With the help of this comprehensive repair guide, you can get your Antminer S17+ back in working order! This article describes typical Antminer S17+ hashboard problems and offers detailed repair guide.
Whether you’re a seasoned miner or just curious about Antminer S17 repairs, this post is a must-watch. Don’t let a broken hashboard prevent you from mining; find out how to fix it right away.
Table of Contents
Hash Board Parts Introduction
The article mainly introduces the various components needed by the hash board and their functions on the hash board.
1. Resistance
Code: R
Function: current limiting, partial pressure
Unit: Ohm (ohm or Ω)
Conversion: 1M=103K=106ohm
Law: The equivalent composite resistance value obtained after the resistors are connected in series is R=R1+R2;
The equivalent composite resistance value obtained after the resistors are connected in parallel is R=R1R2/(R1+R2);
Network resistor: Series network resistor RN, 8pinA type butt type;
Resistor RP, 10pinB network type, for parallel networks.
2. Capacity
Code: C
Function: filtering, coupling, blocking DC and passing AC
Unit: Farah F
Conversion: 1F=103mF=106uF=109nF=1012pF=1015fF
Law: The equivalent composite capacitance value obtained after the capacitors are connected in series is C=C1C2/(C1+C2);
The equivalent composite capacitance value obtained after the capacitors are connected in parallel is C=C1+C2;
Discharge capacity: CP
Polar capacitors: tantalum capacitors, aluminum capacitors.
3. Inductance
Code: L
Features: blocking AC, passing DC
Function: filtering, energy storage
Unit: Henry H
Conversion: 1H=103mH=106UH
Formula: Inductive reactance XL=2πf L
4. Diode
Code: D
Function: rectification, step-down, voltage stabilization, switching, detection, variable capacitance.
Features: unidirectional conductivity.
Type: The forward voltage of silicon diode is 0.6V～0.7V;
The germanium diode’s forward voltage ranges from 0.2 to 0.3 volts.
Polarity: The color ring or band has a negative end.
Zener tube: Working in the zone of reverse breakdown, DZ stabilizes the voltage.
Light-emitting diode: LED, which emits light when the forward conduction is conducted.
5. Triode
Code: Q
Function: switch, zoom.
Amplification conditions: A collector is reverse-biased, while the transmitting junction is forward-biased.
Classified by structure: NPN and PNP.
6. Field-effect Tube
Features: Utilize the electric field effect to regulate current.
Function: Change the resistance, amplify.
Type: Junction FET
Insulated gate field effect tube MOS:
N-channel (depletion type and enhanced type)
P-channel (depletion type and enhanced type)
A large drain current can be regulated using a small gate-source voltage.
7. Crystal
Code: Y
Unit: Hz
Conversion: 1Hz= 10-3KH = 10-6MH
8. Other
Integrated Circuit: U
Connecter: CN
Maintenance Platform / Tool Preparation
1. Grounding, an anti-static wrist strap, and a workbench for repairing rubber sheets are required for the platform.
2. Chip resistors, capacitors, and other small patches are soldered using a soldering iron with a tip that has a constant temperature range of 350°C to 360°C.; heat gun, BGA rework station for chip / BGA disassembly and soldering; multimeter, soldering steel pin and shrink tubing for easy measurement (Fluke 15b+ recommended); oscilloscope (Agilent recommended)
3. Requirements for the testing equipment include the APW9 + power supply, a power patch cord for the hash board’s power supply, a 1040 S17+ control board, and a hash board tester fixture.
4. Low-temperature solder paste Alpha OM550, flux, water for cleaning panels, anhydrous alcohol, tin-planting steel mesh, ball-planting steel mesh, solder wire, and solder balls (ball diameter is advised to be 0). After maintenance, thermal conductive paste is applied to chips and heat sinks.
5. Demand for common maintenance spare materials: 0402 resistance (0R, 33R, 1K, 4.7K,); 0201 resistance (0R), 0402 capacitor (0.1uf, 1uf)
Operation Requirements
1. Personnel performing maintenance must be skilled in BGA, QFN, and LGA package soldering as well as possess a certain level of electronic knowledge and more than a year of maintenance experience.
