Are all of the BFL power bricks complete shit?

[bitcoindaddy]

The power supplies on the new SC (ASIC) Singles are supposed to be built in. I hope BFL doesn't spec some piece of crap for those since they will be much harder to circumvent.

Where did you hear that from? Just interested, especially seeing as we don't even have any pics or renders yet.

It says it on the order form for the mid-priced Single:
http://www.butterflylabs.com/order-form-bitforce-sc-single/

"Product includes: Fully assembled enclosure, USB Cable, internal power supply & driver software (including BTC block mining application)."

We can work around an external power supply, but if an internal one goes bad.... BFL will have a lot of returns and angry customers.

[rjk]

The power supplies on the new SC (ASIC) Singles are supposed to be built in. I hope BFL doesn't spec some piece of crap for those since they will be much harder to circumvent.

Where did you hear that from? Just interested, especially seeing as we don't even have any pics or renders yet.

It says it on the order form for the mid-priced Single:
http://www.butterflylabs.com/order-form-bitforce-sc-single/

"Product includes: Fully assembled enclosure, USB Cable, internal power supply & driver software (including BTC block mining application)."

We can work around an external power supply, but if an internal one goes bad.... BFL will have a lot of returns and angry customers.

Ah, I didn't notice that. True.

[nedbert9]

The power supplies on the new SC (ASIC) Singles are supposed to be built in. I hope BFL doesn't spec some piece of crap for those since they will be much harder to circumvent.

Where did you hear that from? Just interested, especially seeing as we don't even have any pics or renders yet.

It says it on the order form for the mid-priced Single:
http://www.butterflylabs.com/order-form-bitforce-sc-single/

"Product includes: Fully assembled enclosure, USB Cable, internal power supply & driver software (including BTC block mining application)."

We can work around an external power supply, but if an internal one goes bad.... BFL will have a lot of returns and angry customers.

+10

I worry about this.  

[P_Shep]

Re: Are all of the BFL power bricks complete shit?

I don't know, I've never used mine.
Wonder how much they'll go for on Ebay...?

I worry about this.

I also don't particularly want to have multiple power sockets. I like my ATX PSU powered setup.

[jothan]

While BFL states that the singles use 80 W of power, using a computer PSU and measuring with a Kill-A-Watt, I get about 50 watts per single and that does not compensate for the DreamPlug and the USB hubs that drive the singles.

So, not only are the default bricks huge and crap, but they are only 62.5 % efficient power-wise.

[mrb]

I know they are Mean Wells and everything, but what's the actual efficiency of the stock brick? I'm betting it isn't too far different from 87%, and Inaba tested one with a clamp meter somwhere, just can't find the post atm. All I am saying is, the MW is rated LESS (102 watts instead of 120) than the stock brick, and so it might get just as hot.

AFAIK I am the only one to have published clamp meter measurements. I measured the BFL power adapters to be 81% efficient: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=90972.msg1003140#msg1003140

(Again, jothan, your numbers an incorrect. Accurate measurements can't be done at the wall, you need a clamp meter or similar.)

[rjk]

I know they are Mean Wells and everything, but what's the actual efficiency of the stock brick? I'm betting it isn't too far different from 87%, and Inaba tested one with a clamp meter somwhere, just can't find the post atm. All I am saying is, the MW is rated LESS (102 watts instead of 120) than the stock brick, and so it might get just as hot.

AFAIK I am the only one to have published clamp meter measurements. I measured the BFL power adapters to be 81% efficient: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=90972.msg1003140#msg1003140

(Again, jothan, your numbers an incorrect. Accurate measurements can't be done at the wall, you need a clamp meter or similar.)

Here it is, I found it: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=67819.msg796852#msg796852

Ok, got the numbers:

1.7A @ Idle
5.9A @ At 100% mining

So we're looking at around 70w of actual usage on a quality PSU instead of a power brick.  Not terrible.

(That was DC measurements on a stock brick, I believe)

[mrb]

Thanks rjk, assuming Inaba measured one of the rev 3 Singles with a 80mm fan at the bottom (not all rev 3 have this fan), then he confirms my numbers within ±4% (I measure 5.7A under load).

[rjk]

Thanks rjk, assuming Inaba measured one of the rev 3 Singles with a 80mm fan at the bottom (not all rev 3 have this fan), then he confirms my numbers within ±4% (I measure 5.7A under load).

At that point, it probably would have been a Rev2 with the additional fan. They might pull more if they run at a higher temp due to additional leakage. Also, they all seem to have their own personality, so I wouldn't be surprised if there were some that pulled 5.5A and others that pulled 6A that were otherwise identical.

[JWU42]

Two of my Six power bricks died yesterday 

[imsaguy]

Two of my Six power bricks died yesterday 

Surely there's more to your story

[smracer]

I have 42 bricks running without problem.  Are you guys leaving these bricks in the sunlight?

[JWU42]

Negative - they are even actively cooled...

I had 6 plugged into a power strip.  I turned off the power strip and when i turned it back on 2 of the 6 made a pop sound and now 1 of my singles (that was plugged into the offending unit) is not working (will not "show up" when plugged into USB).

[rjk]

Negative - they are even actively cooled...

I had 6 plugged into a power strip.  I turned off the power strip and when i turned it back on 2 of the 6 made a pop sound and now 1 of my singles (that was plugged into the offending unit) is not working (will not "show up" when plugged into USB).

Time to put the claims of a fast RMA process to the test!

[JWU42]

Negative - they are even actively cooled...

I had 6 plugged into a power strip.  I turned off the power strip and when i turned it back on 2 of the 6 made a pop sound and now 1 of my singles (that was plugged into the offending unit) is not working (will not "show up" when plugged into USB).

Time to put the claims of a fast RMA process to the test!

Mini-Rig should ship tomorrow - hoping they can "throw these in"