When you spend several hundred — or several thousand — dollars on an ASIC miner, understanding the warranty is just as important as understanding the hashrate. Mining hardware runs hard. It draws significant power, generates heat, and operates 24 hours a day. Failures happen, and when they do, knowing what you're entitled to can save you a lot of money and frustration.
This guide explains how manufacturer warranties work for the most common ASIC brands sold in Australia, what typically voids them, and — crucially — how your rights under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) exist independently of whatever the manufacturer says in their warranty document.
Manufacturer Warranties: The Basics
Most ASIC miners sold in Australia come with a manufacturer warranty of 180 days (six months) as standard, though some brands offer longer coverage on specific components. The warranty typically covers defects in materials and workmanship — meaning the unit fails to perform as advertised under normal operating conditions.
Here's how the main brands approach warranty for hardware commonly stocked in Australia:
Bitmain (Antminer)
Bitmain offers a 180-day warranty on Antminer units from the date of purchase. This covers the hash boards, control board, and power supply unit (on models with integrated PSUs). Bitmain's warranty process requires you to contact their support team, provide proof of purchase, and ship the unit or faulty component to their designated repair centre — which for Australian customers typically means international freight to their service hub in Hong Kong or a regional RMA partner. Return freight costs are generally the buyer's responsibility unless Bitmain determines the fault is a manufacturing defect.
The Antminer S21 Pro, Antminer S21, and Antminer S19K Pro all fall under this standard 180-day policy.
Canaan (Avalon)
Canaan provides a 180-day limited warranty covering manufacturing defects on their Avalon series. Like Bitmain, coverage applies from the date of shipment rather than the date of first use — so if there's a delay between delivery and setup, the clock is already ticking. Canaan's warranty process involves contacting their support portal and following an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorisation) procedure.
The Canaan Avalon Q and Canaan Avalon Nano 3S are both covered under this policy.
MicroBT (WhatsMiner)
MicroBT offers a 180-day warranty on WhatsMiner units. One notable aspect of MicroBT's policy is that it covers the integrated PSU (which is built into the chassis on WhatsMiner models), so you're not dealing with a separate PSU warranty window. Their RMA process is handled through authorised distributors in most markets, which can simplify the process slightly for Australian buyers who purchased through a local retailer.
Goldshell
Goldshell provides a 180-day warranty on their miners. Given that many Goldshell units — such as the Goldshell Mini Doge III and Goldshell SC-LITE — are compact desktop-class miners with Wi-Fi, warranty claims tend to be more straightforward given the lower freight cost of smaller units.
IceRiver
IceRiver offers a 180-day warranty on their KS series Kaspa miners, including the IceRiver KS0 Ultra. As a newer manufacturer, IceRiver's support infrastructure is still maturing, and warranty claims may require more back-and-forth than established brands.
Smaller and Open-Source Miners
Compact solo miners like the Gamma 602 Bitaxe, NerdQX, NerdOCTAXE, and the Lucky Miner LV06 / LV08 typically come with shorter warranty periods of 90 days, reflecting their entry-level price point and the open-source nature of some designs. Check the specific product page for each unit's warranty terms.
What Is Typically Covered
Across all major brands, manufacturer warranties generally cover:
- Hash board failure — chips or solder joints that fail without physical damage or modification
- Control board defects — firmware boot failures or communication errors that are traced to a hardware fault
- Integrated PSU failure (where applicable) — on units with built-in power supplies
- Fan failure — in some cases, though this varies by brand and is sometimes considered a consumable component
- Dead-on-arrival (DOA) units — units that fail within a short window after delivery are typically fast-tracked under DOA claims
What Voids or Limits the Warranty
This is where most Australian miners come unstuck. The following are the most common warranty exclusions across manufacturers:
Physical Damage
If a hash board is cracked, a connector is bent, or there is evidence of water ingress, the warranty is void. This includes damage from improper installation, dropping the unit, or inadequate cooling causing thermal warping. Good thermal management isn't just about performance — it's about keeping your warranty intact through an Australian summer.
Unauthorised Firmware
Flashing third-party firmware — such as BraiinsOS+, LuxOS, or VNish — will typically void the manufacturer warranty on Bitmain and Canaan units. Most manufacturers explicitly state that only their official firmware is supported under warranty. If you're considering custom firmware for performance gains, read our guide on whether to flash your miner's firmware before making that call — particularly if your unit is still within the warranty period.
Overclocking
Running a miner beyond its rated frequency or voltage — even using the manufacturer's own interface — can void the warranty if it causes component failure. Manufacturers typically specify a rated operating range, and damage sustained outside that range is excluded. See our guide on overclocking your ASIC safely without voiding the warranty for how to approach this carefully.
Operating in Non-Standard Conditions
Most warranties require the unit to be operated within specified temperature and humidity ranges. Running a miner in an unventilated shed in 40°C summer heat — without adequate cooling — that causes a failure may be excluded from warranty coverage. This is a genuine concern for Australian home miners, particularly in WA, QLD, and regional areas. Ensure your setup has adequate airflow before leaving a unit running unattended.
