WhatsMiner Dynamic Power Curtailment

A practical guide for implementing dynamic power adjustment on WhatsMiner ASICs without rebooting.

Prerequisites

• Firmware Requirements:
  • Minimum: 20200801 (for Power Fast Boot support)
  • Recommended: 20241011 or newer (for full feature set)
  • Download Latest WhatsMinerTool
  • Download Latest Firmware
• Hardware Compatibility: M30 series and newer models only
• Power Fast Boot: MUST be enabled for dynamic adjustment without rebooting

Quick Start

1. Enable Power Fast Boot (btminer Fast Boot)

Navigate to Miner Config and enable Power Fast Boot (one-time reboot required).

Technical Detail: This feature (API: enable_btminer_fast_boot) prioritizes rapid power target achievement over hashrate stabilization, allowing the miner to reach full load within 1 minute at startup.

2. Configure Upfreq Speed (Adjust Upfreq Speed)

Controls frequency tuning speed during startup (range: 0-10). Choose based on your needs:

• 0: Normal frequency search speed (default, most stable)
• 1-2: Maximum efficiency, slowest tuning (base load operations)
• 5-6: Balanced for daily curtailment (8-10 min to full hashrate)
• 8-10: Fastest frequency ramp (~6-7 min to full hashrate), 2-3% efficiency loss

Technical Note: Higher values accelerate frequency search but may impact stability. The faster the speed, the greater the final hash rate and power deviation. Cannot be used simultaneously with Fast Boot mode.

3. Adjust Power Dynamically

Navigate to Adjust Power and select between:

• Normal Mode (set_power_pct_v2): Gradual adjustment spanning several minutes with minimal hashrate decline
• Fast Mode (set_power_pct): Dynamic adjustment within a single second, only approximate power percentage reached
• Wattage Mode (set_power): Direct wattage value setting for precise power control

Enter target wattage directly (e.g., 3700W → 3200W → 3700W). The miner adjusts without rebooting.

Important: Power adjustments are percentage-based internally but should be specified as absolute wattage in the interface.

Common Curtailment Scenarios

Daily Peak Shaving (2-6pm)

• Power Fast Boot: ON
• Upfreq Speed: 5-6
• Mode: Normal
• Strategy: 60% power during peak hours

Grid Emergency (<5 min response)

• Power Fast Boot: ON
• Upfreq Speed: 10
• Mode: Fast (if <2 min required)
• Strategy: Drop to minimum power immediately

Solar/Renewable Integration

• Power Fast Boot: ON
• Upfreq Speed: 6-8
• Mode: Normal
• Strategy: Match generation curve

Heat Management (Summer)

• Power Fast Boot: ON
• Upfreq Speed: 3-5
• Strategy: Reduce power with temperature rise

Quick Reference

Response Time	Upfreq	Mode	Use Case
<2 minutes	10	Fast	Emergency only
<5 minutes	8-10	Normal	Grid response
10-15 minutes	5-6	Normal	Daily curtailment
Precise power	Any	Wattage	Exact power limits
Any	3-5	Normal	Weekly adjustments

Key Points

• Without Power Fast Boot: Miner drops to 0W and restarts (sudden load release)
• With Power Fast Boot: Smooth power transitions, no mining interruption
• Normal Mode (set_power_pct_v2): Adjustment spans several minutes, minimal hashrate decline, well-suited for frequent power adjustments
• Fast Mode (set_power_pct): Sub-second adjustment, only approximate power percentage reached, advisable for temporary use only
• Wattage Mode (set_power): Direct wattage setting for precise power control without percentage calculations
• Power Limit vs Power Percent: Use percentage for temporary adjustments, limit for long-term operation

Restoring to Normal Operation

When you need to restore the miner back to tuning for best hashrate/efficiency:

Method 1: Restore Power PCT (API: restore_power_pct)

• Restores configurations made via set_power_pct or set_power_pct_v2
• No reboot required
• Returns to previous stable mining power

Method 2: Restore Miner Setting (Full Reset)

1. Navigate to the Restore Miner Setting option
2. Click the restore button (machine will reboot)

Important Notes:

• Method 1 is preferred for quick restoration after percentage-based adjustments
• Method 2 requires full reboot and clears tuning cache files
• After Method 2, expect extended startup time as the miner re-tunes from scratch

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Issue	Cause	Solution
Miner still reboots	Power Fast Boot not enabled	Enable Power Fast Boot in settings (requires one reboot)
	Old firmware	Update to firmware ≥20200801 (M30+ only)
Percentage adjustment causes reboot	API using percentage values	Always use absolute wattage (e.g., 3200 not 80%)
No power adjustment effect	Incompatible hardware	Feature only works on M30 series and newer
	Firmware too old	Update to latest firmware version
Slow startup after adjustment	Normal behavior with high upfreq	Lower upfreq speed for more stable startup
Efficiency loss	Fast mode enabled	Use Normal mode unless immediate response required
Cannot enable Fast Boot	Pre-M30 hardware	Feature not available on older models

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Based on reverse-engineered firmware behavior and field testing. WhatsMiner doesn't officially document these features.