What main fuse size does everyone use?

[48]

Still playing with this sys 11 game.
A general question, what size main fuse does everyone here use in their pinballs?
Reading the manuals tells me to use a 4 amp slow blow, but research here seems to lean to 5 amp.
I can fire this thing up OK with a 4 amp, however, when I turn it off and on it seems to blow the fuse every other time.
Wondering if 4 amp is a little low or do I have a bigger problem somewhere?
AFAIK this is an Aussie delivered machine not a US import.
New power board installed and tests OK so no problems with that.
Any ideas?

[ddstoys]

Most are 5 amp but best to check the manual

[pinnies4me]

Pretty sure system 11 specify 4 amp slo-blow for "foreign" games (8 for US 110v). If it's popping then it does suggest an issue. Maybe replace the cabinet switch which might have an issue??

[48]

Pretty sure system 11 specify 4 amp slo-blow for "foreign" games (8 for US 110v). If it's popping then it does suggest an issue. Maybe replace the cabinet switch which might have an issue??

Good thought, I didn't mention that I am turning the machine on and off at a power point, perhaps the fuse holder is not up to snuff?  It looks good though.
Had another thought, faulty varistor?.
Also have GI disconnected as well as aux power board, cant imagine that being an issue/
Thanks for the help guys.

[48]

Ok tracked it a bit further.
Looks like the feed from the transformer also goes to a bridge rectifier mounted on the backbox.
Appears to be an 18 volt DC feed for lamps, feeds the MPU board.
Haven't disconnected the board yet, but if I disconnect the plug to the bridge rectifier it no longer pops a main fuse.
Not sure why it doesn't blow the fuse before the BR   
(yep its the correct size as per the manual)
What does everyone think? Bridge rectifier a dud or might it be the monster cap adjacent to it?
Cap looks OK but haven't tested it.

[ajlaird]

Test the cap, as if they are old they have often gone faulty.

[48]

Well might have sorted it out.
Reduced the size of the fuse before the BR, still same problem.
Decided to get serious and put the old tong tester directly after the main fuse, before the MOV and line filter.
Set it up to 'peak' and checked the amps.
Couldn't get the peak amp draw above 2.1 no matter what I tried.
Still blowing the main fuse every other time.
Had me screwed, by this time I have gone through 8 or so 4 amp fuses.
Then I thought about it, bought these fuses as part of a large assortment off the net.
Changed to a 3 amp Bussman fuse, so far not blowing.
Cheap fuses might be OK on the secondary side of the transformer but definately not recommended on the line side.
If I have got this wrong I will post accordingly, but in the meantime if any of you got the cheap fuses on offer a whiles back, you might want to think twice about using them on 240V!

[pinnies4me]

Thanks for the heads up, sure sounds like tit was the fuses themselves if that 3 amp is holding up.