this happened. They basically rushed to production to meet demand. This was bound to happen.

[philipma1957]

Nothing to do with PSU it self nothing to do with how much current system draws. You can produce flame with AA battery as well.

Looks like just faulty soldering or faulty connectors. Loss of proper connection causes open circuit > resistance closing to infinity thus current without other path will try to flow trough and heat up at point where resistance is high causing connections to catch fire. Might as well be just your own fault if you did not connect wires properly but I would go with cheap connectors used that doesn't fit together too well.

They are using seven 6 pin connectors to power 8 GPUs + aux power. This is bound to end in this type of failure eventually. Technically there should be 16 6 pin connectors to play it safe. They used the bare minimum.  (don't forget a normal 400/500 GPU is pulling half its power from the PCIE slot/riser and another half from the 6 pin).

no they are using 5 and splitting  2  into 4

so
1 single 18 gauge
 1single  18 gauge
 1 single 18 gauge

then a single 18 gauge that splits into 2 single 18gauge
then a single 18 gauge that splits into 2 single 18gauge

and every photo of every burnt  setup shows the melt starts by the split cables.

I mention that this psu should not be used long term more then one time in my review and that I went to a rosewill tokamak 1500 watt with no issues

[PanneKopp]

Hi @philipma1957 ,

Nothing to do with PSU it self nothing to do with how much current system draws. You can produce flame with AA battery as well.

Looks like just faulty soldering or faulty connectors. Loss of proper connection causes open circuit > resistance closing to infinity thus current without other path will try to flow trough and heat up at point where resistance is high causing connections to catch fire. Might as well be just your own fault if you did not connect wires properly but I would go with cheap connectors used that doesn't fit together too well.

They are using seven 6 pin connectors to power 8 GPUs + aux power. This is bound to end in this type of failure eventually. Technically there should be 16 6 pin connectors to play it safe. They used the bare minimum.  (don't forget a normal 400/500 GPU is pulling half its power from the PCIE slot/riser and another half from the 6 pin).

no they are using 5 and splitting  2  into 4

so
1 single 18 gauge
 1single  18 gauge
 1 single 18 gauge

then a single 18 gauge that splits into 2 single 18gauge
then a single 18 gauge that splits into 2 single 18gauge

and every photo of every burnt  setup shows the melt starts by the split cables.

I mention that this psu should not be used long term more then one time in my review and that I went to a rosewill tokamak 1500 watt with no issues

so what is your guess ?

Did the PSU (with new cabels) or the "Panda" (with new connectors) survive ?

... I´m still missing a statement from the manufactorer ^^ .



P.S. I do not see anything implying "where it starts" ...

[-droid-]

Yeah everyone knows that split cables are a bad idea.. in surprised panda allows his

[philipma1957]

Hi @philipma1957 ,

Nothing to do with PSU it self nothing to do with how much current system draws. You can produce flame with AA battery as well.

Looks like just faulty soldering or faulty connectors. Loss of proper connection causes open circuit > resistance closing to infinity thus current without other path will try to flow trough and heat up at point where resistance is high causing connections to catch fire. Might as well be just your own fault if you did not connect wires properly but I would go with cheap connectors used that doesn't fit together too well.

They are using seven 6 pin connectors to power 8 GPUs + aux power. This is bound to end in this type of failure eventually. Technically there should be 16 6 pin connectors to play it safe. They used the bare minimum.  (don't forget a normal 400/500 GPU is pulling half its power from the PCIE slot/riser and another half from the 6 pin).

no they are using 5 and splitting  2  into 4

so
1 single 18 gauge
 1single  18 gauge
 1 single 18 gauge

then a single 18 gauge that splits into 2 single 18gauge
then a single 18 gauge that splits into 2 single 18gauge

and every photo of every burnt  setup shows the melt starts by the split cables.

I mention that this psu should not be used long term more then one time in my review and that I went to a rosewill tokamak 1500 watt with no issues

so what is your guess ?

Did the PSU (with new cabels) or the "Panda" (with new connectors) survive ?
... I´m still missing a statement from the manufactorer ^^ .



P.S. I do not see anything implying "where it starts" ...

then you don't see the same photos I see give me a minute .




look at the melt pattern on this one





and my guess of what it means

[adaseb]

I had this happen also with a regular Platinum PSU which had split cables, and it was connected to a small GPU and started to turn brown.

They are never a good idea for high wattage applications because they might not be crimped properly.

[philipma1957]

I had this happen also with a regular Platinum PSU which had split cables, and it was connected to a small GPU and started to turn brown.

They are never a good idea for high wattage applications because they might not be crimped properly.

yep I posted an explanation in a screen shot edit.


the  melting start in the split cable du to overheating just too much power on  18 gauge cables.

once one plug fails  the other 6 suck harder and they fail one by one.

[adaseb]

I had this happen also with a regular Platinum PSU which had split cables, and it was connected to a small GPU and started to turn brown.

They are never a good idea for high wattage applications because they might not be crimped properly.

yep I posted an explanation in a screen shot edit.


the  melting start in the split cable du to overheating just too much power on  18 gauge cables.

once one plug fails  the other 6 suck harder and they fail one by one.

Yes but why melt at the GND wires and not +12V. I think they didn't properly ground the GPUs from the PEG slot connector.

With an 8 pin PCIe GPU, it has 5 GND's from the PCIe power connector and has like around 8-9 different grounding pins with the PEG slot.

So looks like there were more +12V wires than GND wires.

[moftkhor]

Nothing to do with PSU it self nothing to do with how much current system draws. You can produce flame with AA battery as well.

