Thinking of adding a toy crane machine to your arcade is an exciting step! A common and practical question is about its power consumption. Typically, a standard toy crane machine consumes between 100 to 200 watts per hour during active play. When idle or in attract mode with lights and sounds, consumption drops significantly, often to around 50-100 watts.

Several key factors influence this number. Machines with extensive LED lighting arrays, larger motors, or digital displays will use more power. Older models with incandescent bulbs are less energy-efficient. The actual usage also depends heavily on your arcade's hours of operation and how continuously the machine is played.

To estimate your operating costs, you can use a simple formula: (Wattage / 1000) x Hours Used x Cost per kWh (your local electricity rate). For example, a 150-watt machine running in attract mode for 12 hours a day at $0.12 per kWh would cost roughly $0.22 per day, or about $6.60 per month, just to have it powered on. Active gameplay will increase this cost moderately.

Modern crane machines are generally designed to be relatively energy-efficient. To minimize power usage, look for models with LED lighting, enable power-saving features if available, and consider using a timer to turn banks of machines off during closed hours. While not a major expense compared to other overheads, understanding the power consumption helps in accurate budgeting and efficient arcade management. It's a small but important detail in your successful arcade operation.