Which USB hub to use with Block Erupters | NanoFury NF1 | BPMC Red Fury | Ant U1 - page 13.

fractalbc

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Quote from: Photon939 on September 25, 2013, 09:46:13 PM

I just grabbed one of these hubs to see how it would work - http://www.ebay.com/itm/251342525547?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

I like the layout of the ports, you could easily fill it with block erupters.

Note that this hub requires some modifications for mining use

1) bypass the power switch or rewire it with heavier wire, the original wire will cause significant voltage drop and heating at 3+ amps
2) desolder the tiny barrel jack and just wire your power supply directly, it will probably melt at 3+ amps
3) desolder the red usb wire coming from the host pc to the pcb, this will stop any voltage from flowing backwards into the pc, there are no protection diodes on the pcb
4) solder a 47uF capacitor across the VCC and GND points that are now free on the PCB, the hub "crashes" and stops working if you don't do this step (it worked fine with a usb keyboard but plugging the miners in caused it to stop functioning until power was cycled to the hub)

So if you feel like tinkering, 5 minutes with a soldering iron can net you a hub at $1/port shipped from USA
I have only tried it with five BF1s so far, full load test to come when I get some more time

Good report. I have one of the same hubs. My initial impression matches yours. I tossed mine in the "oh well, it might have been good" pile when I saw the power plug. I would emphasis that this hub REQUIRES modification to be useful for mining. It is cheap and not only that but unlike most 10 port hubs it is constructed internally as a 4 port hub plus a 7 port hub, unlike most which have a 4 port hub feeding two other 4 port hubs. It is one of the few hubs I have seen that uses the 7 port chip.

p.s. gotta love that picture. A vacuum tube sitting next to a computer keyboard is righteous. Even I don't keep that many generations of technology living on my desk..

lano1106

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Quote from: Nemo1024 on September 24, 2013, 05:46:19 AM

It's mentioned in the OP under "Replacement AC adapters". You can also splice into your PSU's 5V line. I've done the latter.

A couple of promised pictures:

First the cables, spliced on Molex splitters (drawing a little over 7A total per splitter). Note that I also used one short 20-pin ATX motherboard extender cable and spliced 5V from it, in addition to having it (instead of the PSU) "paperclipped":
...

...

Nemo,

I'm just trying to connect the dots concerning the Molex splitters. You have a modular PSU. The cables that are on your picture are plugged in the PSU with the Molex connector and the other end of the cables that we do not see have the roll barrel connectors used to power the hubs. Is that correct?

What is the capacity of your PSU?
How much current do you estimate pulling from your PSU 5V?

I bought 2 huge CoolerMaster 1500W PSUs for when I was planning to build huge GPU rigs that pretty much just have regular load right now.
The specs of these says 30A for the 5V.

Photon939

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I just grabbed one of these hubs to see how it would work - http://www.ebay.com/itm/251342525547?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

I like the layout of the ports, you could easily fill it with block erupters.

Note that this hub requires some modifications for mining use

1) bypass the power switch or rewire it with heavier wire, the original wire will cause significant voltage drop and heating at 3+ amps
2) desolder the tiny barrel jack and just wire your power supply directly, it will probably melt at 3+ amps
3) desolder the red usb wire coming from the host pc to the pcb, this will stop any voltage from flowing backwards into the pc, there are no protection diodes on the pcb
4) solder a 47uF capacitor across the VCC and GND points that are now free on the PCB, the hub "crashes" and stops working if you don't do this step (it worked fine with a usb keyboard but plugging the miners in caused it to stop functioning until power was cycled to the hub)

So if you feel like tinkering, 5 minutes with a soldering iron can net you a hub at $1/port shipped from USA
I have only tried it with five BF1s so far, full load test to come when I get some more time

Rishodi

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Just found this on Amazon: Orico usb 3.0 10 ports hub with 12V2.5A power adapter- Piano Black

At 12V, 2.5A, it looks like it should be able to support 10 BEs @ $3.50/port.

Nemo1024

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It's mentioned in the OP under "Replacement AC adapters". You can also splice into your PSU's 5V line. I've done the latter.

A couple of promised pictures:

First the cables, spliced on Molex splitters (drawing a little over 7A total per splitter). Note that I also used one short 20-pin ATX motherboard extender cable and spliced 5V from it, in addition to having it (instead of the PSU) "paperclipped":

And here is an image of a bunch of D-Links + an ST-Lab with all ports loaded and lit up (fans later went in to the 2 free ports in the case):

elasticband

legendary

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Nighty Night Don't Let The Trolls Bite Nom Nom Nom

found this hub - http://www.conrad.nl/ce/nl/product/976055/Conrad-13-poorts-USB-20-hub-schakelbaar?queryFromSuggest=true

the documentaion says 5v 6.5a = 32.5w = 13 erupters, that is if the port spacing allows for them. 14e for 13 ports makes it extrememly cost effective......... But of course there is a catch......

