Leaving a toy crane machine, or claw machine, powered on for several hours does consume electricity, but the cost is often lower than many people assume. Typically, a standard toy crane machine operates on a power supply between 100 to 200 watts. For calculation, let's use an average of 150 watts.

If you leave a machine drawing 150 watts on for 3 hours, it uses 450 watt-hours (0.45 kWh). For 8 hours, it consumes 1.2 kWh. The actual cost depends entirely on your local electricity rate. Assuming an average rate of $0.15 per kWh, running the machine for 3 hours costs about $0.07, and for 8 hours about $0.18. Therefore, even if left on overnight, the direct energy cost is minimal.

However, several factors influence total consumption. Modern machines with LED lighting and efficient components use less power. Older models with incandescent bulbs and larger motors can draw more. The machine's activity state also matters; power draw spikes slightly during the claw's movement cycle but is lower when idle on the attract screen.

For arcade owners or home users concerned about efficiency, consider using a smart plug to schedule on/off times, ensuring the machine isn't running during closed hours. Replacing any old internal lighting with LEDs can also reduce the baseline load. While the financial impact of leaving one unit on is small, scaling this across multiple machines in a large arcade makes energy management a worthwhile consideration for operational costs.

In summary, the power consumption of a toy crane machine left on for a few hours is relatively low, leading to an operating cost of just a few cents to under twenty cents for extended periods. The primary reasons to turn it off when not in use are more about general energy conservation and component longevity than significant immediate savings on your electricity bill.