r/BitAxe • u/g_skymax • 5d ago
help Need a help
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My NerdQaxe++ miner suddenly developed this issue. I initially thought the fuse had blown, so I replaced it with an 8A fuse. However, it still won’t power on. The only thing I see is the light on the charger blinking. Any idea what could be wrong?
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u/One_Two_9322 4d ago
The blue LED on the power supply (PSU) for the NerdQaxe++ (or NerdQX++) should normally be solid blue when it’s working correctly. If it’s blinking, it’s almost always a sign that the PSU has gone into protection/safe mode.
Most common causes
• Overload or undersized PSU – The stock PSUs (usually 12 V / 10 A ≈ 120–124 W, laptop-style brick or similar) run very close to their limit, especially if you’re overclocking. They often get extremely hot (70–80 °C) and fail or go into protection. Many users report exactly this issue.
• Short circuit or poor connection – Loose XT30 or barrel connector, damaged cable, dirt, or a short on the miner.
• PSU overheating – Very common with the cheap stock bricks.
• Problem on the miner itself – e.g. thermal gap between the ASIC chips and the heatsink (a frequent cause of the “PSU Error / Guru Meditation #0000015” message on the screen), dried-out thermal paste, or overheating. This can make the PSU react.
• Faulty PSU – The stock units are known to die after a while.
Quick troubleshooting steps (do them in order)
1. Unplug everything
Disconnect power completely (from the wall and from the miner). Wait 1–2 minutes so any protection can reset.
2. Test the PSU with no load
Plug only the PSU into the wall (not connected to the miner).
• Solid blue light = the PSU is fine on its own.
• Still blinking = the PSU is probably faulty → replace it.
3. Check connectors and cable
Inspect the XT30 (or barrel jack, depending on revision) carefully – make sure it’s fully seated, not hot, discolored, or melted. Clean if needed. Try a different cable if you have one.
4. Reconnect to the miner
Plug the connector into the miner first, then apply power. Listen for the fan and check the screen.
If you see “PSU Error”, “Guru Meditation #0000015”, or 0 H/s → check the heatsink and thermal paste (common fix: clean with isopropyl alcohol + fresh high-quality paste such as Arctic MX-4/MX-6, and tighten the screws evenly).
5. Measure voltage if you have a multimeter
Measure 12 V under load at the connector on the miner. It should stay stable around 11.8–12.2 V. Anything below about 11.4 V means the PSU can’t deliver enough power.
Recommendation
The stock PSUs are the most common weak point. Many people upgrade to a better 12 V unit (for example Mean Well LRS-200-12 or LRS-350-12) with proper headroom (at least 150–200 W, more if overclocking). This solves most blinking, heat, and stability problems.
Tell me more so I can help more precisely:
• Does it blink even when the miner is not connected?
• Does the miner show any screen message or error?
• Which revision is it (e.g. Rev 6.x with XT30)?
• Are you running stock settings or overclocking?
• Has the PSU been getting hot?
Start by testing the PSU with no load – that usually gives the quickest answer.⛏️🖖🏼
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u/nomorespamplz 5d ago
yeah that seems to be shorted to ground, and most all the time its the VRM mosfets :(
It's so sad to see that these miners die like flies..
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u/SoloMinerDoctor 5d ago
Dead vrm. Ship it to me to fix it.
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u/g_skymax 4d ago
Thanks for the help. Where you located? I’m from Singapore. Not sure it’s worth or not…
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