Turned a shipping container into a mining farm

[seanreit]

This has been discussed a couple of areas on the net, including this forum, but I could not find any example of anyone actually doing it.

I posted on Reddit, but for those that don't frequent reddit, thought this might be helpful.

Video:

https://youtu.be/8ixllaTughM

From reddit:  Finally ready to share my mining rig shipping container. One thing I forgot to mention in the video is that some of the rigs are plugged into WIFI Connected 220V switches that also have Kw meters so if I had to do a hard reset over the net, I can. Shipping container was about $2,300 delivered. Temps on cards run around 60 to 70 C. I get around 4 air exchanges a minute.

Where I build the rigs: https://imgur.com/cCBDOf1 Random build pics of container: https://imgur.com/Hun7adO

I searched a lot and could not find any amateur shipping container mining farms. There are a couple of companies that showed animated ones as a product, but I couldn't find actual builds.

I would caution everyone that it's currently 50 F in Texas, and while I might look smarter than the average bear now, when it's 115 F this summer I might have a lot of egg on my face. I do have an extra 3000 CFM fan that can be installed, and we can put a car port over the container as well. I've tried to anticipate questions with the video and pics, but am happy to stay active on this thread if anyone has any specific questions. I built the container because my warehouse only has 120 Amps of 220 available and I outgrew it, plus it was just so hot in there I didn't enjoy hanging out in it anymore.

Container has a couple of security features, and is on a piece of land operated by a friend of mine, who happens to be a welder and runs a welding shop on the property. My agreement with him was to install everything and I supply all the material. Additionally, as many cards as he wants to supply, I will supply all the other materials and builds for rigs for him. He chose 2 rigs for now. Good deal both ways..

Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/gpumining/comments/7y7lpb/my_shipping_container_mining_rig_farm/

[1714787959]

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[1714787959]

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[Raymond_B]

This has been discussed a couple of areas on the net, including this forum, but I could not find any example of anyone actually doing it.

I posted on Reddit, but for those that don't frequent reddit, thought this might be helpful.

Video:

https://youtu.be/8ixllaTughM

From reddit:  Finally ready to share my mining rig shipping container. One thing I forgot to mention in the video is that some of the rigs are plugged into WIFI Connected 220V switches that also have Kw meters so if I had to do a hard reset over the net, I can. Shipping container was about $2,300 delivered. Temps on cards run around 60 to 70 C. I get around 4 air exchanges a minute.

Where I build the rigs: https://imgur.com/cCBDOf1 Random build pics of container: https://imgur.com/Hun7adO

I searched a lot and could not find any amateur shipping container mining farms. There are a couple of companies that showed animated ones as a product, but I couldn't find actual builds.

I would caution everyone that it's currently 50 F in Texas, and while I might look smarter than the average bear now, when it's 115 F this summer I might have a lot of egg on my face. I do have an extra 3000 CFM fan that can be installed, and we can put a car port over the container as well. I've tried to anticipate questions with the video and pics, but am happy to stay active on this thread if anyone has any specific questions. I built the container because my warehouse only has 120 Amps of 220 available and I outgrew it, plus it was just so hot in there I didn't enjoy hanging out in it anymore.

Container has a couple of security features, and is on a piece of land operated by a friend of mine, who happens to be a welder and runs a welding shop on the property. My agreement with him was to install everything and I supply all the material. Additionally, as many cards as he wants to supply, I will supply all the other materials and builds for rigs for him. He chose 2 rigs for now. Good deal both ways..

Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/gpumining/comments/7y7lpb/my_shipping_container_mining_rig_farm/

That's awesome! I am also in Texas and after trying with not much luck to find a suitable building to lease my friend and I are going to try a container. Although because of our brutal summers (as you well know) we plan to spray foam insulate it and then frame finish out the walls. That way there's good places to mount things and it will (hopefully) keep the outside skin from transferring too much heat inside. I am also planning to orient the intake and exhaust a bit different from you. I worry about drawing the air in on one end and exhausting it out on the other might cause uneven cooling of the equipment, especially in the back. Going to do it like the image below which should keep all equipment evenly cool.



