Bitcoin Mining Rig Heater: A New Heating Option for Offices

Recently, we had the privilege of experiencing a Bitcoin mining rig heater called Heatbit Trio, and we used it for office heating. This device that combines Bitcoin mining with heating functions may become a noteworthy area in the future. As the lifespan of Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) extends and production costs decrease, this heating method could play a significant role in the Bitcoin mining industry.

Theoretically, if the office needs heating regardless, using this equipment can make the energy efficiency of mining reach 100%, and the operational energy costs are almost zero. However, the current challenge is that the lifespan of ordinary heaters is usually 10 to 15 years, while Bitcoin mining technology is constantly being updated. At the same time, the cost of producing ASICs is high, and a return on investment can only be achieved with continuous mining.

However, in the long run, due to the physical limitations of Moore's Law, the rate of improvement in ASIC efficiency may slow down, allowing ASICs to operate economically for a longer period. As related technologies mature, production costs are also expected to decrease. In this trend, integrating Bitcoin mining with heating equipment may become more meaningful, such as in scenarios involving swimming pools, commercial boilers, home boilers, and commercial and home electric heating systems.

The device we use can mine at a maximum power of 400W. If more heat is needed, the heating power can be increased to 1,400W, with an additional 1,000W used solely for heating and not for mining.

After initial use, we found that this device is essentially a modified old model Bitcoin Mining Rig, featuring a beautiful round steel casing design, and the fan noise is quieter than that of a regular Mining Rig. Its positioning is as a friendly device aimed at ordinary consumers, rather than professional miners.

One major drawback we noticed is that while the device can be monitored remotely through the mobile application, it seems that the device cannot be controlled via the app. This is an important missing feature, as since the device needs to be connected to the internet for mining, remote control of the heating function should be a given. Additionally, compared to other high-end heating devices in the same price range, the display and control panel design of Heatbit is somewhat simplistic.

Another drawback is that users seem unable to choose mining pools on their own. Although this product aims to provide a more user-friendly experience, adding the option to customize mining pools in the settings would be helpful. These issues can all be resolved through software updates.

In actual operation, the first thing we noticed was the noise level of the device. In an office with an ambient noise level of about 48.5 decibels, we measured a sound amplitude of 56.5 decibels after turning on the device. After calculations, the noise produced by the Heatbit was about 55.8 decibels, much higher than the officially claimed level of 40 decibels. Nevertheless, it is still much quieter than ordinary ASIC mining rigs (which typically produce about 80 decibels of noise).

The typical power consumption of the device in mining-only mode is about 440W, slightly higher than the 400W reported in the app. The app usually reports a hash rate of about 10 TH/s, but we cannot directly verify this due to the inability to view the mining pool settings or reports. According to the app's data, the mining energy efficiency is about 40 J/Th, which is comparable to the efficiency of top ASICs released in early 2020 (about 5 years ago).

From an economic perspective, considering the cost of electricity for commercial use, this Mining Rig is a loss as a pure mining device. However, if it is viewed as a heater and used only when heating is needed, then the actual electricity cost can be considered zero. This makes mining potentially economically viable after deducting the equipment cost. Compared to ordinary electric heaters or high-end air purifiers, the price of Heatbit is slightly higher, but it can mine Bitcoin, which may bring certain economic advantages.

For tech companies with offices in cold regions and sufficient funding, this product may be an interesting choice. Although there is still room for improvement in terms of cost-effectiveness and functionality, as technology advances and energy efficiency improves, this type of device that combines mining and heating functions may find its place in the future.