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Crypto Miners Direct

Hardware guide

Antminer L9 - Scrypt Mining for Litecoin and Dogecoin

Read Bitmain's published L9 specifications, see how one Scrypt machine earns Litecoin and Dogecoin together, and size its power, circuit and noise.

Last reviewed October 7, 2026 by James Emerson

The Antminer L9 is Bitmain's air-cooled miner for Scrypt, the proof-of-work algorithm of Litecoin and Dogecoin. Bitmain publishes it in 15, 16 and 17 GH/s versions, all at 210 J/GH (joules per gigahash; 0.21 J/MH), drawing 3,150 to 3,570 W from a single-phase 220–277 V supply. Through merged mining, the same work earns Litecoin and Dogecoin at once; it cannot mine Bitcoin. Every model figure below is manufacturer-published.

Key points

  • Bitmain publishes three versions: 15, 16 and 17 GH/s at 3,150, 3,360 and 3,570 W, each 210 J/GH.
  • Compare Scrypt figures (GH/s, J/GH or J/MH) only with other Scrypt machines, never with SHA-256 TH/s and J/TH.
  • With a pool that merge-mines, one L9 earns Litecoin and Dogecoin from the same hashing; you give the pool an address for each.
  • It needs a dedicated 220–277 V circuit installed by a qualified electrician to local code. Bitmain publishes a 20 A input current and 75 dB(A) at maximum fan speed.
  • Before buying, confirm the hashrate version and that the power supply is fitted.

Published specifications

L9 15 GH/s L9 16 GH/s L9 17 GH/s
Hashrate (typical) 15 GH/s 16 GH/s 17 GH/s
Power at the wall, 25 °C (typical) 3,150 W 3,360 W 3,570 W
Efficiency (typical) 210 J/GH 210 J/GH 210 J/GH
Efficiency in J/MH 0.21 0.21 0.21
Common to all versions Published figure
AC input 220–277 V single-phase, 50–60 Hz, 20 A
Power supply APW171215, part of the machine
Size (L × W × H) 400 × 195 × 290 mm
Weight 14.2 kg net; 16.3 kg gross (16 GH/s listing)
Noise 75 dB(A) at 25 °C, fans at maximum speed (16 GH/s listing)
Operating conditions −20 to 45 °C, 10–90% RH non-condensing, up to 2,000 m
Network RJ45 Ethernet 10/100M

Bitmain's current specification article and shop listing show only the 16 GH/s version; the 15 and 17 GH/s versions are in its L9 installation guide of July 2024. Gross weight, noise and the tolerances (±3% on hashrate, ±5% on power and efficiency) are published for the 16 GH/s version only. Bitmain lists Litecoin (LTC) and Dogecoin (DOGE) as the coins, plus smaller Scrypt coins such as Bells (BEL).

The arithmetic checks out: 15 × 210 = 3,150 W, 16 × 210 = 3,360 W and 17 × 210 = 3,570 W. Since 1 GH/s = 1,000 MH/s, 210 J/GH ÷ 1,000 = 0.21 J/MH. Every version costs the same electricity per unit of hashrate; a higher version gives more hashrate for more power.

Bitmain also sells the U2L9H, a separate hydro-cooled model published at 27 GH/s and 5,670 W on 380–415 V three-phase. It is not an L9 version and needs a coolant loop.

What Scrypt is

Scrypt is a function specified in RFC 7914. It is based on memory-hard functions, which the RFC says offer added protection against attacks using custom hardware. Litecoin uses it for proof of work: Litecoin Core computes each block's proof-of-work hash with scrypt. Dogecoin Core's documentation states that Dogecoin uses Scrypt for proof of work too. Bitcoin uses SHA-256d.

Mining ASICs are built for one algorithm. The litecoinpool.org FAQ answers the common question directly: a Bitcoin ASIC cannot mine Litecoin, because the two use very different hashing algorithms. Bitmain lists only Scrypt coins for the L9, so it cannot be pointed at Bitcoin either.

How merged mining pays Litecoin and Dogecoin

Dogecoin Core 1.8 introduced AuxPoW (auxiliary proof of work) from block 371,337, expected around 12 September 2014. Its release notes describe AuxPoW as a technology that "enables miners to submit work done while mining other coins, as work on the Dogecoin block chain". That is what lets a Litecoin miner mine Dogecoin at the same time.

