Understand the fundamentals
Startup is a process
After an approved start, the control board boots (loads its software). It also initializes the hardware (prepares and checks the parts) and starts communicating with its hashboards and the network. Depending on the equipment and firmware, the miner may then test parts, warm up or tune its settings. After that, it settles into its intended state. One early screenshot does not show steady operation.
Know the startup sequence the manufacturer expects and your site’s acceptance criteria (the checks a machine must pass). A machine stuck restarting over and over is different from one moving normally through its documented startup steps. The logs and the time since the start help you tell them apart.
See how it works
Profiles change the expected output
An operating profile is a chosen set of operating targets or settings. Different approved profiles balance hashrate, power use and efficiency in different ways. A lower-power profile can be expected to give a lower hashrate. So compare the reading with the expected output for that profile on that equipment.
Curtailment means reducing or stopping load (the electrical power the miners draw) on purpose, following an operating plan. It is often done for energy or facility reasons, such as high power prices. A planned curtailment can make many miners stop at once without any equipment fault. Check the approved schedule and commands before you open a fault investigation.
Expected state changes can look like faults in a snapshot
Swipe sideways to follow the full diagram →
Connect it to the field
Example: a useful transition record
A fleet (a site’s group of miners) is reduced on purpose at 15:00 and brought back later. Record the planned event, which group was affected, when the commands were sent and how the machines recovered. Do not expect every machine to come back at exactly the same moment. Never bypass cooling protections to speed up the restart.
The shutdown and restart procedure must fit the equipment. That includes any cooling that must keep running. Know where that procedure is kept. Also know how to spot an exception: something that does not go the way the procedure expects. “Turn everything off” is not a complete instruction for every installation.
Terms used in this lesson
- Startup
- A controlled transition into operation.
- Curtailment
- A planned reduction in load or operation.
- Recovery
- The return to approved operating conditions, confirmed by checks after the change.
Optional references & further reading
Use current manufacturer instructions for the exact equipment and your site’s approved procedures. Course levels do not grant task authorization.