Field notes
Breakeven checklist before you expand a rack
Use this list before you sign another hardware quote. It mirrors the afternoon block of our flagship seminar.
- All-in watts per unit — include PSU losses, not marketing stickers alone.
- Cooling share — fans, AC, or immersion pumps allocated to the new units.
- Tariff case A and B — current bracket and the bracket you enter after expansion.
- Demand charge exposure — estimated peak draw after the new units online.
- Hardware capital — purchase price plus shipping, duties, and setup labor you will actually pay.
- Replacement horizon — when efficiency aging or noise rules force a refresh.
- Lease or landlord constraints — power caps and notice periods that cut the model short.
If any item is a guess, mark it in red on the worksheet. In class we treat red cells as the first conversation, not footnotes. Operators who skip cooling or demand charges usually discover their payback date drifting after the deposit is already sent.
Want guided table time with an instructor? Review the Breakeven Planning Seminar or upcoming dates.