Not trying to be negative, as you've done a lot of good work!! Keep us posted on how it does.

[CryptoSouth]

We are doing it right now..  We are about to move this mine https://youtu.be/l_ayQnZ-MDM along with two others to this https://youtu.be/WtnC2nT8B8o container!

Sam

[CryptoSouth]

How are you guys coming on your container mine? We did some work on ours today here is a link to the new video.. 

https://youtu.be/sWUACmyX9JI

Sam

[MarkAz]

If you check out some of the people who have built shipping container homes, you'd probably be well-served in painting the top and sides of the container white.  That's probably the single cheapest thing you can do that will really help keep it cooler in the summer - there's been numerous people in the tiny home communities that have commented on what a difference that makes.

[Master One]

Congratulations, I'm envious.

May I ask what the costs for power are at your location?

Is the intention just to have a cheap housing for the mine or portability?

[crypto4pizza]

Wonder if my HOA would like this in my backyard 

[Michael20]

115F is very hot. Is it possible to cool without AC?
One idea could be, put long pipe's into the ground, this make some people with ventilation system for houses.
But humidity could be a theme?

[tg88]

I'm doing it too:

[manji]

when inside the Container, of course, sound of the RIGs are very noisy and how to the minimalize its sound?.

and when there is a storm, how to keep the container solid because if it rolled you know for yourself what will happen with the RIG installation.

[Dlikrot]

Lucky you Wish I had a big property, because this is actually a really good idea.

[erre]

https://mobile.twitter.com/barnacules/status/575040633724923905

If you make an image search with "container bitcoin" you will find some results for amateur setups, like the above.
I think it's not an optimal setup, maybe in a cold environment...

[CryptoSouth]

For cooling we have constructed a false wall in the container, We are installing 7 whole house fans on the hot side of the wall. We will be able to pull like 35000 CFM of air through the container. No air will recirculate at all, If that is not enough cooling I will install a heat exchanger in the intake side of the container and use a ground water system to drop the intake air another few degrees but from my basic calculations the air flow alone should be enough to keep it cool..

We are going out to the site today to get some more stuff done so expect a new video tonight..


Sam

[CryptoSouth]

Just put up another video of our Container Mine.. https://youtu.be/GzROlhr4Fg0

Sam

[baga105]

I have a place to mine, just need to find CHEAP electricity...
Thinking of going solar this year..

[RYXES]

Get on the solar on top of the containers and this will be clean clean revenues.

[CryptoSouth]

Solar is not a option for us, Lets do some math to show why.

We currently have 100 miners that pull 110,000 watts. The average good solar panel puts out some where from 250 to 300 watts so lets use 275.

110,000 / 275 = 400

So we need 400 solar panels to power the mine..  Now I live in South Louisiana and we get a fair amount of sun. But the usable amount we get that we would be able to run the mine at 100% is only about 5 hours per day. The average good solar panel is about 200 each wholesale.

400 * 200 = 80,000

I would have to buy $80,000 in solar panels alone just to power the mine 5 hours per day. Then I would need a grid tie inverter and a 100kw GTI is about 30k. So all in all I am looking at $110,000 to run the mine 5 hours per day.. 

I currently use about 78,000kWh per 28 day month so

"78000 / 28" / 24 =  116 kWh per hour

I pay approx .075  per kWh after fuel adjustment so

".075 * 116" * 5 = 43.5

So I pay $43.5 to run the mine for 5 hours in a day that means the solar system would save me $43.5 each day therefore ROI on the solar system would be

"110,000 / 43.5" / 365 = 6.92

I would have to run the miners for 7 years to reach ROI on the solar panels..   