2. After repairing, the hash board must be tested to be OK for more than twice, otherwise, it shall be rejected.
3. When replacing the chip, please be mindful of the procedure. After changing any accessories, the PCB board shouldn’t have any obvious deformations. Verify the replacement parts and the surrounding area for any open or short circuits, missing parts, or open or short circuits.
4. Check the equipment, make sure the test fixtures can operate normally, figure out the maintenance station’s test software parameters, and so on.
5. You must check the entire chip before running the functional test after passing the repair and replacement chip test. The double-sided heat sinks must be soldered properly, and the cooling fan must be running at maximum speed, according to the functional test. You must place 3 hash boards simultaneously in order to create an air duct when using the chassis cooling function. Air duct formation must also be guaranteed by the single-sided production test (important).
6. Two fans that continuously run at full speed are used to dissipate heat when measuring the signal (it is advised to use a laser tachometer to check the fan speed).
7. For the front and back of the hash board, the steel windshield is under 21V voltage. Please keep the maintenance table tidy and insulated while performing measurements and maintenance to prevent short circuits.
8. To ensure that the new chip is pre-tinned before soldering it to the PCBA for maintenance when replacing one, apply solder paste to the pins and the BSM surface.
9. Repair_Mode mode is used by the maintenance end fixtures, and non-scanning mode testing is used for configuration files. The after-sale end is typically installed and aged (installed at the same level) after passing the test, and the production end begins the production line from the test piece. You can get the test configuration file from TE.
Production of Hash Board Tester and Precautions
The hash board tester’s supporting clamps should be able to support the hashboard while also allowing for adequate signal measurement and heat dissipation of the hashboard.
1. the hashboard tester’s calibration.
2. To update the control board FPGA, use the test fixture SD card flash program. Copy to the SD card after decompression, then place the card in the fixture card slot. Turn the power on for about a minute, then finish the update after three flashes of the control board indicator.
3. According to the specifications, a test SD card will be made. The single-sided heat sink creates the SD card using the file before brushing, while the double-sided heat sink creates the SD card using the file after brushing.
4. Serial port tools and a code scanning gun are needed for the double-sided test at the production end. For more information, please consult the test process file.
5. The after-sale end and contracted maintenance side do not require the use of the code scanning method (the SD card configuration file for the hash board tester needs to be changed; the request can be made to TE, who will test the configuration file for the hash board tester).
Principle Overview
1. S17+ Hash Board Working Structure
The hash board is composed of 65 BM1397 chips, which are divided into 13 groups, each group is composed of 5 ICs; the working voltage of the BM1397 chip used by the S17 hash board is 1.5V; the last 24.5V output by the boost circuit U6 powers the LDO, LDO outputs 1.8V, the last third and third groups are powered by 24.5V DCDC to output 1.8V, and the other groups are powered by 21V divided voltage to provide 1.8V through DCDC. As seen in Figure 4-1, the 1.8V of this domain supplies all 0.8V through the LDO output.
2. S17 Hash Board Boost Circuit
According to Figure 4-2, the power supply powers the boost from 21V to 24.5V.
3. S17 Chip Signal Direction
3.1 CLK (XIN) signal direction: It is generated by Y1 25M crystal oscillator and transmitted from chip 01 to chip 65. The voltage ranges between 1.45 and 1.65V when the device is operating (oscilloscope). Multimeter readings of voltage range between 0.7 and 0.9V.
3.2. TX (CI, CO) signal direction: input from pin 7 (3.3V) of the IO port, transferred to IC U2 through level conversion, then transmitted from chip 01 to chip 65; the voltage is 0V when the IO line is not inserted, and the voltage during operation is 1.8V.
3.3 RX (RI, RO) signal direction: from chip 65 to chip 01, returning to pin 8 of the signal cable terminal via U1 and returning to the control board; the voltage is 0.3V when the IO line is not inserted, and the voltage during operation is 1.8V.
