Topic: S9 PSU in USA dilemma (Read 508 times)

That 1200W is only a 900W on 120V, so I went with the DPS750's which will give the full 750W on 120V or 240V.  Three will power an antiminer s9 without any issues.  I got a similar kit with 3x750 and 3x breakout boards for the cost of the 1950W kit by talking to the seller.  I was using it for an antminer T9 which can pull 1600W at times.

By the way, the DPS 750 go for 10-15 bucks each on ebay and I even got one for $17 from amazon prime.  You do need the breakout boards and the pci-6 cables, so it sometimes makes sense to buy a bundle like that.  Just wanted to mention it.

I have never put different power supplies on different circuits.  Different plugs on one circuit, yes.  I feel like it should be possible, but I have also had ground problems back in the fpga days so I am wary.  US house wiring is often split between two phases of a 240V feed, so one plug may be 120V different from another.  If the phases are the same, no problem but if you have two phases feeding different outlets in one area, that is what was damaging FPGA board for me back in the day. If someone can say definitively that DPS750s on different circuits do not have ground problems, I'd be interested to hear that.

Also keep in mind when you over-spec your psu's, which I do, you tend to hit the sweet spot efficiency-wise between 60% and 75% depending on manufacturer. Hence my decision to use 2 750W thermaltakes for running my 900W R4. 
Mine on! 

Thank you for your response.
It does clear up an issue I was wondering about. -Do you add the S9 and the PSU W to get a total (S9 1323w + PSU 1950w = 3273w). But from what I get from your post it's not something to be worried about.

RE: noise/heat. I rent the basement of my building to use as an art studio. That's where the S9 is going to live. I'm building a noise muffling air circulating hut for the S9.
I've actually contemplated running a 5" tube from the hut, out the window, up the building and into my window to heat my apt! I'm on the 1st floor so it's not totally insane. Just a little.

I have the same issue, renting so running new wire through the office would be problematic.  I have two potential solutions (well, 3), and none of them involve using 110V. 

1) check the wires to your outlets to determine what gauge they are, that'll give you your amperage.  If you can find an outlet that doesn't share a breaker, all the better.  Converting that line to 220V is as easy as changing the lines over to a 220V 2 pole breaker and changing neutral to ground in the box.  In my case, they skimped out and used 14ga (15A) so I don't feel safe running two S9s using the already-laid wiring (leading to solution 2) but your apartment may use 12ga (20A) and you could run 2-3 miners off of that. 

2) run my own line through already laid conduit (or since my office shares wall with breaker box just poke a hole in the wall and spackle it when I move out), add screw-on outlet with plug, and connect to 200V 2 pole breaker. 

Both of these options involve me doing it myself, which the main office probably frowns on.  Risky, not recommended.

3) Check out if the office will let you hire an electrician (or their maintenance guy) to add a 220V plug.  It would probably take an electrician an hour to put the new plug in as it's really easy.  They may be reasonable and the savings you'd get on PS units would likely pay for the electrician, not even counting the efficiency gains.  For example:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Power-Supply-for-Two-x2-Antminer-S9-S7-L3-with-Ready-To-Plug-Harness/182254895754?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

In fact, I think I've just talked myself into calling the office and see if they'll get their maintenance guy to add the outlet for me.  I'd rather not get kicked out of my apartment over some stupid shit. 

That is a good setup as well.

HP 1200W (actually max. 900W at 110V mains voltage) power supply for two hash boards
and the HP 750W power supply for one hash board and the controller.

Don't sweat the 1950W -vs- the 2250W of three 750W power supplies. The 750W (or 1200W) indicates it's ability to supply that much power, not that it actually consumes that much power. The  actual power consumption is driven by the S9 itself. You just need to make sure the actual is less than the ability of the supplies to deliver power. The setup from parallelminer looks quite reasonable. The 1200W supply they include would power 2 of the 3 hash boards, and the 750W supply would power the 3rd hash board and controller/fan card. As I read it, the PCIe cables are sturdy enough. I don't have any actual experience with their kit, but looks pretty well thought out for a setup for a single S9 at home with 120V power. The sequence would be start the 1200W supply first (with 2 hash boards), and then the 750W supply (with 1 hash board and controller). The 1200W supply will likely run hotter since it's handling more load than the 750W supply.

Are you comfortable with the noise and the heat produced by an S9 in your space? Think a 1400W blow dryer running at full  blast, 24 hours per day. Other folks liken the noise to a vacuum cleaner.

Ok, I emailed Parallel Miner to ask a question about the HP 750W w/ S9.
When they replied they suggested using:
REV6 BOARD 1950WATT 110V/240V 80+ GOLD POWER SUPPLY https://www.parallelminer.com/product/antminer-s9-power-supply-80plus/  
With 2 PCU C13 cords: https://www.parallelminer.com/product/6feet-14awg-15amps-ul-heavy-duty-power-supply-cord-5-15p-to-c13/

To me the REV6 seems to be basically (to use an old Thailand expression) "same same but different" as 3 HP 750Ws.
 
Granted, I don't know how Watt math adds up but if 3x HP 750W = 2250W, the 1950WATT REV6 BOARD shaves off 300w from the deal and in BTC mining W=$.
The REV6 is $129 (on sale), -1  $7 PCU C13 cord, it comes in $55 cheaper.

Thoughts?

Make sure your 120v circuit can handle that wattage... Might need to plug one of the PSU into a separate circuit.   Really need a single dedicated 15a circuit to be safe with the s9.  That means nothing else on the circuit... Not just the outlet.

@HagssFIN @VRobb Thank you! That is a perfect solution. I hope in the future I can pay it forward and help out a newbie trying to figure this all out.

This is a suitable psu for VRobb's advice https://www.parallelminer.com/product/hp-gold-rated-750-watt-110-240v-power-supply-kit-for-asic-miner/

Three pieces of these HP 750W power supplies with 4x pci-e power cables per psu.

Be sure that you don't mix psus together in same hash board, they start to "fight" each other.

Use one psu for one hash board. Turn on this psu first.
Use one psu for one hash board. Then turn on this psu.
Use one psu for one hash board and controller. Turn on this psu last.

For that price, buy 3 at 750W each and run like that.  Power a board each, with one running the controller/fans which is peanuts compared to the boards.
I run multiple, cheaper PSUs on my miner here at home.  Think RAID, but for PSUs!
Mine On! 

So.
I've been reading and researching as much as I can about mining with the S9.
I'm based in NYC, USA and the issue that is causing me confusion is how to power the unit.

I've read a lot of contradictory posts about converting to 120v so now my brain is spinning.

My plan is to use the EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 G2 80+ (or possibly other step down units) and plug into the wall on a circuit that is not shared by any appliances.

Some of what I read is people stating that if you convert you can't get the necessary power, but I see a lot of youtube videos with people
using that unit.

Since I rent my space hiring an electrician to run a 220v line is problematic.

I guess what I'm asking is are there other USA based "hobby" miners using converter units here, and what is your experience and thoughts on the matter.

Thank you in advance.