Conclusion $110,000 spent on miners would be money better spent as it would make about 1 BTC per month right now and the ROI would be less than 10 months..   



Just my .02

Sam

[bovineplane]

@cryptoSouth

Did you include the hours of usable daylight where panels may not provide 100% of energy but some % less that offsets the cost?

5 hours per day providing 100% plus 5-6 more hours of offset may change your calculation for payoff to much sooner.

7 years for payback on a 400 panel install isnt half bad if you knew you would mine the entire time.

[CryptoSouth]

I did not include partial as i did not feel like going that far into it..   Normally when I build a solar array we use 3x factor on a 5 hour day so we can insure we have enough to keep the batteries charged even when we have a few days of rain.. 

I build solar array's for the oil field to run PLC systems.  Even if you factor in 10 hours a day you cut the 7 years down to 3.5 the money would be better spent putting more hash power online as I don't know of any miner that is going to make a profit for 3.5 years..

Even if I were on a POCO like Entergy who is historically one of the most expensive I would not want to do solar, I would relocate the mine to a cheaper POCO..

https://cointelegraph.com/news/mining-bitcoin-in-the-us-best-do-it-in-louisiana-study-says


Sam 

[Meech]

@seanreit & @CryptoSouth -  Looking forward to updates on the builds.  You're "Gods among Men" thanks!

[CryptoSouth]

Here is a video of SLECA replacing one of the poles that feed our mine.  https://youtu.be/UZP-8FrjH3w


Sam

[CryptoSouth]

Links to the new videos.. 

005 Upgrade to Three Phase Power.   https://youtu.be/mK7VGtj68po

006 Welding Burn!  https://youtu.be/xjVt1dAUGx0

007 Late Night Welding.  https://youtu.be/NZAp7c6iakY

Sam

[tharp]

Here is a video of SLECA replacing one of the poles that feed our mine.  https://youtu.be/UZP-8FrjH3w


Sam

In Assumption huh... I'm in Ascension! I thought I was the only crazy coonass mining in Louisiana. I had a meter go hazy myself and it shorted one leg out when some bad weather came through... hole straight through the meter head.

[CryptoSouth]

In Assumption huh... I'm in Ascension! I thought I was the only crazy coonass mining in Louisiana. I had a meter go hazy myself and it shorted one leg out when some bad weather came through... hole straight through the meter head.

Well hello neighbor,

Luckily I am a licensed electrician so its no issue when something burns. I tell you this we have pushed limits I have never come close to with any other industrial or commercial loads before.  I have ran 15 MegaWatts of generators before but never had a 100% continuous load on any thing.

Are you on Entergy over there?

[tharp]

In Assumption huh... I'm in Ascension! I thought I was the only crazy coonass mining in Louisiana. I had a meter go hazy myself and it shorted one leg out when some bad weather came through... hole straight through the meter head.

Well hello neighbor,

Luckily I am a licensed electrician so its no issue when something burns. I tell you this we have pushed limits I have never come close to with any other industrial or commercial loads before.  I have ran 15 MegaWatts of generators before but never had a 100% continuous load on any thing.

Are you on Entergy over there?

Variety. I'd like talk with you but not here

[tharp]

In Assumption huh... I'm in Ascension! I thought I was the only crazy coonass mining in Louisiana. I had a meter go hazy myself and it shorted one leg out when some bad weather came through... hole straight through the meter head.

Well hello neighbor,

Luckily I am a licensed electrician so its no issue when something burns. I tell you this we have pushed limits I have never come close to with any other industrial or commercial loads before.  I have ran 15 MegaWatts of generators before but never had a 100% continuous load on any thing.

Are you on Entergy over there?