Power Supply Issues
Using an incompatible or underpowered PSU (on units that require an external power supply) can void the warranty if it causes damage. Australian miners should also be aware that some legacy miners were originally designed for 110V markets — always confirm 240V/50Hz compatibility before running any unit on the Australian grid.
Tampered Seals
Opening the unit beyond what's required for user-accessible maintenance — such as removing hash boards in a way that breaks manufacturer seals — can void the warranty. Some manufacturers use tamper-evident labels on the chassis or hash board enclosures.
Australian Consumer Law: Your Rights Beyond the Warranty
Here's what many miners don't realise: the manufacturer warranty is an addition to your legal rights — it is not a replacement for them. Under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), all products sold in Australia must meet consumer guarantees regardless of what any warranty document says.
The most relevant guarantee for mining hardware is that goods must be of acceptable quality — meaning they are safe, durable, free from defects, and fit for their intended purpose. If a unit fails within a timeframe that a reasonable person would not expect, you may be entitled to a remedy even after the manufacturer warranty has expired.
What this means in practice:
- If an ASIC miner fails after seven months and the manufacturer warranty is six months, you may still have a claim under the ACL if the failure is due to a manufacturing defect — not misuse
- The ACL remedy may be against the retailer (MinerHub) rather than the manufacturer directly
- ACL rights cannot be excluded or overridden by manufacturer warranty terms
- The ACL does not cover fair wear and tear, damage caused by misuse, or components that are reasonably consumable (such as fans)
For a major failure — one where the product doesn't do what it's supposed to do, and the problem can't be fixed within a reasonable time — you're entitled to choose a refund or replacement. For minor failures, the retailer or manufacturer can choose to repair, replace, or refund.
If you believe you have an ACL claim, you can contact the retailer directly in the first instance. If unresolved, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and state-level consumer protection agencies (such as Consumer Protection WA or Fair Trading NSW) can provide guidance and escalation pathways.
Buying New vs Second-Hand: Warranty Implications
If you're purchasing a second-hand ASIC miner, the manufacturer warranty almost always transfers only to the original purchaser — meaning you inherit the remaining warranty period (if any), but you also inherit any warranty voidance events that occurred under the previous owner's use. This is one of the most overlooked risks when buying used hardware, and something we cover in detail in our guide to new vs second-hand ASIC miners.
Your ACL rights, however, do not typically apply to private second-hand sales — only to purchases from businesses. If you buy a used miner from a private seller on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace, you're purchasing with minimal consumer protection recourse if something goes wrong.
Practical Tips for Protecting Your Warranty
Keep your proof of purchase. A tax invoice or order confirmation is essential for any warranty claim. Without it, manufacturers and retailers cannot verify the purchase date.
Document the condition at unboxing. Take photos or a short video when you first open the unit. If a DOA claim becomes necessary, evidence of the original condition is invaluable.
Run the miner at stock settings initially. Before making any configuration changes, confirm the unit runs stably for 24–48 hours at factory defaults. This establishes a baseline and helps identify any genuine manufacturing defects early.
Monitor your stats consistently. A sudden drop in hashrate, a rise in rejected shares, or an abnormal temperature reading may indicate early hardware issues. Catching these early — and logging them — strengthens a warranty claim. Our guide on how to read your miner's stats explains what to watch.
Keep the original packaging. Most manufacturers require units to be returned in original packaging to prevent freight damage during the RMA process. Disposing of the box immediately after unboxing is a common mistake.
Contact the retailer first. For units purchased through MinerHub, contact us at hello@minerhub.com.au in the first instance. We can assist with coordinating warranty claims and, where applicable, provide ACL remedies directly without requiring you to navigate overseas manufacturer support channels.
What to Do If Your Miner Fails
If your unit develops a fault, here's the recommended process:
- Check your miner's web dashboard for error codes or fault indicators — many issues are logged in the status interface and can help diagnose whether the problem is software or hardware
- Try a firmware reset to rule out a software glitch before assuming a hardware fault
- Contact MinerHub with your order number, a description of the fault, and any error codes or log data you can capture
- Do not attempt to open or repair the unit yourself during the warranty period, as this will void your coverage
- Document everything in writing — email rather than phone calls — so you have a clear record if escalation is needed
If you're troubleshooting remotely, our guide on monitoring your ASIC miner remotely covers the dashboard tools and apps that can help you diagnose issues without needing physical access to the unit.
The Bottom Line
Manufacturer warranties on ASIC miners are generally limited — 180 days is industry standard, and the exclusions are real. But your protections as an Australian consumer extend beyond those terms through the ACL, and purchasing from a local retailer rather than direct-importing gives you a much clearer pathway to remedy if something goes wrong.
Before you buy, check the specific warranty terms for the unit you're considering. Before you modify anything, consider whether the performance gain is worth the warranty risk. And if a fault does occur, act quickly — the earlier you identify and report an issue, the stronger your claim.
Browse the full range of ASIC miners available from MinerHub — all sold with Australian Consumer Law protections and local support — across our Bitcoin miners and altcoin miners collections.
