Quote from: 2112 on June 09, 2018, 11:26:42 PM

[...] Basically it has been tried already in the days when Bitcoin could still be mined by the GPU cards. Some guy did that in Germany or in Finland. It was linked on this forum, but either I can't find it or it is gone. He couldn't keep his setup working even a single full year.

The main technical point is that protection from the elements in a non-trivial undertaking. It is not only about keeping it cool, it is also about keeping it warm and dry when not operating or operating with constrained power.

The moisture condensation and icing will void any warranty for the electronics, unless you buy marine-rated equipment.

Additionally, the warranty on panels in the USA will probably be unenforceable. I've been told that those companies reselling and installing the solar equipment are intentionally created to go bankrupt, they may as well offer 100 years of warranty. That is apparently some political stuff more difficult to explain, which I don't fully understand. I didn't see the actual panels discussed in this thread, but I've seen some other sold and installed in the USA and they weren't designed to last.

I'm sorry for raining on your parade.

You may be right about shell LLC's designed to block all warranty claims, but it is possible to shield electronics from wind, wet, and snow.

I'm not saying it is street legal, but I have used your typical eBay inverters (sellers like: ChargerAngel) to backfeed power into my residence. The inverters are housed in marine battery boxes, with the top vents sealed with silicone. It's cheap, and the inverters have made it through snow, rain, Nor' Easters, and hurricane Sandy. Solar is pretty damn set it up right and forget it. Completely different than setting up miners.

If you can find a good spot to lean solar panels up against your dwelling, you can do this. You don't need to roof mount, you don't need fancy frames. Use the space underneath the panels to house inverters and whatever other electronics you are working with. Keep everything off the ground by a foot or two or three.

I haven't put a miner outside, but so long as it is elevated off the ground, and there is a decent plastic housing that is waterproof, I see no reason why this can't be done.

Also: spray silicone can help so long as you let it dry completely. As in apply it, go away for a week or more before applying power to what you sprayed. Yes, I have done this. All my Vega cards were stripped down, sprayed with silicone, Raijen Morpheus heat fins & 120mm fans applied afterwards. Very quiet, cooler than the reference blower, and running just fine.

Try the silicone spraying on something very cheap. Let it dry thoroughly. Test it.