In practice, for an L9 owner:

  1. The pool does it. litecoinpool.org states that the pool handles merged mining automatically and the miner needs no special configuration.
  2. Hashrate is not split. The same pool describes merged mining as mining all chains at the same time, so the machine's full hashrate counts towards both coins.
  3. You need two addresses. That pool asks each account for a Litecoin address and a Dogecoin address.
  4. Pools differ. litecoinpool.org, for example, does not pay smaller merge-mined coins out directly and uses them to support its pay-per-share rate. Read your pool's documentation and fee terms.

The result is two income streams, each set by its own network difficulty, block reward and coin price. For Scrypt coins, the site's calculator holds network figures for Litecoin only. A custom Litecoin configuration there leaves out merged-mined Dogecoin and understates the total, which is why the listed Litecoin and Dogecoin miners get no estimate. Use it for the Litecoin side and the power cost; nothing here predicts earnings.

Running cost

energy per day (kWh)      = power (kW) × 24
electricity cost per day  = power (kW) × 24 × price per kWh
kWh per GH/s per day      = J/GH × 0.024

The prices per kWh are illustrative inputs.

Version Power Energy per day At $0.04/kWh At $0.06/kWh At $0.08/kWh
15 GH/s 3.15 kW 75.60 kWh $3.02 $4.54 $6.05
16 GH/s 3.36 kW 80.64 kWh $3.23 $4.84 $6.45
17 GH/s 3.57 kW 85.68 kWh $3.43 $5.14 $6.85

Per unit of work that is 210 × 0.024 = 5.04 kWh per GH/s per day, or about $0.30 per GH/s per day at $0.06. Your break-even electricity price is daily revenue ÷ daily kWh, and with merged mining daily revenue means Litecoin plus Dogecoin after pool fees. Budget on the +5% power tolerance: 3,570 × 1.05 ≈ 3,749 W for the 17 GH/s version.

Electrical requirements

Current = watts ÷ volts, with power factor taken as ≈ 1:

Version At 220 V At 240 V At 277 V
15 GH/s 14.32 A 13.13 A 11.37 A
16 GH/s 15.27 A 14.00 A 12.13 A
17 GH/s 16.23 A 14.88 A 12.89 A

Bitmain publishes a 20 A input current. Under North American practice (NEC) a continuous load is commonly limited to 80% of the breaker rating, so sizing on 20 A gives at least 20 ÷ 0.8 = 25 A of breaker capacity; other regions follow their own codes. In the US, 240 V split-phase is in range; 120 V is not, and 208 V is below the 220 V minimum. Bitmain warns that the wrong input voltage can damage the machine.

Bitmain's installation guide requires an earthed outlet near the machine and easy to reach. Plug into a correctly rated outlet or PDU (power distribution unit), never an extension lead or power strip. A qualified electrician must design and install the circuit to local code. See 220V Bitcoin Mining.

Noise and heat

Bitmain's 75 dB(A) is stated at 25 °C with fans at maximum speed and no measurement distance. Its installation guide says the L9's fan speed percentage cannot be adjusted; the machine sets it automatically. Two machines add about 3 dB.

All the power becomes heat: about 10,748, 11,464 and 12,181 BTU/h for the 15, 16 and 17 GH/s versions (kW × 3,412). Intake air must stay within −20 to 45 °C; between 900 m and 2,000 m the maximum falls by 1 °C per 300 m, to about 41.3 °C at 2,000 m.

The installation guide also carries an FCC notice for certified models: the equipment meets Class A limits, intended for commercial environments, and operating it in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference that the user must correct at their own expense. An L9 belongs in a ventilated garage, outbuilding or farm. Bitcoin Mining at Home covers enclosures, ducting and heat.

Before you buy

  1. Version. Bitmain publishes 15, 16 and 17 GH/s. If a listing states another hashrate, ask the seller for its source and the power figure that goes with it.
  2. Power supply. Bitmain's installation guide names the APW171215 as part of the L9. Confirm it is fitted and which power cord comes with it.
  3. Model. A listing called "L9 Hydro" is likely Bitmain's U2L9H, a separate hydro model with three-phase input and a coolant loop; check the model name.
  4. Pool. Choose a pool that merge-mines and pays both coins, and have both wallet addresses ready.
  5. Firmware. The web interface shows the firmware version as a date. Bitmain warns that losing power during an upgrade means returning the unit for repair.
  6. Warranty and condition. Get in writing who provides warranty cover, and for how long. For a used unit, see How to Inspect and Test a Used ASIC Miner.

See the site's Antminer L9 listing and the wider range of Litecoin and Dogecoin miners, and check any listed hashrate against Bitmain's published versions above.

Sources