Hello everyone, this is ASAPBTC, and I am Keanu Zhang. I have been frequently asked about how to choose the right mining container, especially for those mining Bitcoin at home and facing issues with limited space for mining machines or considering liquid-cooled machines. In this article, I will provide all the answers based on my personal experience to help you better select the mining container that suits your needs.

We can roughly classify miners into three categories:

1. Small-scale air-cooled miners: The number of mining machines ranges from 10 to 40.
2. Small-scale liquid-cooled or oil-cooled miners: The number of mining machines ranges from 10 to 20.
3. Large-scale miners (air-cooled or liquid-cooled): The number of mining machines exceeds 200.

Please note that these are just approximate classifications, and you should choose the appropriate containers based on your specific situation and needs.

1. Small-scale air-cooled miners:

If you are a small-scale miner with 10 to 30 mining machines (which is already a significant asset for most people), mining at home, you need to consider the following factors:

• Power and stability: Electricity: The majority of mining machines, such as S19, use 220V AC power. However, this voltage might not be compatible with the electrical system in the United States. Therefore, you need to purchase a small transformer based on the total power consumption of all your mining machines. Connecting the machines directly to the US voltage can lead to damage during prolonged operation.
• Noise: Air-cooled machines are quite noisy, especially when multiple units are running together. If you are using them at home, it is essential to be particularly mindful of the noise levels. Since mining machines operate 24/7, the noise can be bothersome to your family and may even lead to complaints from neighbors, especially during the night.
• Space: Mining machines are not small, so it is recommended to have a separate room or space for installation. If possible, spread them out to reduce noise levels. Additionally, consider using soundproofing materials to help minimize the noise.

These factors should be taken into account to ensure the smooth operation of your small-scale mining setup and to minimize disruptions to your living environment.

2. Small-scale liquid-cooled and oil-cooled miners (10-20 mining machines):

For this type of mining setup, it is recommended to use professional containers for installation. In the market, you can find small-scale liquid-cooled containers, such as those suitable for Whatsminer, which can accommodate around 20 M53S++ mining machines. These containers are designed similar to refrigerators and can be placed conveniently in any location at home to start mining, making the process more convenient.

Similarly, for oil-cooled miners, there are specialized small-scale oil-cooled containers available, such as the ones provided by DEX, which offer great convenience for housing the mining equipment.

Using these professional containers ensures better cooling and operational efficiency for your liquid-cooled or oil-cooled mining machines, and it also helps maintain a more organized and compact setup at home.

(M53S++ Immersion cooling Bitcoin container, image from ASAPBTC.）

(Immersion cooling Bitcoin container, image from ASAPBTC.）

3. Large-scale miners (air-cooled and liquid-cooled) with over 200 mining machines:

At this scale, it typically involves large mining companies with electricity consumption ranging from 5-15MW, and some can even go as high as 30MW, or even 400MW for well-known companies like Rito in Texas and Hut8 in Canada.

(hut8 mine, image from hut8 Twitter）

The primary consideration for selecting the site for large mining operations is proximity to high-voltage power sources. These locations are usually in harsh outdoor environments, far from urban areas, and noise is generally not a concern. Since there are no existing buildings to house the mining equipment in remote areas, many mining companies now opt to use mining containers for their facilities. Building custom structures is time-consuming and costly, so approximately 90% of mining companies prefer using mining containers directly. Each 40ft mining container typically accommodates 1MW of mining power, eliminating the need for constructing separate buildings. Based on experience in constructing 300MW mining farms, a 15MW facility can be established with only 15 40ft mining containers, with an average setup and power-on time of around 90 days, reducing the construction time by an average of 50% compared to building conventional facilities.

Comparison of time and investment in building a 15MW mine, using mining containers and building a plant

Challenges faced by large-scale mining projects include extreme weather conditions such as high temperatures, heavy rain, snow, strong winds, and dust storms.

Extreme weather and high temperatures pose serious threats to mining machines, as elevated temperatures can cause throttling, reduced performance, and decreased profitability. Outdoor mining farms are exposed to direct sunlight, and some regions like Texas can experience temperatures as high as 100°F or more. Therefore, the cooling capacity of the mining containers becomes critical. Specialized design features are incorporated into mining containers, particularly for regions with hot climates, to facilitate better cooling. Through various techniques, such as applying reflective heat-insulating materials, using heat-insulating coatings, and employing a combination of water curtains and high-speed negative pressure fans, the temperature inside the mining containers can be effectively maintained at around 70°F.

The use of aluminum foil reflective heat-insulating materials on the container’s top surface helps to reflect heat and maintain a comfortable and energy-efficient environment inside the container. Additionally, insulating coatings are applied on the exterior surface of the container to prevent temperature increase.

Water curtains, originally used in livestock farming, are applied at the air intake side of the mining container. They utilize water evaporation to cool the incoming air, providing effective cooling in hot and dry weather conditions. Furthermore, high-speed negative pressure fans are employed to rapidly extract heat from the mining container, ensuring continuous cooling for the mining machines.

For regions with sandstorms, external dust-proof nets and internal filters are installed to shield the containers from environmental interference, and the filters can be easily replaced when needed.

It is important to note that the geographic location of each large-scale mining farm varies, and the environment faced by each facility may differ. For instance, some areas near lakes may have high humidity, rendering water curtains less effective for cooling. In such cases, alternative cooling methods may be employed. Therefore, the design of mining containers for large-scale projects should be tailored to suit the local environmental conditions. It is recommended to choose experienced mining container manufacturers for custom production.

For small-scale air-cooled miners, it is possible to start mining at home directly with caution about voltage and noise issues. There are many materials available for purchase on platforms like Amazon for assembling a setup.

For small-scale liquid-cooled and oil-cooled miners, specialized tools are needed for mining, and some investment is required.

Large-scale mining companies are advised to seek experienced mining container manufacturers for custom designs suitable for their specific environmental conditions.

ASAPBTC is the promotional brand of TIANQI Mining Container Manufacturer, and we have extensive experience in designing custom mining containers for 300MW+ clients. Feel free to contact us for free consultation and the best service and advice.