3.4 The direction of the BO (BI, BO) signal is from chip 01 to chip 65, and the voltage, as determined by a multimeter, is 0V.
3.5 RST signal direction: input from IO port pin 3 and transmission from chip 01 to chip 65; 0V in the absence of an IO signal or when in standby, and 1.8V when in use.
4. Overall Architecture
The miner is mainly composed of 3 hash boards, 1 control board, APW9 + power supply, and 4 cooling fans, as shown in figure below.
Common Poor Phenomenon of Hash Board and Troubleshooting Procedure
Phenomenon: during single board test, chip is detected to be 0 (PT1 / PT2 station type)
Step one: check the power output first. Please verify the area highlighted in red in Figure below.
Step two: check the voltage domain voltage output
Each voltage domain has a voltage of roughly 1.6V. When power is supplied at 21V, a domain voltage is typically present. It is preferable to measure the output of the hash board’s power supply terminal in order to check whether the MOS is shorted (measure the resistance between pins 1, 4, and 8). Continue your downward inspection if the power supply is at 21V but the domain voltage is not.
Step three: check the PIC circuit
In order to continue troubleshooting, check to see if the fixture cable and the hash board are connected properly. If they are, then re-program the PIC. If not, measure the voltage on the second pin of U3 to see if it has an output. It should be around 3.2V.
PIC programming procedure:
1. Program the PIC program of the arithmetic board.
Procedure: 20190908-PIC1704-BHB07602-0x88.hex
Download the PICkit3 programming tool. Pin 1 of the cable must be connected to J3 on the PCB, and pins 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 must be connected to the PICkit3 cable.
2. Programming software:
Launch MPLAB IPE, choose the PIC16F1704 device, click power to choose your power supply type, and then click operate. Choose the file to locate the.HEX file that needs to be programmed as the first step. Click Connect in the following step to connect normally. Third step: click the program button, then click verify after finish. Prompt will be delivered to demonstrate the effectiveness of the programming.
Step four: check the boost circuit output
Test D5 and D8 in chart to detect voltage between 23-24.5V.
Step five: check the LDO 1.8V or PLL 0.8V output of each group
Step six: check the chip signal output (CLK / CI / RI / BO / RST)
You should think about the voltage range that the signal direction describes. If there is a significant voltage value deviation during the measurement, it can be compared to the measured values of nearby groups.
If the chip is still incomplete, for instance, if 64 chips are detected, you can troubleshoot by shorting the RO pull-up resistor R639 assuming that the chip signal pin output voltage is normal. After a short, if 64 chips can be found, chips 1-64 should all be in working order, and you can now troubleshoot chip 65. If 63 chips are detected after short-circuiting, conduct troubleshooting forward; it is recommended to adopt the dichotomy method for troubleshooting, that is, test from the middle (starting from the 32th).
Troubleshooting comparison table:
2. Phenomenon: Single board detection chip is incomplete (PT1 / PT2 station)
Examine the relevant signals (CLK/CI/RI/BO/RST) of the chip in front of and behind the error position, identify the problematic location using the IC with the abnormal signal measured, and repair the issue using the signal’s direction and voltage range.
3. Phenomenon: single board pattern NG, that is, the response nonce data is incomplete (PT2 station type)
The serial port is connected to the computer, and the computer reads the test log; according to the results displayed in the log, the chip position of insufficient nonce data can be determined; replace the chip at the corresponding position.
4. Phenomenon: Test temperature reading is abnormal (PT2 station)
Examine the chip connected to the corresponding temperature-sensing, the connection status between the temperature-sensing and the chip (TEMP_P; TEMP_N), and the soldering quality of the chip.
Verify the heat sinks connected to the temperature sensor on the front and back chips. If the heat sink is not welded well, it will affect the temperature difference.
Problems Caused by Control Board Issues
1. The whole miner is not running
To begin with, confirm that the voltages at various voltage output points are normal. If 3.3V shorts out, you can first disconnect U8. If the short circuit still exists, you can unplug the CPU for measurement. Replace the corresponding transformer IC if you notice any additional voltage anomalies.
