Thanks Ashitank.
Additional information.
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2) use the cgminer "java API stat" and look at the last miner (that should be last one due to hotplug)
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"java API stats"
And it lists all the pools after the devices, so yes the last device (i.e. where [ID] != POOL* which come after the devices)
Thanks for pointing that out.

Another tip, if you want to hardcode all engines to be running (regardless it's functional or not) change __TOTAL_DIAGNOSTICS_RUN from 10 to 0. It will skip all tests on the engines. Beware of the high HW error rate.
Next thing I wanna try is to change DO_NOT_USE_ENGINE_ZERO and overclocking it to 350mhz on the frequency and see what will happen. Hopefully it won't brick

Last but not least to max out the fan speed (FAN_CONTROL_BYTE_REMAIN_FULL_SPEED) if the above is successful.