Quote

Power supply included No

any advice on where to find usable power supplies that will provide the full 5v 6.5a?

peace

Nemo1024

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I've posted a new topic on how to clean-up in device manager on Windows, if you shuffled hubs and BEs around a lot lately: https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/windows-many-usb-hubs-and-besfuries-clean-up-in-your-devices-manager-300638

vs3

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Just my 2 cents -

the NanoFury NF1 uses 3 separate voltage regulators (3.3V, 1.8V and 0.8V) and either of them will be perfectly happy with any voltage within the 3.8-5.5V. So even if your 5V supply is not perfectly stable it will most likely work just fine. Of course no words can be a substitute for first hand testing.

This will make it a bit easier for the non-regulated supplies as when they're under no load the voltage may go above 5v, and when under heavy load may drop below 5V. Just be careful under no circumstances to provide more than 5.5V (as this has a chance to fry the regulators), and it shouldn't drop below 3.8V (as this would affect the 3.3V regulator and you'll lose USB connectivity - the USB interface requires 3.3V).

Benny1985

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FYI, SiPort (the people that make the large 20-port hub) have a 10-port available from some wholesalers and factories. Wholesale price should suggest you can get a 12v/4a 10-port hub for about $40-45 USD, depending on supplier.

On my next buy from the factory, I may get some. Apparently, some of the SiPort 20-port hubs (or its knock-offs, at least) WILL run all 20 BE's. I gave one to a friend to test, and he's effectively run 20 on one hub, but requires 2 individual USB cables to connect to the PC.

If anyone would want to try the 10-port SiPort hub, let me know, and I'll order a few from the factory in a few weeks.

xstr8guy

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Glow Stick Dance!

Quote from: merv77 on September 21, 2013, 07:58:41 AM

Simple test to check if your power supply is regulated/switched or unregulated/nonregulated.

Regulated supplies, without any load should measure very close to the target voltage (5 volts in this case).
Unregulated power supplies will generally have a no-load voltage anywhere from a couple of volts to several volts higher.
If the unregulated power supply measures 5 volts without any load, then it would have no headroom to take care of the voltage drop with a load.

Thanks for the tip.

But instead I'll just keep checking the hubs to see if the blue lights are still on. Seems a lot easier than going out to buy some kind of meter I don't know how to use and will never use again. Grin

SamHa1n

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Quote from: RicRock on September 20, 2013, 03:43:51 PM

Quote from: SamHa1n on September 19, 2013, 09:12:05 AM

I have several lightly used 10A 5VDC DIN mount power supplies I would like to get rid if.

The price i'm asking is .15BTC + shipping anywhere in US.

I can also supply a limited # of modified 10 port hubs like those that I use in my own setup. Those I will sell for .10 + shipping, they will handle 5A easily and are tested for such.

I will also sell entire mining setups that include a minimum of 10amp PSU, 1 configured raspberryPI, SD card, 1 fan, 2 modified 10 port USB hubs, and 19 usb eruptors. Make private offer.

I'm on freenode irc if you have questions, I may not see PM on forum for a day or so.

Freenode is a big place... where you at?

Sorry, idling on #eruptorhub, waiting to peddle my wares...heh

merv77

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1.21 GIGA WATTS

Simple test to check if your power supply is regulated/switched or unregulated/nonregulated.

Regulated supplies, without any load should measure very close to the target voltage (5 volts in this case).
Unregulated power supplies will generally have a no-load voltage anywhere from a couple of volts to several volts higher.
If the unregulated power supply measures 5 volts without any load, then it would have no headroom to take care of the voltage drop with a load.

xstr8guy

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Glow Stick Dance!

Quote from: merv77 on September 21, 2013, 06:19:10 AM

if you're BE's are failing/dropping off at or near full load, then you probably don't have a regulated power supply.

best way to check is with multi-meter or as aurel57 has with one of those LED volt meters.

I found also when checking your voltage at the power supply your voltage may be constant, but if you were to check the voltage at the last USB port (furthest away from the power input) there will be a voltage drop. If using an unregulated power supply then the voltage drop will be greater than a regulated power supply.

You can get a better understanding of the difference between regulated and unregulated power supplies from the link below.
http://www.apogeekits.com/power_adapter_selection.htm

hth,
merv.

