PINBALL POWER USAGE??

[ddstoys]

Does anyone know how to check how much power a pinball machine uses?    And how many amps they draw?

[ajlaird]

Do a search on the threads here as I am pretty sure this one got answered months ago.

[pinballist]

Hmmm...
If you can work out how much current flows through the transformer then you can work out power i.e: P = I x V

Using my Gottlieb EMs I can only hazard a guess here but if the mains transformer has a 5 amp slo blow fuse then lets say it actually sucks an average 2.5 amps at 240 volts then power consumption would be 600 Watts.

Of course the current consumption would vary between the machine being in full flight and sitting idle.

[ddstoys]

Hmmm...
If you can work out how much current flows through the transformer then you can work out power i.e: P = I x V

Using my Gottlieb EMs I can only hazard a guess here but if the mains transformer has a 5 amp slo blow fuse then lets say it actually sucks an average 2.5 amps at 240 volts then power consumption would be 600 Watts.

Of course the current consumption would vary between the machine being in full flight and sitting idle.

Thanks Evro never thought of that 5amp Max per machine or whatever the line fuse is i really dont think my 16amp circuit breaker will run all my machines at once lol  Upgrade time

[pinballist]

I think your 16 amp circuit should be okay unless you turn every machine on at once ;)

[slammer]

I know if I hooke up 5 machines to a power board with a breaker built into it, it will trip every time if you have all the machines switch on at once.(only on initial startup)
If you start each machine individually then the power board is OK and you can have all 5 machines playing at once with no issues.

Cheers Angelo

[jyebow]

Yeah Dan,
 I was a bit worried about power for my bring a pin meet. We had 5 EM's, 3 SS , 4 DMD machines + fridge, stereo, a 48 in 1 lowboy, 2 pokies running off 2 x 10 amp circuit breaker circuits with no probs. although I did have an extension cord ready to plug into "the good ladies" kitchen. .
It handled it no problem. There's is a few other guys I know running 12 & 13 pins + games in their shed & I don't think the power setup is anything different . I guess the current draw is not constant like other loads eg. vacuums, microwaves etc,etc.
anyway , hope this help.
cheers Steve.

[jpd]

I know if I hooke up 5 machines to a power board with a breaker built into it, it will trip every time if you have all the machines switch on at once.(only on initial startup)
If you start each machine individually then the power board is OK and you can have all 5 machines playing at once with no issues.

Cheers Angelo

+1 to Angelo. My 6 pins are all plugged into a surge protected power board and I've never had an issue even when my daughters 21st was in full flight. If I turn on the tumble dryer(which is on the same circut)it may pop the 16 amp circut breaker but the pins never have as long as I turn them on one at a time and let them "settle and self test".

[ddstoys]

Great to hear Guys thanks for your replies 

[studentprince]

If you are talking about em games it is pretty simple. Gottlieb em schematics from the 70s have the power consumption printed on them. Some examples are: Big Brave 126 Watts, Pioneer 149 Watts, Royal Flush 150 Watts. These figures equate to 0.525 Amps, 0.621 Amps and 0.625 Amps at 240 volts. So pinnies don't draw much at all. I cant see that electronic machines would be much different.

[ddstoys]

If you are talking about em games it is pretty simple. Gottlieb em schematics from the 70s have the power consumption printed on them. Some examples are: Big Brave 126 Watts, Pioneer 149 Watts, Royal Flush 150 Watts. These figures equate to 0.525 Amps, 0.621 Amps and 0.625 Amps at 240 volts. So pinnies don't draw much at all. I cant see that electronic machines would be much different.

Thanks mate most of mine are EMS so going by your details i should be fine