GridSeed 5-chip USB miner voltage mod

[vabchgent]

Hi all,

thank you very much for sharing your modifications

I can't find 5% resistor so would 1% resistor be ok ?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VISHAY-DRALORIC-CRCW120638K3FKEA-RESISTOR-1206-38K3-1-/181228512324?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item2a320fa444

Thank you very much

Yes, 1% will work fine.
Still, it's just as easy, if not easier to install a standard axial 1/8W resistor in there.
You can bend the wires into an L shape to then bridge solder them on to the two terminals side by side.
They are wired in parallel as there is supposed to be a capacitor next to each resistor per the schematic.
I verified this with my DVM by the way. So that gives you two solder points per connection to fudge the resistor in place.
Much easier than working with nearly microscopic size resistor chips IMO.
Plus you can buy them at Radio Shack. 1/4W will work fine too.
Just keep the resistor inside the edge of the pcb so the fins won't touch it when re-assembled.
Piece of cake!
Wolfey2014

Pea Ess, remember, mods' are done at your own risk!

Hi Wolfey,

I'm interested in attempting this mod, but have no experience with soldering on boards.  
Can you post a pic of you mods and would you mind providing a near-idiot-proof guide with
the equipment and steps required to make the change.  

Obviously with the usual caveat of no guarantees, warranties, etc.  

Thanks!

Your best bet is to have someone else do it If you have no experience with soldering. I do laptop power jacks and I had a problem with these. Just a friendly suggestion. I think Wolfey is offering it as a service. You might want to ask him. 

[david123]

In my opinion it's more important to have the right equipment. If you have a high quality soldering station and a 0.5 mm tip, it's quite
a straight-forward task..

[wolfey2014]

I've been thinking about offering new pods with the mods
If there is a market for this, I just might do it!
I certainly can do these mods without bricking them....
I'll have to test run each pod before and after modding, before releasing them to the customer.

I'll probably have to charge around $50 a pop, including shipping perhaps, to cover all costs.
Might be able to do it for less though. We'd have to see how it pans out.
This would include the whisper quiet 5V fan modification too. These would be Scrypt only mods!
If you wanted to mine SHA, you'd probably have to covert the fan back to 12V operation.
But, that gives me another idea......

I suppose I could have the customer drop ship their order to me here, do the mods then ship them to the customer.

One could certainly recover the cost per unit in a matter of a couple weeks I would think.

We can do all payment transactions via paypal, so everyone is covered and confident.

Wolfey2014

[Jemison]

Hi all,

thank you very much for sharing your modifications

I can't find 5% resistor so would 1% resistor be ok ?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VISHAY-DRALORIC-CRCW120638K3FKEA-RESISTOR-1206-38K3-1-/181228512324?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item2a320fa444

Thank you very much

Yes, 1% will work fine.
Still, it's just as easy, if not easier to install a standard axial 1/8W resistor in there.
You can bend the wires into an L shape to then bridge solder them on to the two terminals side by side.
They are wired in parallel as there is supposed to be a capacitor next to each resistor per the schematic.
I verified this with my DVM by the way. So that gives you two solder points per connection to fudge the resistor in place.
Much easier than working with nearly microscopic size resistor chips IMO.
Plus you can buy them at Radio Shack. 1/4W will work fine too.
Just keep the resistor inside the edge of the pcb so the fins won't touch it when re-assembled.
Piece of cake!
Wolfey2014

Pea Ess, remember, mods' are done at your own risk!

Hi Wolfey,

I'm interested in attempting this mod, but have no experience with soldering on boards.  
Can you post a pic of you mods and would you mind providing a near-idiot-proof guide with
the equipment and steps required to make the change.  

Obviously with the usual caveat of no guarantees, warranties, etc.  

Thanks!

Your best bet is to have someone else do it If you have no experience with soldering. I do laptop power jacks and I had a problem with these. Just a friendly suggestion. I think Wolfey is offering it as a service. You might want to ask him. 

Understood!

A month ago, I would never have attempted to build a mining rig, but thanks to this forum, I'm up and running with relatively few hitches.

I saw Wolfey's offer - unfortunately, I'm not in the US - so it would cost me a few for shipping & duties.

The pencil mod seems fairly straightforward.  The resistor mod has me intimidated.  Having the steps would help me figure out if it's even something I'd attempt.
I'd probably experiment on some old boards for confidence/experience.  In the end, if it's beyond my skill level, maybe I'll just stay one of the slow pokes!

[jamieb81]

Same for me, pencil and bridge mod is pretty straight forward. resistor way less. And I also have the import duty problems, cannot send them to USA.

will this resistor be ok wolfey?

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/20-Resistenze-da-526-ohm-1-8-W-5-lotto-stock-/261430407080?pt=Componenti_elettronici_passivi&hash=item3cde776fa8

[david123]

Yeah, for changing the resistor a hot air soldering station is very useful. I wouldn't try it with without.

