Ethereum: Higher cost running Antminer S9 w/ APW3++ when running at 220v?

Ethereum: Running the Higher-Cost Antminer S9 with APW3++ on 220V

As the popularity of cryptocurrencies continues to grow, many miners are looking to upgrade their rigs to stay ahead of the competition. One of the most popular mining rigs on the market is the Antminer S9, one of the key features of which is the Advanced Power Washing (APW) unit, which enhances its performance.

However, when running Antminer S9s with Advanced Power Washing (APW)++ on 220V, a common problem arises: increased operating costs. In this article, we will take a detailed look at why running an Antminer S9 on 220V can be more expensive than running it on 110V.

Understanding APW and its Requirements

APW is an advanced power washing system designed to optimize the power efficiency of mining rigs like the Antminer S9. It is essentially an intelligent load management system that adjusts the power of the mining rig based on factors such as voltage, current, and temperature.

The APW++ unit is specifically designed for high-performance applications such as mining. It has specialized algorithms that take into account various parameters to optimize power consumption and energy efficiency. In our experience, running the Antminer S9 on 220V requires an APW++ unit.

Why Higher Voltage Leads to Higher Operating Costs

When running Antminer S9s on 220V with the APW++ unit, several factors contribute to higher operating costs:

• Increased Current Consumption

  : At 220V, the current drawn by each Antminer S9 is significantly higher than that required for a 110V setup. This increased current consumption results in more power consumption and higher electricity bills.

• Higher Power Factor Correction (PFC) Requirements: The APW++ unit requires a higher PFC rating at 220V, which means it must handle higher voltage and current. This increases the cost of the module due to increased complexity and increased component costs.

• More advanced power electronics: The higher voltage also requires more advanced power electronics such as IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors) and high voltage switches, which come with higher costs.

Comparison of 110V vs 220V settings

To better understand the differences between running the Antminer S9 on 110 or 220 volts, let’s make some rough estimates:

• Running Antminer S9 on 110V:

+ Electricity cost: $0.05 per hour

+ Power consumption: approx. 100-150Wh (depending on number of units and usage patterns)

+ APW++ unit power consumption: 20-30% of total power consumption, due to higher current draw on 110V

• Running Antminer S9 on 220V:

+ Electricity cost: $0.10 per hour (due to increased electricity bills due to higher current draw)

+ Power consumption: approx. 150-200Wh (depending on number of units and usage patterns)

+ APW++ unit power consumption: approximately 40-50% of total power consumption, due to the even higher 220V power consumption

Conclusion

In summary, running the Antminer S9s with the Advanced Power Washing (APW)++ unit at 220V can actually increase operating costs compared to a 110V setup. While the APW++ unit is designed to optimize power efficiency for high-power applications, the added complexity and component costs come at a higher price.

If you want to reduce your electricity bill without sacrificing performance, it’s important to carefully consider your own power needs and energy usage habits before making any decisions.