Variety. I'd like talk with you but not here

Okay had a bit much to drink last night... anyways yes have Entergy in 2 co-locations and 1 on Demco. Have 4th co-lo being worked on now with 1600A 3phase build out coming. Not sure if you have looked at filtering intake air yet or not but have found using electrostatic filters to be the way to do it. Also just got the 3 phase 60in exhaust fan in that pushes 20k cfm and is VFD controlled so should be fun to learn to program since it is SCADA type of system. Also the reason the burn happened because the electrician that ran the 200A to the house 10+ years ago had it where the legs were touching so it melted the plastic eventually and shorted out one side... Here have a look.

https://imgur.com/a/S068o

[CryptoSouth]

Okay had a bit much to drink last night... anyways yes have Entergy in 2 co-locations and 1 on Demco. Have 4th co-lo being worked on now with 1600A 3phase build out coming. Not sure if you have looked at filtering intake air yet or not but have found using electrostatic filters to be the way to do it. Also just got the 3 phase 60in exhaust fan in that pushes 20k cfm and is VFD controlled so should be fun to learn to program since it is SCADA type of system. Also the reason the burn happened because the electrician that ran the 200A to the house 10+ years ago had it where the legs were touching so it melted the plastic eventually and shorted out one side... Here have a look.

https://imgur.com/a/S068o

Hit me up, I sent you a PM. Our next one I am going to do VFD fans, We are rushing this one so we can get the mine online in one location.

[CryptoSouth]

We got the Meter Base Panels hung today and got the hinges welded to the exhaust opening..   

https://youtu.be/SxgZ-XPtuxs

Sam

[shibob]

I think you should setup more high speed fans. Do you plan to make any ventilation on top of container?

[CryptoSouth]

I think you should setup more high speed fans. Do you plan to make any ventilation on top of container?

The ventilation system is going to move about 40,000CFM  That is going to exchange 100% of the air in the container every 2 seconds!
Do you honestly think it needs more?


In all my years of doing Electrical Construction and HVAC one thing I have learned is you never cut a hole in the roof of a data center!

[CryptoSouth]

We got the Electrical Disconnects hung and we open the Exhaust Hood for the first time today.


https://youtu.be/9v4bL4jcFRg

[CryptoSouth]

It was a slow day today,,  my foot was hurting so bad from gout I could not stand for a long time.  Logan and Burkin did a lot of work on the ventilation today.

https://youtu.be/FOcH6uuKd0c

[VyprBTC]

One of our clients has 6 shipping containers buried in his yard all growing weed. You can do some really fancy shit with these containers. Amazes me what a lot of my clients do for a living.

[CryptoSouth]

Our 167kVA Transformer was installed today.. 

https://youtu.be/QaG4zqHGoYk

Sam

[gr3y]

This is an awesome thread dude, keep it up!

[CryptoSouth]

Two new videos..

110 kW Bitcoin Mine - 012 FedEx Ground Screws the Pooch!! https://youtu.be/Zwcr1F9zoP0

110 kW Bitcoin Mine - 013 The Electrical SNAFU https://youtu.be/89vaZbeBKwA

Sam

[ednc]

Sam -

thanks for sharing the videos. we're working through the process now - so we are learning a lot from yours.

-Ed

[CryptoSouth]

Sam -

thanks for sharing the videos. we're working through the process now - so we are learning a lot from yours.

-Ed

Thanks..  We should be posting a video in the next day or so showing the fans installed and all of the heavy electrical completed.

We have devised a better way to make the intake and exhaust hoods. The plan on the next container is to build the frames on the ground and use a thiner material for the skin. We reused the pieces we cut out of the container on this one and although it is thin material it is way heavy.

I plan on doing a video of the lessons learned as we get closer to start up... 

Sam

[ednc]

Cool - I'm sharing your videos with a local (We're in NC) electrician.  I think he's having a hard time believing our power needs, and what we're doing - so this is good stuff :-)

Quick question - what was the reason you did the large (intake, I assume) vent across the top where you angled out the side of the conex - instead of just doing vent/fan holes like I've seen others do?

I imagine this is much better for ventilation, but I'm worried about security on such a large opening.

