Mining XBT at home: power and heat basics before you plug in
A home BLAKE2b miner is a space heater that earns. Most first-time setups go wrong on power and heat, not on pools or wallets. Do this math before you plug in.
Amps: the only number your outlet cares about
Amps = watts 梅 volts. A 900W miner on 120V draws 7.5A. Miners run flat out 24/7, so they count as a continuous load, and a circuit should carry no more than 80% of its breaker rating for that:
| Circuit | Breaker | Safe continuous load |
|---|---|---|
| 120V | 15A | 1,440W (12A) |
| 120V | 20A | 1,920W (16A) |
| 240V | 20A | 3,840W (16A) |
| 240V | 30A | 5,760W (24A) |
Two 900W miners on one 20A/120V circuit is 1,800W. That fits, but there's no room for anything else on it. Bigger machines (3,000W and up) need 240V.
Outlets, plugs and cords
- Every outlet on a circuit shares one breaker. Moving a miner to another outlet doesn't help if it's the same circuit. Flip breakers to learn which outlets go where.
- Don't put two big miners in one outlet. Splitting them across two outlets halves the current through each one, even on the same circuit.
- Use 20A commercial-grade receptacles (T-shaped slot) for miners on 20A circuits. Cheap outlets wear out under constant load.
- Skip power strips and thin extension cords. If you must use a cord, use a short 12-gauge one.
- Do the touch test after an hour at full load. Warm is normal. Hot, discolored or a burning smell means shut it down now.
Heat: every watt comes back out
A 1,000W miner puts out about 3,400 BTU an hour, the same as a space heater on high. Two of them will cook a closed shed by midday.
- Exhaust high, intake low. Hot air rises; pull it out near the roof and let cooler air in near the floor.
- Point exhausts the same way, toward a vent or door, never at a wall a foot away or into another miner's intake.
- Leave clearance. A foot or two behind and in front of each machine.
- Watch chip temps in the afternoon. If they climb past the maker's limit, drop to a lower power preset.
Fire basics
- A smoke detector where the miners run. It's $15.
- No cardboard, rags or paper stacked near or above the machines.
- Have a licensed electrician add circuits. A dedicated 240V line is the single best upgrade for home mining.
Picking a machine first? See how to start mining XBT at home and the miners page.
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General information, not electrical advice. Follow your local code and use a licensed electrician.