Bedroom mining overnight... is dB rating even the right thing to compare?

[ashidun 101]

So i've been going back and forth on whether to put a mining heater in the bedroom for winter. My apartment runs cold and i already spend money on a space heater, so the math kinda makes sense on paper.
But every comparison i see focuses on the lowest dB number on the spec sheet. And honestly i'm not sure that tells you much about whether you can actually sleep next to the thing. A steady fan at 38dB can totally disappear into the background — my air purifier is around that and i forget it's on. But a fan that ramps up and down, even if it's technically "quieter" at its lowest setting, would absolutely wake me up. The change in sound is what gets you, not the volume itself.
Which got me thinking... would you actually run a Bitcoin heater in a bedroom overnight? Like has anyone here done it and not just for a single night but consistently?
I've been looking at the Avalon lineup since they seem designed for this use case. The Mini 3 is more interesting to me — 500W or 800W mode, and apparently it can idle at a target room temp. That's actually close to what a normal space heater does. Spec says 33-55dB across modes with a Night Mode, which sounds promising but 55dB is not quiet lol. I'd really want to hear it from the actual bed position before committing.
The other thing nobody talks about — the first overnight run probably shouldn't be the first time you test it. Like, run a full heating cycle while you're awake first. Check the plug isn't getting warm, make sure your blankets or curtains aren't anywhere near the airflow, basic stuff. These things are computers pulling real wattage, not a sealed oil radiator you can throw a towel over.
Anyway, for anyone who's actually slept in the same room as one of these (or any home miner really) — what was worse, steady fan noise or the sound of it cycling on and off? I feel like that's the real question nobody's answering in the spec sheet comparisons.

[FP91G]

Using an ASIC miner for heating makes sense when electricity costs are low. I have seen setups where, instead of an electric boiler, several water-cooled ASIC miners are used to heat the home's water supply. However, homes lacking central heating or a gas connection often qualify for discounted electricity rates during the heating season.
You can use any ASIC miner to heat a room using the hot air it exhausts, even if the unit itself is located in the basement or another room.

[ABCbits]

But a fan that ramps up and down, even if it's technically "quieter" at its lowest setting, would absolutely wake me up. The change in sound is what gets you, not the volume itself.

The fan ramp up/down should happen gradually, rather than suddenly changed. It shouldn't happen without sudden temperature change, such as extreme weather outside or someone fully open door of your room.

I've been looking at the Avalon lineup since they seem designed for this use case. The Mini 3 is more interesting to me

Before researching actual noise or fan behavior, have you calculated if you actually save money by buying Avalon Mini 3 compared with regular heater. It only have 21.3J/T effieicnecy, while modern ASIC usually have 13J/T or better efficiency.

[athanred]

would you actually run a Bitcoin heater in a bedroom overnight?

Yes, I have Avalon Nano 3S running. LEDs are a bigger problem than noise in this case.

Like has anyone here done it and not just for a single night but consistently?

If it is set to "low", then it consumes 60-70W, and produces 3-4TH/s. And then, it is hard to even hear it.

the first overnight run probably shouldn't be the first time you test it

Of course. I think starting from "low" is the best approach, and increasing mining power only if you are comfortable with it.

[philipma1957]

So i've been going back and forth on whether to put a mining heater in the bedroom for winter. My apartment runs cold and i already spend money on a space heater, so the math kinda makes sense on paper.
But every comparison i see focuses on the lowest dB number on the spec sheet. And honestly i'm not sure that tells you much about whether you can actually sleep next to the thing. A steady fan at 38dB can totally disappear into the background — my air purifier is around that and i forget it's on. But a fan that ramps up and down, even if it's technically "quieter" at its lowest setting, would absolutely wake me up. The change in sound is what gets you, not the volume itself.
Which got me thinking... would you actually run a Bitcoin heater in a bedroom overnight? Like has anyone here done it and not just for a single night but consistently?
I've been looking at the Avalon lineup since they seem designed for this use case. The Mini 3 is more interesting to me — 500W or 800W mode, and apparently it can idle at a target room temp. That's actually close to what a normal space heater does. Spec says 33-55dB across modes with a Night Mode, which sounds promising but 55dB is not quiet lol. I'd really want to hear it from the actual bed position before committing.
The other thing nobody talks about — the first overnight run probably shouldn't be the first time you test it. Like, run a full heating cycle while you're awake first. Check the plug isn't getting warm, make sure your blankets or curtains aren't anywhere near the airflow, basic stuff. These things are computers pulling real wattage, not a sealed oil radiator you can throw a towel over.
Anyway, for anyone who's actually slept in the same room as one of these (or any home miner really) — what was worse, steady fan noise or the sound of it cycling on and off? I feel like that's the real question nobody's answering in the spec sheet comparisons.

Not a fan of avalon products.  But you need real control over the fan. And real control over the hash rate.


Pretty sure avalon gives 3 settings or two settings.

I would tell you buy hammer miners as they allow for a steady fan setting. SAY 35%.

But they are well lit so dont work for you. GOOD luck if you buy the avalon.

[Lucius]

When it comes to noise, there are those earplugs that you can buy very cheaply, and they definitely help to eliminate at least part of the noise. However, you should know that it is not desirable to have any electronics in the bedrooms, especially those that create noise/lighting effects, as this disturbs or makes a good night's sleep impossible.

The best solution is to have the devices in another room, and to try to somehow bring the warm air into the bedroom.

[FP91G]

If you want to avoid noise issues, you can use a liquid cooling system for your home setup.
YouTube features reviews of home heating projects using ASICs, and the entire system can be built using standard materials available at any home improvement store. This type of system will be more reliable than standard home ASIC setups.

[BitMaxz]

If the noise bothers you but wants to heater and high mining hash rate, if you are the only one living in your house and no neighbors, then why not use noise-canceling or anti-noise earplugs instead?

It's way cheaper than going to liquid cooling as suggested above, but if money isn't your problem, then go with liquid cooling. I think you will need a copper tube here and a fan to take the heat out from this setup. I don't know if this is done by someone else already, but it looks like it would work.
Many people experiment with ASIC units as heaters, and you may be able to cool the liquid and then direct it to the fan sample below.