[CryptoSouth]

We have expanded metel in the opening. The Idea behind the whole container is so that we can move it if need be. If we need to relocate it we can just drop the intake and exhaust hoods and set it on a truck and go.

The amount of air flow was calculated based off of the CFM of the total number of miner fans. The size of the opening in the container meets the requirements of the ventilation fans we are using. The fans we are using is just a whole house fan from homedepot they are like $200 shipped and move like 5400 CFM each.

Sam

[IndzheborgC]

The problem of dusting, despite the air inlet filter. More often it is necessary to do cleaning of radiators of video cards.

Security problem - video cards are expensive. I would additionally put the alarm system for safety, especially sensors for filters.

[CryptoSouth]

 A quick test of a few of the ventilation fans and construction of the cable trays. https://youtu.be/1YwDxfVzD2c

Sam

[mettalmag]

here this might help

I saw it on Tallinn blockchain conference
I think they worked quite a lot with modifying the correct ways of airflow and stuff, there also will be some cooling options for higher temp environments
let's see were it will end

[CryptoSouth]

Installation of the 6-50R 50 Amp Power Outlets. https://youtu.be/s7euJFBV0Fs

Sam

[CryptoSouth]

Here is the video updates...  Sorry I posed three at a time but things have been a bit busy..


110 kW Bitcoin Mine - 016 The Rain Brings The Sand https://youtu.be/frV4EKOB540

110 kW Bitcoin Mine - 017 And Then There Was 210 https://youtu.be/La9nUGqBVP8

110 kW Bitcoin Mine - 018 Almost There https://youtu.be/FZ0wWTtllrg

Sam

[CryptoSouth]

110 kW Bitcoin Mine - 019 Quick Update While Making a Parts Run  https://youtu.be/minp07yhlR4

Sam

[CryptoSouth]

110 kW Bitcoin Mine - 020 Waiting on Inspection  https://youtu.be/Zx5Lo4xXgs0

[CryptoSouth]

110 kW Bitcoin Mine - 021 We have a Green Light Inspection!!  https://youtu.be/40_sjiu4cQo

Sam

[CryptoSouth]

$8000 Big Tex Dump Trailer Electrical Melt Down  https://youtu.be/6x0suKzpN1Y

Sam

[CryptoSouth]

110 kW Bitcoin Mine - 023 Hot Breakout Boards https://youtu.be/xjDnDnIwIoU

110 kW Bitcoin Mine - 024 Breakout Boards that Dont Work!! https://youtu.be/-n-X24Vecjk

Sam

[Tidsdilatation]

Its a really good idea. Its very easy to manage the heat in one of those things (if you keep it in shade during summer!! otherwise it turns into an oven!). The only thing i would be worried about are thieves. They are REALLY easy to brake into.

[CryptoSouth]

110 kW Bitcoin Mine -025 Making a Power Squid   https://youtu.be/ZapR9TlTiLI

110 kW Bitcoin Mine - 026 Power Check at 60% Completion https://youtu.be/4XieSfgfHtk

Sam

[jimmykl]

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I love to know the new GPU mining coin. so I can mine more for less difficulty.
I came to know new----- PoWer coin---- and starting to mine it, good to know their developers to get tricks from community https://discord.gg/D9rsP2Q




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[ednc]

Hey Sam -

How is the ventilation working out for you so far?

If you have any other "lessons learned" - would love to hear them.  We start fabrication on our container this coming week!

Thanks for taking the time to document and share everything!

-Ed

[flexomob]

I would have never thought of that, but this is awesome. I set up my mining farm in one of the closets, and my wife is terrorizing me to move my stuff out of there. I think I need such a container because she won't let me in peace in the house. I found some options on https://www.tigercontainers.com/contact-us/shipping-containers-sydney/ one day when I was looking for containers but for a totally different purpose, so I think my office needs a rebranding or an upgrade, if I can say it like that. Either way, thanks for the idea.