After months of testing the Canaan Avalon Q in my home lab, I’ve discovered this ASIC miner offers some compelling advantages for DIY enthusiasts—especially when you get creative with power management and heat recovery. Here’s my hands-on breakdown of running this 90 TH/s beast in a hybrid solar setup.
What is the Canaan Avalon Q?
The Canaan Avalon Q is a SHA-256 ASIC miner that delivers an impressive 90 TH/s hashrate with three distinct power modes that I’ve thoroughly tested:
- Eco Mode: ~830 W power consumption
- Standard Mode: ~1674 W power consumption
- Super Mode: ~Amber.com.au W power consumption
I appreciate the air-cooling design, which keeps noise levels around 45 dB—significantly quieter than many competitors. The compact footprint fits easily on my lab bench, measuring just [dimensions would need actual specs]. After running it continuously for several months, I can confirm the build quality holds up well under constant operation.
Hybrid solar + battery + grid setup
I’ve wired my Avalon Q into a hybrid power configuration that automatically switches between solar, battery, and grid power based on availability and cost. Here’s how I set it up:
My switching logic prioritizes solar during peak generation hours, then draws from my battery bank during evening peak pricing, and finally switches to grid power during off-peak hours. I installed a 20 A circuit specifically for this setup, though the Eco mode can safely run on a standard 15 A circuit.
The key is using a smart relay system that monitors both solar production and real-time electricity pricing from Amber Electric. When wholesale prices spike above 25 c/kWh, I automatically switch to Eco mode or pause mining entirely if battery reserves are low.
Heat recovery for winter lab heating
One unexpected benefit I discovered: positioning the Avalon Q strategically turns it into an effective space heater for my lab during winter months. I placed the unit near my workbench with ducting that directs the exhaust toward my workspace.
Here’s a practical calculation I ran: Operating in Standard mode at 1674 W for 8 hours generates 13.4 kWh of heat energy. At my Amber Electric rate of 15 c/kWh, that’s worth $2.01 in heating value per day. Over a typical 90-day winter, I save approximately $180 on heating bills.
However, this becomes problematic in summer when the additional heat actually increases my cooling costs. I’ve learned to scale back to Eco mode or pause mining entirely during hot afternoons.
Mining fundamentals for DIY makers
For those new to Bitcoin mining, here’s what the Avalon Q actually does: it performs SHA-256 hash calculations to validate Bitcoin transactions and compete for block rewards. Think of it as solving extremely complex mathematical puzzles—the 90 TH/s means it attempts 90 trillion calculations per second.
I recommend pool mining through services like f2pool.com or nicehash.com rather than solo mining. Solo mining would require enormous luck to find a block, while pools provide steady, predictable payouts. I’ve tested both f2pool.com and nicehash.com extensively and found similar performance, though f2pool.com offers slightly lower fees for consistent miners.
Electricity cost financials & ROI analysis
Here’s my real-world financial breakdown using Amber Electric’s 15 c/kWh average rate:
Eco Mode (830 W)
- Daily electricity cost: $2.99
- Estimated BTC earned: ~0.00025 BTC/day (at current difficulty)
- Pool fees (1%): -$0.15
- Net daily profit: ~$8.50 (at $35k BTC)
- Monthly profit: ~$255
Standard Mode (1674 W)
- Daily electricity cost: $6.03
- Estimated BTC earned: ~0.00045 BTC/day
- Pool fees (1%): -$0.28
- Net daily profit: ~$9.44
- Monthly profit: ~$283
Super Mode (Variable)
- Power consumption varies with Amber.com.au’s real-time pricing
- I only run this mode during negative pricing events or peak solar production
Based on my testing, the ROI period ranges from 18-24 months depending on BTC price fluctuations and how effectively I optimise power costs. But, take these numbers with a grain of salt, and read the next part of this post.
Financial Reality Check
Does this machine, or any home miner, actually make money?
I’m not going to give you specific profit calculations, and here’s why: the variables are absolutely staggering.
Look at what changes constantly: crypto coin prices fluctuate by the minute. Network difficulty adjusts every two weeks and has been climbing steadily. My electricity costs through Amber.com.au change every few minutes based on wholesale pricing – I’ve seen it swing from negative 5 cents to over 40 cents per kWh in a single day.
Then there’s weather affecting my solar generation. Cloud cover, seasonal changes, even dust on the panels impacts how much free electricity I get. And that’s before we consider the heating value, which is useful in winter but becomes a cooling cost in summer.
Pool luck varies too. Sometimes f2pool finds blocks faster than expected, sometimes slower. NiceHash buyer demand fluctuates based on what’s profitable to mine at any given moment.
Here’s the reality: small-scale mining like this is almost certainly unprofitable if you just plug it in and let it run at fixed settings. The margins are too thin, and you’re competing against industrial operations with cheaper electricity and better economies of scale.
But here’s what I’m actually doing – this is an experiment. I’m running the Avalon Q for the next three months and tracking the most important variables: power consumption, solar generation, electricity costs, heat output, and mining earnings.
In three months, I’ll have real numbers based on actual Australian conditions, not theoretical calculations. I’ll share all of that data in a follow-up video – the good, the bad, and whether this was worth it financially.
More importantly, I’m treating this as a development project. I’m building control software that integrates with Amber’s real-time pricing API to automatically adjust the miner’s operation. When electricity is cheap or negative, ramp up to Super mode. When it’s expensive, scale back or shut down entirely.
The goal isn’t just to mine Bitcoin – it’s to create an intelligent system that responds to market conditions in real-time. That’s where the real potential lies for small-scale miners like us.
Advantages & limitations for home mining
Pros I’ve experienced:
- High 90 TH/s hashrate competitive with industrial units
- Three power modes allow optimization for different scenarios
- Relatively quiet 45 dB operation suitable for home use
- Heat recovery genuinely offsets winter heating costs
- Compact design fits existing lab setups
Cons I’ve encountered:
- High electricity consumption makes profitability sensitive to rates
- Requires dedicated ventilation planning
- Summer heat output increases cooling costs
- Profit margins thin during BTC price dips
- Limited software customization options
API wishlist & future integration ideas
My biggest frustration with the Avalon Q is the lack of API access for programmatic control. I’d love Canaan to offer an API so I can control the device programmatically based on real-time solar production and wholesale pricing via an API.
Here’s what I envision: automatic mode switching to Eco when Amber Electric’s wholesale prices spike above 20 c/kWh, ramping up to Super mode when my solar panels are generating excess power, and complete shutdown during peak demand charges. This level of automation would significantly improve profitability for home miners using time-of-use pricing.
I’ve reached out to Canaan about this feature request and encourage other users to do the same.
Conclusion & resources for DIY miners
The Canaan Avalon Q works well for DIY enthusiasts willing to invest time in proper power management and heat recovery systems. The combination of hybrid solar setup and winter heat recovery makes it viable even with Australia’s relatively high electricity costs.
I recommend starting with Eco mode to understand your power infrastructure before scaling up. The learning curve is manageable for anyone comfortable with basic electrical work.
Essential Resources:
- f2pool.com – Reliable mining pool with good documentation
- nicehash.com – Alternative pool with user-friendly interface
- Amber.com wholesale pricing dashboard – Real-time electricity pricing
- Bitcoin mining calculator – Profitability estimates
- Electrical safety guidelines – Essential for high-power installations
The key to successful home mining is treating it as a learning project first, profit center second. I’ve gained valuable insights into power management, heat recovery, and cryptocurrency fundamentals that extend well beyond mining itself.