Hi guys,
I am doing all kinds of connectors and power distribution systems for cryptofarms, and wanted to share the common issues, which I routinely face.
1. METERING
Usually, clients do not have any metering solution for the farm, and sometimes it leads to overheating and damage of breakers, receptacles, melting wires and worst case, fire. I recommend using any kind of ammeter, to make sure you stay below the safe level of 80% circuit capacity, and monitor the temperature of the components. Circuit max capacity is the MINIMUM capacity of one of the three components: breaker, wire or receptacle. Say you have 20 amps breaker 120V, #12 wire, and NEMA 5-15 receptacle. in this case, though you have the breaker and the wire rating 20A, receptacle rating is 15A, and it is not certified to run 20A, only 15A.
I do the extension cords "SafeMiner", which have the ammeter embedded right into the cord.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mining-farm-connection-ASIC-S9-L3-Bitcoin-Litecoin-Ethereum-extension-cord-new/112743706107For any loads, any receptacles, customized for particular use like lego bricks. You can also use the metered PDUs, or Fluke ammeters, though it is not so convenient to check the wires with a handheld meter all the time.
If your farm is big enough, the online power monitoring is a must. Consider installing one of the industry-level power monitors, which transmit the data to your smartphone.
2. GROUNDING AND BONDING
I found that in certain models of miners, like some of S9 and L3+, the power supply does not pass the ground to the miner. This, in case of the short circuit inside the miner, sometimes leads to the damage of power supply wires, and easily - to the damage of the nearest miners, because the short current start flowing through everything it can find around.
I strongly suggest to wire the ground to all the metal enclosures and all racks, you will save thousands of dollars of damage doing that. Not to mention that it is absolutely required by the National Electric Code, NEC. If you need, I have the grounding/bonding sets.
3. PANELS
If you are going to wire up the big ass cryptofarm, instead of installing the fixed wall-mounted electrical panels with the breakers, consider using the power distribution rack in a standard 19" flight case, it's the same equipment, which is used by musicians during the concerts. It will cost you cheaper, than wiring up all the same farm with an electrical contractor, and if you have a rented space, you can then go out to a different place, or just to sell the power distribution rack, and get back your money. Contact me if you do need such a rack. It has 400A 3-phase capacity, with 40 receptacles L6-30R (same as the standard PDUs) and 6 receptacles NEMA 5-15R all wired up into a nice, compact, customizable device on casters. Each of receptacles has its own circuit protection breaker.
4. FIRE ALARM
None of my clients usually bothers about the installation of even the basic fire alarm system. I strongly suggest you think about installing at least the CO/smoke battery-powered sensors, not one, but minimum two. I have one recent case, when the client has a cheap crappy wire melted at night in his house, on the carpet floor, and it was a miracle that he did not end up with a real fire.
You are welcome to contact me if you would like to discuss anything about the electrical power for crypto mining, or harmonics, grounding, bonding, power distribution, metering, monitoring, transient voltage surge suppressors and NEC code issues for server installations.
Have a good mining, guys. Be safe.
Crypto Electrica
