HT on Nostr: Someone asked me what it takes to put on a 5MW infra plan so i wrote it up with cost ...

Someone asked me what it takes to put on a 5MW infra plan so i wrote it up with cost avg.... here ya go world.

1,428 MicroBT ASICs at 3.5 kW each on a raw 5 MW bus. If you budget a realistic PUE 1.05 - 1.10, that’s 1,360–1,300 miners powered concurrently.

Maths:
Raw count: 5,000 kW / 3.5 kW ≈ 1,428 units.

Container plan

Spec’d 4 × 1.5 MW containers = 6 MW of rack capacity. Your generation is 5 MW.

Oversized here for 80% infra to mitigate heat issues durring summer months.

Run 1.5 MW container at ~1.25 MW per container (even split). a 1.25 MW container 357 asics.

Electrical one-liner (clean and cheap) shouldn't be more that few hundred dollars to electrical engineers office.

Best practice to kill copper costs and voltage drop:

1. Paralleled gens: 2 × 2.5 MW turbines at 480 V into a 480 V generator switchboard, each on a ~3,200 A breaker (2.5 MW/(√3·480·0.95) ≈ 3,165 A).

2. Step-up to MV: 2 × 2.5 MVA 0.48 kV to 4.16 kV transformers (or 13.8 kV). Tie to an MV bus.

3. Distribute MV to pads near each container.

4. Step-down at the edge: 4 × 1.25–1.5 MVA MV to 415Y/240 V pad-mounts, one per container.

5. LV switchboard at each container feeds PDUs.

Why I recommend this: pulling 7,300 A at 415 V across site is a cable, cost crime. MV distribution fixes that.

Main 480 V board to 2 × 2.5 MVA 480 to 415Y/240 V transformers in parallel → common 415 V board.
From 415 V board to each container:

1.5 MW feeder current ≈ 2,200 A (1.5 MW/(√3·415·0.95)).

Expect 5–6 runs/phase of 500 kcmil Cu or 7–8 runs/phase of 750 kcmil Al per container to stay within ampacity and voltage-drop limits (exact run count depends on length, ambient, grouping, and NEC derates).

Transformer sizing and notes

Edge pad-mounts: 1.25–1.5 MVA, MV primary (4.16 or 13.8 kV), 415Y/240 V secondary, Z ~ 5–6%, ONAN/NEMA 3R, taps ±2×2.5%.

Central step-up: 0.48 feed to MV at 2.5 MVA each, or buy turbines with MV alternators and skip the step up.

If staying LV-LV: dry-type 2.5 MVA 480Δ to 415Y/240 exists off the shelf.

Switchgear and breakers (typical)

480 V generator breakers: 3,200–3,500 A each.

415 V main bus rating: ≥8,000 A if centralized.

Container feeders: 2,000–2,500 A frame per 1.25–1.5 MW container, adjustable trips set by cable study.

Conductor quick math (centralized LV case)

Site-total at 415 V: ~7,300 A (5 MW/(√3·415·0.95)).

Per container: ~2,200 A at 1.5 MW; 1,830 A at 1.25 MW.

Feeder count guide (THHN/XHHW-2, 75–90 °C, in multiple conduits): plan 5–6× 500 kcmil Cu/phase for 1.5 MW over modest distances. Check voltage drop and derates before final.

Rough capex ranges (equipment only, excludes site/civils/MEP/labor)

Gas turbines 2.5 MW class: equipment-only $700–$1,200/kW at this scale.

Two units avg $3.5–$6.0 M range pending make/model and package.

Capstone path is modular (C1000S = 1 MW blocks), often priced used/new per unit; multi-MW achieved in parallel.


Pad-mount transformers 2.5 MVA: $90k–$150k each depending on voltage and options.

1.25–1.5 MW mining containers (shells): wide spread. Air-cooled 20–40 ft units typically $50k–$150k; high-density or hydro options can push higher.

Cabling/switchgear: highly distance-dependent. Centralized LV design balloons copper. MV distribution plus edge step-downs usually cuts conductor cost by 40–60% vs long 415 V pulls. (Engineering judgment; validate with your actual runs.)


Deliverables you can lift into RFQs

Generation: 2 × 2.5 MW natural-gas turbines, 480 V alternators, continuous duty, black-start package, utility-grade sync/protection.

Transformers:

Option A(my recommendation): 2 × 2.5 MVA 480→4.16 kV step-up; 4 × 1.25–1.5 MVA 4.16 kV→415Y/240 V pad-mounts at container pads.