Looks like just faulty soldering or faulty connectors. Loss of proper connection causes open circuit > resistance closing to infinity thus current without other path will try to flow trough and heat up at point where resistance is high causing connections to catch fire. Might as well be just your own fault if you did not connect wires properly but I would go with cheap connectors used that doesn't fit together too well.

They are using seven 6 pin connectors to power 8 GPUs + aux power. This is bound to end in this type of failure eventually. Technically there should be 16 6 pin connectors to play it safe. They used the bare minimum.  (don't forget a normal 400/500 GPU is pulling half its power from the PCIE slot/riser and another half from the 6 pin).

no they are using 5 and splitting  2  into 4

so
1 single 18 gauge
 1single  18 gauge
 1 single 18 gauge

then a single 18 gauge that splits into 2 single 18gauge
then a single 18 gauge that splits into 2 single 18gauge

and every photo of every burnt setup shows the melt starts by the split cables.

I mention that this psu should not be used long term more than one time in my review and that I went to a rosewill tokamak 1500 watt with no issues

Just before I've read your reply, I've noticed on my other Pandaminers the splitted cables were significantly hotter than the single cables running to the connectors.
I do believe this is the problem. I think I'll be better off replacing all PSU's by 7 single cable PSU's?

[charles2k]

Replace Molex 6pin connectors on mainboard with Molex Mini-Fit Jr. Seriess 5569 part. No 39-30-1060
Their Current - Maximum per Contact is 13A - so 3x13=39A
I used it for KNC Neptune (more than 400W per one 6pin PCIE)
But for higher A is better 16AWG cables.

http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/2286643.pdf?_ga=2.171704037.457168996.1496440853-17182377.1496440853

[moftkhor]

Replace Molex 6pin connectors on mainboard with Molex Mini-Fit Jr. Seriess 5569 part. No 39-30-1060
Their Current - Maximum per Contact is 13A - so 3x13=39A
I used it for KNC Neptune (more than 400W per one 6pin PCIE)
But for higher A is better 16AWG cables.

http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/2286643.pdf?_ga=2.171704037.457168996.1496440853-17182377.1496440853

I was also thinking of changing all the connectors, but now I'm having doubts if this would solve the problem. I still think the melting starts at the split cables?

[kodokbuduk]

is that PSU from panda?

[philipma1957]

is that PSU from panda?

Yes it is the stock oem Psu.

And it is not good. At the split cables.

It is simple the jacks pull about 175 watts

And this means those split cables are doing close to 300-350 watts.

They rate for 225 max.

So they melt at one of the split jacks and then the rest melt.


Translation. The oem Psu can not do the trick.


Now back to other issue 7 jacks for 8 Psu,s and the mobo .

It is fine if seven cables at 16 gauge go in.

And you do not run the gear really fast.

I used smOS and downclocked just a bit. I ran Zec as it used less power.

When I sold the panda I said to the buyer don't use the stock Psu and don't dual mine.

It is doing well for him not sure what he runs it with

[jstefanop]

Its not the connectors. Where it melted was the GND not the +12V lines. They got some bad grounding problem or the PSU is just faulty in someway.

This is just bad engineering...

Yes the ground lines are the most likely ones to fail when you don't have enough connectors for the current draw your pulling. This is why the higher power draw 8 pin GPU connector has two extra ground lines.

[moftkhor]

Anyone got an idea where I could buy this Pandaminers motherboard now that I'm down 2 miners due to motherboard issues...?

[philipma1957]

Anyone got an idea where I could buy this Pandaminers motherboard now that I'm down 2 miners due to motherboard issues...?

email them.

btw this is why I stopped having anything to do with them.

my logic was  everyone    was telling them to go f their selves.  I liked the design and convinced them to send a batch 1 to me to show.  which I did

they sold out fast once people saw the gear.

My review clearly said the stock psu was not good..

They gave me a big 30 dollar discount on that machine after they sold 500 of them.

that was mildly annoying but they then sold out the second batch without selling me a single one.

Basically this was a good demo to me that they are not worthwhile and I had no interest in doing any business with them as I could see they are typical shit business people with zero concept of customer service.

The posts are here if you look and read. I am sorry the psu burned the boards, but you could try to ask for repair service from them  hah good luck.  or you could look at thread here and find the people that did do solder repairs to the jacks.  I am sure the guy that solder his would fix yours.

to all get a good psu to run this and mine zec not eth.  (you will not burn your gear up)

[moftkhor]

Anyone got an idea where I could buy this Pandaminers motherboard now that I'm down 2 miners due to motherboard issues...?

email them.

btw this is why I stopped having anything to do with them.

my logic was  everyone    was telling them to go f their selves.  I liked the design and convinced them to send a batch 1 to me to show.  which I did

they sold out fast once people saw the gear.

My review clearly said the stock psu was not good..

They gave me a big 30 dollar discount on that machine after they sold 500 of them.

that was mildly annoying but they then sold out the second batch without selling me a single one.

Basically this was a good demo to me that they are not worthwhile and I had no interest in doing any business with them as I could so they are typical shit business people with zero concept of customer service.

The posts are here if you look and read. I am sorry the psu burned the boards, but you could try to ask for repair service from them  hah good luck.  or you could look at thread here and find the people that did do solder repairs to the jacks.  I am sure the guy that solder his would fix yours.

to all get a good psu to run this and mine zec not eth.  (you will not burn your gear up)

I once got a new Pandaminer sent to me after receiving a whole damaged one, also as compensation for the lost mining time... Still I've lost a lot of money as ETH was skyrocketing meanwhile!
This was also the last time I was planning to work with Pandaminer again. I'm switching over to making my own rigs with Sapphires.

I'm going to try and see if Pandaminer would send me at least a couple mobo's to fix my miners. They can keep they're crappy PSU's. Just a motherboard will be a mission impossible to get! Hope they work along...