[wolfey2014]

Same for me, pencil and bridge mod is pretty straight forward. resistor way less. And I also have the import duty problems, cannot send them to USA.

will this resistor be ok wolfey?

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/20-Resistenze-da-526-ohm-1-8-W-5-lotto-stock-/261430407080?pt=Componenti_elettronici_passivi&hash=item3cde776fa8

Same type but it has to be 38K to 40K.
I'm using 38K

Just like it says in the instructions located on page 6

Good luck, mate!

Wolfey2014

[jamieb81]

Same for me, pencil and bridge mod is pretty straight forward. resistor way less. And I also have the import duty problems, cannot send them to USA.

will this resistor be ok wolfey?

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/20-Resistenze-da-526-ohm-1-8-W-5-lotto-stock-/261430407080?pt=Componenti_elettronici_passivi&hash=item3cde776fa8

Same type but it has to be 38K to 40K.
I'm using 38K

Just like it says in the instructions located on page 6

Good luck, mate!

Wolfey2014

Ok, think I got them :

http://www.fadishop.eu/epages/ec2286.sf/es_ES/?ObjectPath=/Shops/ec2286/Products/%221006%20393%22

[wolfey2014]

Same for me, pencil and bridge mod is pretty straight forward. resistor way less. And I also have the import duty problems, cannot send them to USA.

will this resistor be ok wolfey?

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/20-Resistenze-da-526-ohm-1-8-W-5-lotto-stock-/261430407080?pt=Componenti_elettronici_passivi&hash=item3cde776fa8

Same type but it has to be 38K to 40K.
I'm using 38K

Just like it says in the instructions located on page 6

Good luck, mate!

Wolfey2014

Ok, think I got them :

http://www.fadishop.eu/epages/ec2286.sf/es_ES/?ObjectPath=/Shops/ec2286/Products/%221006%20393%22

Okay, good show!
Remember, I am using 38k 5% with no errors. Your results may vary.
And of course, it's all on you if you fugg it up!

I'll be posting pics later after I mod another pod in the next day or so.

Wolfey2014

[jamieb81]

Same for me, pencil and bridge mod is pretty straight forward. resistor way less. And I also have the import duty problems, cannot send them to USA.

will this resistor be ok wolfey?

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/20-Resistenze-da-526-ohm-1-8-W-5-lotto-stock-/261430407080?pt=Componenti_elettronici_passivi&hash=item3cde776fa8

Same type but it has to be 38K to 40K.
I'm using 38K

Just like it says in the instructions located on page 6

Good luck, mate!

Wolfey2014

Ok, think I got them :

http://www.fadishop.eu/epages/ec2286.sf/es_ES/?ObjectPath=/Shops/ec2286/Products/%221006%20393%22

Okay, good show!
Remember, I am using 38k 5% with no errors. Your results may vary.
And of course, it's all on you if you fugg it up!

I'll be posting pics later after I mod another pod in the next day or so.

Wolfey2014

Like I'm going to say it's your fault if I mess up lol, hey what I do, I do

38k was not available only 39 or 33.

Will update when I'll have been able to do the mod.

thanks!

[wolfey2014]

Same for me, pencil and bridge mod is pretty straight forward. resistor way less. And I also have the import duty problems, cannot send them to USA.

will this resistor be ok wolfey?

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/20-Resistenze-da-526-ohm-1-8-W-5-lotto-stock-/261430407080?pt=Componenti_elettronici_passivi&hash=item3cde776fa8

Same type but it has to be 38K to 40K.
I'm using 38K

Just like it says in the instructions located on page 6

Good luck, mate!

Wolfey2014

Ok, think I got them :

http://www.fadishop.eu/epages/ec2286.sf/es_ES/?ObjectPath=/Shops/ec2286/Products/%221006%20393%22

Okay, good show!
Remember, I am using 38k 5% with no errors. Your results may vary.
And of course, it's all on you if you fugg it up!

I'll be posting pics later after I mod another pod in the next day or so.

Wolfey2014

Like I'm going to say it's your fault if I mess up lol, hey what I do, I do

38k was not available only 39 or 33.

Will update when I'll have been able to do the mod.

thanks!

well, you know what litigious bastards we are over here

[gamefixer]

well, you know what litigious bastards we are over here

Hey, thats slander! You'll hear from my laywer  Yeah, like I have one of those. LOL!

So where are you at Wolfey? I may partake on a few modded miners...

[wolfey2014]

well, you know what litigious bastards we are over here

Hey, thats slander! You'll hear from my laywer  Yeah, like I have one of those. LOL!

So where are you at Wolfey? I may partake on a few modded miners...

fukkum if they can't take a joke! 

I'm located in Maryland not far outside of Washington DC.

IF you're serious about hiring me to mod your pods, shoot me a PM.