These are just the plain ol' Anker-style 10 port hubs that nearly everyone has been using. The power supplies that ships with them seem to fade out and then die after running the BEs for awhile.

I replaced the standard 12v 4a supply with a generic 12v 6a supply from Amazon. Certainly that can be no worse than the original power supply, right?

I refuse to mess with rigging up and wiring my own power supplies for USB sticks. I hated doing that with my Blades. It just seems so archaic to me to do things that way. Plug & play or I'm not interested! Lol.

merv77

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1.21 GIGA WATTS

if you're BE's are failing/dropping off at or near full load, then you probably don't have a regulated power supply.

best way to check is with multi-meter or as aurel57 has with one of those LED volt meters.

I found also when checking your voltage at the power supply your voltage may be constant, but if you were to check the voltage at the last USB port (furthest away from the power input) there will be a voltage drop. If using an unregulated power supply then the voltage drop will be greater than a regulated power supply.

You can get a better understanding of the difference between regulated and unregulated power supplies from the link below.
http://www.apogeekits.com/power_adapter_selection.htm

hth,
merv.

xstr8guy

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Glow Stick Dance!

Quote from: merv77 on September 21, 2013, 04:52:50 AM

Quote from: xstr8guy on September 21, 2013, 04:07:32 AM

I had 3 failing old style Anker (Orico, etc) 10 port hubs. I replaced the power supply with this. It is 6a instead of 4a which is a nice upgrade from the standard unit. And now 2 of them are again working 100%. The other hub still has issues and I just can't populate every slot. It just won't supply power to 3 of the slots. So I suspect that it's just a dud.

Btw, if there's a referral code in the URL, it's not mine.

I can't tell with the power supply above, but you have to make sure it is a regulated power supply.

If it's not a regulated power supply, the voltage will decrease as the load increases.

I don't know much about power supplies so I'm not sure what you mean. Would you please explain what could happen? Should I stay awake all night with a fire extinguisher nearby? Lol. And how can I tell if it is regulated?

aurel57

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Quote from: merv77 on September 21, 2013, 05:09:15 AM

Are you using an R-Pi or a computer..?

Are you using the same 10-port hub as a host hub to connect 4 of the 10-port hubs together..?

I see you have 7 BE's in each of the 10-port hubs, is there a problem when connecting more than 7 BE's in one hub..?

I am using a computer. Yes I am using 2 of the cheap 10 port hubs to host 4 each of the hubs. I have filled all 10 slots on the hubs before but since I really don't want to run over 30 miners on each PSU so not to over stress them I just plugged 4 hubs into each PSU and tried to balance the load with only 7 per hub. If I order more miners I may very well load up the hubs, add another PSU and run the fans off a separate powered hub.

Also as you see I added a couple of cheap LED volt meters to keep a eye on the voltage being put out of the PSU's.

merv77

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1.21 GIGA WATTS

Quote from: aurel57 on September 21, 2013, 04:26:23 AM

Here is a couple of pictures of my 56 USB miners running off two 20a PSU's Have ran as many as 31 off one 20a

Are you using an R-Pi or a computer..?

Are you using the same 10-port hub as a host hub to connect 4 of the 10-port hubs together..?

I see you have 7 BE's in each of the 10-port hubs, is there a problem when connecting more than 7 BE's in one hub..?

merv77

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Activity: 574

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1.21 GIGA WATTS

Quote from: xstr8guy on September 21, 2013, 04:07:32 AM

I had 3 failing old style Anker (Orico, etc) 10 port hubs. I replaced the power supply with this. It is 6a instead of 4a which is a nice upgrade from the standard unit. And now 2 of them are again working 100%. The other hub still has issues and I just can't populate every slot. It just won't supply power to 3 of the slots. So I suspect that it's just a dud.

Btw, if there's a referral code in the URL, it's not mine.

I can't tell with the power supply above, but you have to make sure it is a regulated power supply.

If it's not a regulated power supply, the voltage will decrease as the load increases.

aurel57

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Here is a couple of pictures of my 56 USB miners running off two 20a PSU's Have ran as many as 31 off one 20a

xstr8guy

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Activity: 784

Merit: 1004

Glow Stick Dance!

I had 3 failing old style Anker (Orico, etc) 10 port hubs. I replaced the power supply with this. It is 6a instead of 4a which is a nice upgrade from the standard unit. And now 2 of them are again working 100%. The other hub still has issues and I just can't populate every slot. It just won't supply power to 3 of the slots. So I suspect that it's just a dud.

Btw, if there's a referral code in the URL, it's not mine.

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