Setting Up Your First Miner (Step-by-Step)

1. Plan the Location

• Heat: Miners produce thousands of watts of heat. Choose a space that can handle it (basement, garage, utility room).
• Noise: ASICs are loud (70–80+ dB). Avoid bedrooms and main living areas.
• Electric: Confirm the outlet and breaker can safely support the miner. See the Electricity and Breaker Calculator tools.
• Network: You need a wired Ethernet connection (no Wi-Fi).

2. Unbox and Inspect the Miner

1. Carefully remove the miner and power supply (PSU) from the packaging.
2. Check for visible shipping damage, bent heat sinks, or loose fans.
3. Make sure all power cables from the PSU to hashboards are firmly seated.
4. Verify the voltage selector (if present) is set correctly (usually auto-sensing on modern PSUs).

3. Connect Power (But Don’t Turn It On Yet)

1. Plug the PSU into the correct outlet (120V or 240V as required by your model).
2. Avoid power strips and cheap extension cords. Use dedicated, appropriately rated circuits.
3. Do a quick feel test: the outlet, plug, and cord should all be cool before first power-up.

4. Connect to Your Network

1. Run an Ethernet cable from your router or switch to the miner’s Ethernet port.
2. Confirm link lights turn on (usually green or orange LEDs near the port).
3. Label the cable or port if you have multiple miners.

5. Power On the Miner

1. Turn on the PSU or flip the power switch (if present).
2. Expect fans to ramp to 100% briefly during startup self-checks.
3. After ~30–90 seconds, the miner will boot and request an IP from your router.

6. Find the Miner’s IP Address

You can usually find the miner’s IP in one of three ways:

• Check your router’s “connected devices” list and look for a new device (often shows manufacturer name).
• Use an IP scanner tool on your local network.
• Some miners include a small button or buzzer function that can help you identify them in a fleet.

7. Log In to the Miner’s Web Interface

1. Type the miner’s IP address into your web browser (on the same network).
2. Log in using the default username and password (check the manual or label on the miner).
3. Immediately change the password to something safe and unique.

8. Configure Your Mining Pool

1. Find the “Pools” or “Mining Configuration” tab.
2. Enter the pool URL(s), worker name, and password as provided by your mining pool.
3. Use at least two pool endpoints (primary and backup) if your pool supports it.
4. Save and apply changes. The miner will restart its hashing process.

9. Verify Hashing and Pool Reporting

• On the miner dashboard, confirm:
  • Hashrate is ramping up toward the advertised value.
  • Temperatures are within normal range for your model.
  • Fans are spinning and reporting RPM.
• On your pool dashboard, confirm:
  • Your worker appears online.
  • Reported hashrate is close to the miner’s internal reading (averaged over time).
  • Rejected shares are low (ideally under a few percent).

10. Safety & Stability Checks

• After 30–60 minutes, carefully feel the plug, outlet, and any cords (they should be warm at most, not hot).
• Make sure the room temperature is stable and hot air is not recirculating into the miner’s intake.
• Confirm the breaker is not tripping or buzzing.
• Set up monitoring and alerts using your pool, HashWatcher, or other tools if possible.

Related Tools & Lessons

• Breaker Load Calculator
• Mining 101: Electricity Explained
• Mining 101: Monitoring & Dashboards
• Mining 101: Heating With Mining
• Find Your First Miner Wizard