The second step is to verify the welding status of the DDR and CPU (using an X-RAY inspection on the production side) if the voltage is normal.
Try updating the flash program with the SD card as a third step.
2. The whole miner cannot find the IP
Most likely, because of abnormal operation, the IP is not found. In order to troubleshoot, refer to point 1. Check the appearance and soldering of the network port, network transformer T1, and CPU.
3. The whole miner cannot be upgraded
A network port, network transformer T1, and CPU should all have their appearance and soldering checked.
4. The whole miner fails to read the hash board or has fewer chains
A. Check the cable connection
B. Check the parts of corresponding chain on the control board
C. Check the wave soldering quality of the pins and the resistance around the plug-in interface
Whole Miner Problems
1. Initial test of the whole miner
According to the test process documents, the two main issues are control board and assembly process problems.
Common occurrences include IP not being detected, an abnormally low fan count, and an abnormal chain.
2. The whole miner sweeping frequency band
If there is a significant difference in hashrate due to aging, check the corresponding hashboard’s hashrate deviation to determine whether it needs to be removed for maintenance testing.
Check to see if the network interruption is to blame for the low average hashrate.
Large temperature differences brought on by hashrate should be investigated. For hashboards operating at high temperatures, look into the quality of the heat sink’s welding.
Protection for aging miners: in general, overheating protection is required. Please keep the temperature in the aging environment below 40 degrees Celsius.
Less chain:
Disassemble the miner and test the corresponding hashboard if one of the chains cannot be found; if the hash board is found to be defective, repair the hash board; if the control board is found to be defective, repair the control board.
4. After-sales maintenance
For each station, refer to the troubleshooting steps listed above. For related test procedures and hash board testers, please communicate with the after-sales engineer for details. Please test PT2 in non-scanning mode following repairs.
Other Matters Needing Attention
Maintenance flowchart
• Routine test: first perform visual inspection on the hash board to be repaired, observe whether the PCB is deformed or burnt. If so, it needs to be handled right away; look for any components with obvious burn marks, collision offsets, missing components, etc.; secondly, if no problem is found through visual inspection, the impedance of each voltage domain can be tested first to detect whether there is a short circuit or an open circuit. If so, it needs to be handled first. Third, make sure that each domain has a 1.5V voltage.
• The hash board tester can be used to perform chip detection after the routine test is successful (in general, the short-circuit test is required for the routine test to prevent the chip or other materials from being burned due to a short circuit when the power is on). The positioning can then be determined using the hash board tester test results.
• Test the chip test points’ voltages (CO/NRST/RO/XIN/BI), VDD0V8 and VDD1V8, etc., in accordance with the test fixture’s display of the results. starting from the vicinity of the faulty chip.
• Find the abnormal fault point using the power supply sequence, taking into account the signal direction (the RX signal is transmitted from chip 65 to 1, while several other signals, including CLK CO BO RST, are transmitted from chip 1 to 65).
• When locating to the faulty chip, the chip needs to be re-soldered. The process involves adding flux (preferably no-clean flux) around the chip, heating the chip pin solder joints to a dissolved state to encourage the chip pins and the pads to re-run, and then removing tin to achieve the effect of re-tinning. The chip needs to be replaced right away if the failure persists after re-soldering.
• If the repaired hash board passes the fixture tests more than twice, it can be considered a high-quality product. The hash board should first be allowed to cool down after all of the accessories have been replaced before performing a fixture test. If the test is successful, the hash board should then be set aside and allowed to cool down. If the test is to be performed again, the hash board should be allowed to cool down completely first.
• After the board has been repaired, pertinent maintenance / analysis records should be kept (requirements for maintenance reports include date, SN, PCB version, tag number, bad cause, bad liability attribution, etc.).) should be prepared for feedback to production, after-sales, research and development departments.
• After the record is prepared, install the entire miner for conventional aging.
• Good products repaired at the production end should flow production from the first station of production (at least conduct the appearance inspection and start from the PT1 / PT2 test station)
