So I have just ordered an Antminer S1 from eBay that also came with a Corsair CX500 power supply. The problem is, I'm not how I'm going to hook this thing up when it comes! I'm fairly new with working with power supplies (Oh screw it, I've never used one) but don't let that fool you into thinking I'm a newbie. Everyone has to learn, right? Plus I pick up on things pretty quickly. Well, anyways, how do I hook this thing up. Looking at the specs on the PSU, there seems to be a +12 volt rail with 408 watts, 34 amps and a -12 volt rail with 9.6 watts, 0.8 amps. I've watched a couple videos and read multiple tutorials, but I'm still not 100% sure how this works. The S1 is one of the newer ones so it doesn't require splicing the cords at all. I just need to know what to plug in and where. By some pictures and another video on the PSU itself, I can see that the cords aren't labeled. besides PCI-e. So, how do I tell if I'm using the +12 volt cord or the -12 volt cord? Are these the same things? Are there 2 of the +12 volt cords and then the -12 volt is just integrated into them? I know I sound like I shouldn't be anywhere NEAR mining equipment but I just need to learn. Thanks for all of your help and sorry for the newbie questions!
You'll need to connect the two PCI-E, 6-pin connectors to it. If one 6 pin connector has a piggy back, which is another 6-pin connector off of the main rail, then DO NOT use that one. It WILL make the cable too hot.
What I have done on my miners, is there is a black and green cable typically towards the center of the 24 pin ATX main power cable. The side with the clip facing you is the side you'd want to look at. Take a 12-14 gauge wire and strip it.
(Before doing this, please make sure it's not plugged in.)
You'll then strip both ends of the cable and make sure it fits between the black and the green socket and make sure to put electrical tape so that there is no chance that the two will ever touch each other. There are better ways of doing this, but if done right they achieve the same result.
So you're making a power on loop without having a host machine running it. If you need pictures, let me know. I'm getting a new PSU in tomorrow and I could always make a video showing you how to do this if you'd like.
http://www.psychedelicporcupine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011-09-25-20.35.43.jpg is an example, but please.. PLEASE make sure that you insulate and protect it from touching another metal surface as you don't want to start an electrical fire.
If you're looking for a pool to mine at with your new shiny Ant Miners, please take a look at my signature, we're looking for members to join our community and there's a good potential to get great rewards mining with us!
Hope that helped!
-Adaryian