Reading Power Draw Labels Before a Hosting Agreement
The most common deposit loss we see at intake calls is not failed hashrate — it is power tier breach. A miner signs a hosting contract assuming the manufacturer’s label wattage matches what the host will meter. It often does not.
Label Wattage vs Wall Draw
ASIC manufacturers print a rated power figure on the unit and in spec sheets. That number assumes nominal voltage, factory firmware, and ambient temperature around 25°C. At 220V in a warm data hall after months of operation, wall draw can exceed the label by 5–15%.
Hosts meter at the PDU or rack feed, not at the chip. If your contract allocates 3,250W and your S19 Pro pulls 3,390W at the wall, you pay an overage fee or face a forced underclock — depending on contract language.
Three Numbers to Collect Before Signing
- Manufacturer label — Starting reference only.
- Independent measurement — 24–48 hour average at facility voltage. We log this during assessment.
- Contract tier ceiling — The maximum watts the host guarantees at your rate.
Compare number two against number three, not number one.
Voltage Matters for Korean Clients
Facilities in South Korea typically run 220V. Spec sheets sometimes quote at 240V or use North American 208V reference points. A unit tested at the wrong voltage before shipping will surprise you at intake.
Our Busan bench runs 220V to match the majority of Asia-Pacific hosts our clients use. If your target facility operates at a different voltage, tell us at intake so we can note the variance in your report.
Batch Variance
Units from the same order can draw differently. Fan wear, thermal paste age, and silicon lottery all contribute. We have logged spreads of 120W across ten S19 Pro units from a single purchase. Batch assessment catches outliers before they become penalty units at the host.
Contract Clauses to Read
Look for language about:
- Overage billing — Per watt or per tier jump
- Rejection at intake — Host’s right to refuse units that exceed stated draw
- Underclock policy — Who authorizes firmware changes to fit tier
If the contract is silent on overages, ask before signing. Silence does not mean generosity.
Next Step
Before you ship, request a hosted equipment assessment or at minimum a hashrate verification with power logging added. The small bench fee is insurance against a tier mistake that compounds monthly for the life of the contract.