Wolfey2014

[jamieb81]

hahaha yeah I'm gonna sue you from overseas just because you made me wanna do a mod 

anyway I also contacted a shop where I repaired my phone onces, mailed them the pic of the GS board and they can make the mod

but they want quite some moolah for it 15€

I'll wait to get my GS's and take a look at the board myself first

[Zor]

What size tip are you guys using for your soldering iron?

[Xer0]

Can you explain where you took the 5V from? I mean, where did you attach the red cable on the PCB?

One pin on the USB connector [...] Not sure which pin, probably pin 1 or pin 4.

it's the one with the dot

[Xer0]

What size tip are you guys using for your soldering iron?

1mm atm, but will get a 04mm tip coming days

tip tip: use flux. its easy as cake with some flux

[gbyg]

Hi wolfey2014,

I m watchich this volt mod thread for a while. Just wondering if you know why one GS hashing 600kh+ and if u have more GS , it will reduce the hash rate? Is it something to do with the power supply?

I'm very pleased with their stable performance at 1000MHz!
Running it solo, I'm seeing nearly 600KH's out of it at the pool.
NICE!

So, what's next? How do we squeeze more performance out of them? Any ideas?
I'm game!

Peace!
Wolfey2014

Dayum! Your getting 600k out of ONE of them? Real nice!

Yep! Weird, eh? 
The pool is showing 657.04KH/s right now for this single
I doubt it will show that high of a hash rate while combined with the others.
Still, it's very interesting to see that kind of performance out of a single pod - post mods'.
Wolfey2014 

[HashFire]

Fan to +5V USB: works!

silent like the usb fans

Do you have a picture of a post number of this fan mod? I just got ten and at waist height they are running at 68 db. 

[wolfey2014]

ATTENTION!
PLEASE NOTE: This modification is no longer valid. It works but it is completely unnecessary work, now.
The latest and best mod can be found here https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=519112.500
I've been hired and paid so far to modify 25 GS5's. I have decades of experience and expertise in solder / pcb work and re-engineering / improving / improvising current technologies.

If you'd like me to modify your pods for you to increase their performance by over 250%+ peak, let me know via PM and we'll take it from there. This is a stable operating - ZERO HW error / lost or invalid share making modification. It is a VERY PROFITABLE and ROI period shortening upgrade!

One new tip that seems to be working on my Windows 7 USB Hub connected laptop.
Turn Off FIFO Buffers in Device Manager. You don't need them. Open up your USB pipelines all the way and let them hash as fast as they can, efficiently and dependably.....So far my test has been running over 24 hours without interruption. I have seen slightly improved numbers at the pool due to this as well.
FIFO buffers can cause intermittent red-nonces as well, I suspect.

Live long, make profits!
w2k


*********************************************

Hi,
as you know Wolfey has done fantastic job on modding his GDs.

He is using 0.125W 38k resistor.
I can buy this resistor locally http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/metal-film-06w-39k-ohm-resistor-m39k

This one is 0.6W 39k and I'm not sure if difference in W makes any difference . 0.125W and 0.6W.

Can I use 0.6W instead of 0.125W ?

Thank you very much for your help

Thanks for your kind words.
As I stated in my PM's back to you, .6W 39K should be fine.
The main purpose of the wattage spec of 1/8W resistor is that the physical size is not too big to fit and the wires on the resistor are not too big to fit over and solder to the solder points on the pcb.
De-solder the 36K and replace it with the 38/39K resistor. You can solder it across the two solder points put there for the resistor / capacitor network. They left the capacitor out during manufacturing so there are two extra points one can use to solder the resistor wire across them.

Simply solder the new resistor in place like I did in the attached pics.

Here are the pics of my handy work. Please excuse the left over resin (black stuff) around the resistor connections. I didn't have any pcb cleaner on hand at the time, but the resin won't hurt a thing as it is completely non-conductive. Just looks a little bit messy  
All mods  - Resistor - Jumpers - Pencil trace - 5V Fan connections


5V fan connections -
Red wire (+) intentionally connected to the tiny ferrite bead (FB25) as it's easier to solder to than any other point.
Fan start-up current is 140mA for 1.2sec then levels out to 78mA constant.
Tin your wire (if it isn't already) before you solder to the fuse terminal so as to keep from accidentally de-soldering the chip from the pcb. This way, it only takes a second to solder the wire to the terminal.

If this helps you, please feel free to show your appreciation by sending some coin.
Not mandatory but, very appreciated!
BTC = 13y5XhVuKGrRipbvYdcrvYDsx69rBPUbwR
LTC = LR6U7jB2Fb4pJYogbergqQHZgBRQ5UAqBG

Make these modifications at your own risk!

Peace!
Wolfey2014

Pea Ess, if you want me to make these modifications for you, PM me and we'll discuss it.
I am certainly qualified to do it, without bricking your pod of course!