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Topic: Direct DC Powering an Antminer ASIC With Solar / Alt Energy (Read 740 times)

full member
Activity: 1424
Merit: 225
Off grid mining is not practical IMO. Mining needs reliable power to run the rigs 24/7. As they say in trucking: "if the wheels ain't turnin
the rig ain't earnin". There are many benefits to a grid tie-in especially if you get credit for excess production.

Off grid solar is best when you have a specific load that matches the solar cycle. Air conditioning comes to mind as an example.
newbie
Activity: 1
Merit: 0
Hi Longhorn, I am looking to undertake a similar project. I have a converted School Bus that my family and I lived in for about 4 years that is now parked on a friend's farm after we moved back into our house. The bus has about 2000W of solar on it and I have about 1000W of extra panels I could connect to it. I wonder if you ever got your project up and running on 12V DC?
newbie
Activity: 2
Merit: 1
I am trying to understand why you would like to go DC DC

I have a 10 kw solar and 3 rigs working on 220v in an Island configuration without being attached to the grid
If I compare the production of the solar hybrid inverter system (with 27 Kwh lithium batteryDC/DC)  with what has been used by the rigs the loss of the inverter is 5 % max.

the 5 %  is worth the effort ?

27 Kwh battery sounds massive. Does that run the rigs 24/7? I agree, a 5% win would not be worth the effort. Thanks! - This is what I've been looking for. Btw, that's only the loss on the inverter (DC to AC). The S9 power supply (AC to DC) has a small fan on it. How much additional loss do you get on the power supplies? I'll presume it's additional 5% loss. Panels are cheap so provisioning extra power for that would not affect CapEx. Do you think eliminating the inverter and power supply would significantly reduce CapEx?
newbie
Activity: 18
Merit: 0
Keep us informed Smiley
member
Activity: 448
Merit: 18
ASICS miners are power consuming that's why they are bad news for solar energy unless you are ready to invest more on the panels, here is the deal


If your ASIC draws 1500watts make sure your solar panel is double of the watt meaning you should invest on 3000 watt solar panels because you will have enough energy to charge the battery while you are mining so once sun is down you will have full batteries to mine for extra hours until the next day
member
Activity: 476
Merit: 19
I am trying to understand why you would like to go DC DC

I have a 10 kw solar and 3 rigs working on 220v in an Island configuration without being attached to the grid
If I compare the production of the solar hybrid inverter system (with 27 Kwh lithium batteryDC/DC)  with what has been used by the rigs the loss of the inverter is 5 % max.

I

the 5 %  is worth the effort ?
newbie
Activity: 2
Merit: 1
The system is working better than expected for the past 3 weeks now.
There's a couple things I need to address though,
1) When changing hash rates the miner stops mining therefore the current draw drops off causing the battery voltage to spike up to around 14 - 14.5 volts.
     I'm thinking to add a relay between the solar panels and the charge controller to stop the charging until the miner comes back up.  

As I understood the Arduino is for limiting voltage coming from solar but gets tripped when miner decides to draw less power. I'm trying to setup an S9 Antminer on solar. As a beginner starting with DC to AC inverter and AC to DC "power supply unit" yet can't help but wonder if I should go straight DC to DC. What is your estimate on the efficiency gain from eliminating the AC step?
newbie
Activity: 1
Merit: 0
I’m new here but I’ve done the same thing. Only not used an arduino. Can you run me through how I’d do this. I’m more than happy to collaborate on this too, it’s my current mission to get it fully working.
member
Activity: 84
Merit: 19
The system is working better than expected for the past 3 weeks now.
There's a couple things I need to address though,
1) When changing hash rates the miner stops mining therefore the current draw drops off causing the battery voltage to spike up to around 14 - 14.5 volts.
     I'm thinking to add a relay between the solar panels and the charge controller to stop the charging until the miner comes back up.

2) With a small battery bank the batteries get hammered hard when fast clouds are moving through all day.
     Probably this would be a good application for supper caps.
   
full member
Activity: 1281
Merit: 141
Yup, that's on the list, them damn mud hornets are bad here in the summer.


Whole new meaning to de-bugging  Grin
member
Activity: 84
Merit: 19
Yup, that's on the list, them damn mud hornets are bad here in the summer.
full member
Activity: 1281
Merit: 141
Might want to plug some of the open holes dont want anything building a nest in it.
member
Activity: 84
Merit: 19
Here's my idea for condensation control.
It's an Atomicpi CPU mining Verium.
It should give enough heat to keep the condensation away.  Grin

member
Activity: 84
Merit: 19
Here's a pic of it mounted to the solar panels.
I know I know, the wiring  Tongue but it's only a proof of concept.  Wink



member
Activity: 84
Merit: 19
Just got everything connected, making Litecoin with light  Smiley



Only running one hash board now, it's overcast and the panels are only making about 9 amps.

member
Activity: 84
Merit: 19
Anyone on here have information about measuring due point?
I need some type of sensor that the Arduino can measure and turn on some type of low wattage heating element.

Or another idea is to run an SBC CPU miner 24/7 or just overnight for heat??? Ideas?
member
Activity: 84
Merit: 19
Control circuitry and power cables installed.

member
Activity: 84
Merit: 19
More progress.
All primed up...

member
Activity: 84
Merit: 19
Good point, I'll have to keep an eye on temps.
I've seen guys stack them this way when they do a six board mod on the S9's.

If temps are a problem I'll have to add another shelf below for the second unit.
full member
Activity: 1281
Merit: 141
May want to get a little space between the two units.  The hash boards up against those walls next to each other will be the hottest spot.  Maybe an inch or 2 if possible.


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