Topic: GPU MINING RIG taking fire - page 3. (Read 10085 times)

i had one card create a spark, the psu cut the power immediately

i was almost asleep at that time and sleepy as i was i thought "wut?" and turned it back on, at this point the gpu really burned and created smoke and the psu would not power down automatically

in my case nothing could have prevented that from happening besides me cleaning the card, it was dust shorting something inside the card

A properly designed PSU has foldback current limiting.  If properly sized, then a short circuit causes excessive current.  So the PSU cuts back power without flames.

However, many computer assemblers grossly oversize their PSU using a myth that more power makes a better PSU.  So that PSU turns a short circuit into flames; does not perform foldback current limiting.

Is your computer so hot as to also toast bread?  If not, then a 700 or 1000 watt PSU is excessive and unnecessary.  If a short circuit occurs, this grossly oversized PSU turns that short circuit hot as a bread toaster's toating wire.

ATX specs are quite clear.  All outputs from a PSU can be shorted together.  EVen that does not damage a PSU.  ATX specs even say how thick that shorting wire must be - so that every computer assembler will do it to verify a good PSU.

But if wires inside a computer are not big enough for an oversized PSU, then fire can result.

Molex connectors: each contact is speced to support up to 6 amps.  An assembler must add specification numbers to confirm that connector will not be overloaded.  A molex connector can be overloaded and still not cause melting.  Melting occurs when the connector is so grossly overloaded that the assembler should have know better just from basic knowledge. Never ignore numbers.

Yes - PCIE-USB risers (bottom side) and many times PCIE connectors on PSUs side (and it were high class PSUs)

In my case i wasn't setting any limits on the OC or miner software, and the rig didn't turn off after catching fire the psu was running and feeding it so.. I have to turn it off manually after that i realized that one of the card voltage regulators was the cause of the fire (some bad components while its going to dead can't go in silence the regulator is one of them )

You should check the quality & condition of all cables.
Bigger PSUs usually have thicker gauge wires.
As for the components themselves, a modern rig (say 6 RX 480s) won't catch fire, but do try to operate them within their limits as a safe measure.

Do all miners have this feature?

I would assume the temp limit in the OC software would throttle down the GPU in case of fan failure while away

over clocked mining since 2013..

the burns i experienced:
     - sata molex adaptor for pcie riser, burned due to low quality of adaptor
     - socket of modular cable of PSU, burned due to 2-3 pcie risers connected...now i try to use 1 cable per riser as possible, although 2 riser per cable is still quite safe.
     - a wall outlet socket burned due to over loading.

my electrical lines are standard and with room for extra amps...

i know better now...last January i go out for a week, left home with the mining rigs running..i got home all are fine, except for a rig with HDD failure 

Any electric appliance can catch fire.  If you're worried: buy an extinguisher that's rated for electric fires, plug into a surge protector, and regularly check GPU temps.  Some miners have temp monitors and shut off mining if GPU temp gets too high.
If you're using PCI-E risers, don't use the cheap ones that are held together by electrical tape.  They look like they're asking for trouble.  There are much higher quality risers that use USB cable instead. I bought these https://www.amazon.ca/6-Pack-PCI-E-Powered-Adapter-Extension/dp/B01GU94QSQ/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1485376705&sr=8-6&keywords=mintcell

You could always rig a combination heat/smoke detector to trip the power breaker and trigger a CO2 extinguisher at the same time.

Normally when a GPU fries the PSU short circuit cut out the power and it turns off.

Worse is when your PCIe slot +12V are melting due to overloading the small gauge wires.

Either shut off when not home or put it on a metal rack away from anything that can catch fire... or put inside a balcony or shed.

i had once my motherboard burned due to short circuit in pci-e slot caused by small peace of usb raiser's pin left there i assume. My motherboard was lying at foam which came in box so it started to melt and i think it might be fired up if i hadn't power off the system.

It can burn as can your tv set or any thing plugged into a receptacle and drawing power.


Some commonsense rules are use good psu and don't  overclock it like a mofo.

But yeah it can burn your house down.

I use simpleminer as I can check my gear all over the world.

I can adjust temps, set fan speeds, set clocks, boot.

I do have 2 cards that run too low but I don't mind  as it helps to keep temps stable.

My nVidia card did this it caught fire but i was at home thank god . It was an old GT xfx heard first some sparks and then boom fire and smoke . try to keep eyes on them from time to time also set the max gpu temp in the miner.

I only had burnt cables so far (because of my fault, too many cards on 1 molex cable) and I limit my cards to 72°C max and occasionally check them with an temp gun to see what's warm.

But even then it could happen in case of a failure.

It can happen. I had a few GPUs flame up on me awhile back. luckily it just destroyed the card and nothing else.

Hello everyone,

Have someone ever heard of Mining rig taking fire?

I am scared to leave my mining rig running at home while I am not there because of that It could catch fire and burn my home.


What do you think?


Thanks,