When a propane gas heater failed, Bitcoin mining rescued a freezing caravan in Colorado.
Michael Schmid became acquainted with Bitcoin (BTC) in 2013; he installed Bitcoin core, mined a few BTC, and then purchased some from MtGox. Schmid told that he “lost interest” in Bitcoin immediately after the infamous Mt. Gox breach, in which he lost his Bitcoin.
Schmid became “very engaged” again in 2020, as fears about “endless money printing” disturbed him.
“Through that [money printing], I discovered that I am completely opposed to fiat money and feel that Bitcoin should serve as the world’s reserve currency and a store of value.”
Schmid, a diligent and inquisitive mind, dug back down the BTC mining rabbit hole, building on the knowledge he had excavated seven years earlier. He became acquainted with “ASICs, Antminers, and everything else that has occurred in the last years in the Bitcoin mining field” before experiencing a eureka moment.
“It makes far more sense to replace a resistive heater (such as a space heater) with a bitcoin miner, as both will convert electricity to heat, and the bitcoin miner will also create bitcoin.”
As Schmid was working in an office at the time, he “purchased a S9 from a buddy and heated my office using the S9 miner rather than the space heater, which worked brilliantly.” Schmid has stumbled upon a successful formula.
“Through that [money printing], I discovered that I am completely opposed to fiat money and feel that Bitcoin should serve as the world’s reserve currency and a store of value.”
Schmid, a diligent and inquisitive mind, dug back down the BTC mining rabbit hole, building on the knowledge he had excavated seven years earlier. He became acquainted with “ASICs, Antminers, and everything else that has occurred in the last years in the Bitcoin mining field” before experiencing a eureka moment.
“It makes far more sense to replace a resistive heater (such as a space heater) with a bitcoin miner, as both will convert electricity to heat, and the bitcoin miner will also create bitcoin.”
As Schmid was working in an office at the time, he “purchased a S9 from a buddy and heated my office using the S9 miner rather than the space heater, which worked brilliantly.” Schmid has stumbled upon a successful formula.
As they say, necessity breeds ingenuity, Schmid “began to consider how I [he] could design the system.” In an Airstream, space is at a premium, and if the S9 were to be installed inside, “it would easily overheat the airstream.”
“So I devised a plan to keep it outside in a box and direct the warm air into the airstream.”
After several iterations and a few minor burns, a short circuit, and one day when the airstream’s ambient temperature rivalled that of a Scandinavian sauna: “[I] got the airstream’s inside temperature to 90F [32 degrees Celsius] during one day while the heater was running when it shouldn’t,” Schmid cracked it.
The caravan was heated by solar panels on the roof and free campsite electricity, obviating the need for propane gas. Schmid continues, “We have a modest airstream (only 22ft), but larger RVs have considerably larger propane heater systems and would pay significantly more for propane (albeit they could also run more S9).”
However, why would anyone bother equipping an RV with a Bitcoin miner? Why not attempt to resolve the propane heater problem?
To be sure, it’s an interesting Bitcoin side project. Not only has this resolved the sporadic heating issues, but Schmid “saves approximately 50% of the propane costs, which is approximately $2.7 per day,” and earns “0.00006259 BTC each day,” according to current estimations.
Schmid and his fiancé, when combined, “technically heat the airstream for free” while also safeguarding the Bitcoin network.
Schmid sent the following message to any would-be miners:
“I strongly encourage anyone to experiment with home mining; I feel that one of the most essential aspects of Bitcoin is the decentralisation of both the currency and the mining infrastructure.”
He closes with an encouraging statement “The more home mining configurations available, the better.”
Disclaimer: These are the writer’s opinions and should not be considered investment advice. Readers should do their own research.