Option B (LV-LV): 2 × 2.5 MVA 480→415Y/240 V near gens; 4 × 2,000–2,500 A 415 V feeders to containers.


Switchgear: 480 V gen board with two 3,200 A breakers and tie; MV switchgear with four feeders; or 415 V board with four 2,000–2,500 A feeders.

Conductors: Per container feeder sized for 1.25–1.5 MW at 415 V. Plan 5–6 × 500 kcmil Cu/phase (or 7–8 × 750 kcmil Al/phase) for short-to-moderate runs; finalize by NEC 310 ampacity, 250.122 EGC, and voltage-drop calcs.

COSTS ASSOCIATED NEW VS USED:
clean parts-only build sheet for 5 MW at 3.5 kW/ASIC. Count = 1,428 ASICs $285,600 at $200 each. Everything else is line-itemed New vs Refurb with assumptions stated.

Assumptions

Power topology: 2× 2.5 MW gens, central 480 to 415/240 step-down (2× 2.5 MVA), then 415 V feeders to 4× containers.

Feeder length placeholder = 200 ft per container. Change L and multiply.

Feeder sizing (415 V) per 1.25–1.5 MW container: 5 parallel runs/phase of 500 kcmil Cu (or 750 kcmil Al) with neutral and EGC in each conduit. That’s 25 conductors/container.

Electrical labor $150/hr. Crane allowance shown. Transport $50k total. Gas hookups $25k.

Unit prices (to calc conductors and options)

500 kcmil Cu THHN: ~$12.5–$17.1/ft. Use $15/ft midpoint.

750 kcmil Al XHHW-2: ~$6.8–$7.7/ft. Use $7.25/ft.

15 kV MV-105, 350 kcmil (for future MV option): ~$32/ft.

2.5 MVA LV-LV 480Δ→415Y/240 (new, NEMA 3R/dry or pad-mount oil): budget $220k–$260k each; use $240k. Example new 2.5 MVA pad-mount pricing shown. Refurb comps in the $20k–$100k band depending on type.

2.5 MW turbines/gens (continuous duty): New $1.3M–$1.8M each (use $1.6M mid); Refurb/used $0.6M–$1.0M (use $0.8M). Comps shown (CAT 2.5 MW new, MTU 2.5 MW new, Jenbacher 2–2.5 MW used).

Mining containers 1.5 MW: Used $50k, New $150k.

Crane: allow $25k–$35k total for 2–3 days of 100–175 ton with mobilization.

Conductor maths (per container @ 415 V, 200 ft)

Copper option: 25 conductors × 200 ft = 5,000 conductor-ft × $15/ft = $75,000 per container is $300,000 for 4.

Aluminum option: 5,000 conductor-ft × $7.25/ft = $36,250 per container is $145,000 for 4.
(Formula to adjust: Total $ = containers × 25 × length(ft) × unit $/ft.)

Line-item quote (NEW build)

2× 2.5 MW gas turbines/gens, new @ $1,600,000 … $3,200,000.

2× 2.5 MVA 480 step down 415/240 transformers, new @ $240,000 … $480,000.

4× 1.5 MW mining containers, new @ $150,000 … $600,000.

415 V feeders (Cu, as specced) = $300,000 at 200 ft/container.

Main/switchgear & distribution (480 V + 415 V boards, breakers, protection): $250,000 (allowance, new).

ASICs 1,428 @ $200 … $285,600.

Electrical labor allowance 1,200 hrs × $150/hr … $180,000.
Crane allowance … $30,000.
Transportation … $50,000.
Gas hookups … $25,000.


NEW total ≈ $5,401,000.


Line-item quote (REFURB/USED build)

2× 2.5 MW turbines/gens, refurb @ $800,000 … $1,600,000.

2× 2.5 MVA 480→415/240 transformers, refurb @ $80,000 … $160,000.

4× 1.5 MW mining containers, used @ $50,000 … $200,000.

415 V feeders (Al option) ≈ $145,000 at 200 ft/container.

Switchgear refurb allowance … $120,000.

ASICs 1,428 @ $200 … $285,600.

Electrical labor $180,000.
Crane $30,000.
Transportation $50,000.
Gas hookups $25,000.


REFURB/USED total ≈ $2,796,000.

Notes that save you money

If you flip to MV distribution (480→4.16/13.8 kV near gens, pad-mounts at each container), your feeder copper drops massively. Example: 15 kV 350 kcmil at $19.2k/container for 200 ft**, vs $75k copper at LV. Net can remain lower even after adding four pad-mounts.