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Powering up multiple machines

DRD

DRD

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Is it ok to turn them on at the wall socket, or are you safer using the individual under cabinet switches pls ?

Was never an issue when I had one game, but now I have four. All of which have different switches under them

Thanks
 
It's always safer to disconnect the mains plug - that way, if there is an electrical fault, or we have a lightening storm, your pins are not in danger (other than external things like the roof caving in etc etc...).

However, practically, off on the switch would probably be ok, disconnecting from the mains plug when not in use for a period of time, much like any electronic device..
 
DRD said:
Is it ok to turn them on at the wall socket, or are you safer using the individual under cabinet switches pls ?

Was never an issue when I had one game, but now I have four. All of which have different switches under them

Thanks
Click to expand...

Leaving a machine plugged in and turned off under the machine is not advisable.

In this state, part of the machine is live (the filter assembly and the service socket)

Filters degrade with age and can and do eventually go up in smoke.

Turning them off at the wall is better so that the machine is no longer live.


When you are asking about turning them on at the wall, do you mean that you have multiple machines plugged into one socket? I would not want to turn on/off more than 3-4 at a time as the spike may likely blow a fuse/trip a breaker
 
Matt Adams said:
These are cheaper... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111402313613?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT and you get 5.

There was a discussion on Pinside about this and lots of people are using them with no side effects. I am tempted to try it myself but as I often play a game on my lonesome it seems a bit of a waste to fire a whole bank of machines up just to play one!
Click to expand...

I have an asda special version ("status" manufacturer), wnd the biggest problem is that when the main electrickery is turned off, you have to re-program all the sockets with the remote again (DOH!)...
 
Ahh ****, do I really have to go crawling under my machines everytime I want to play and plug them in? That's not what I wanted to read. IS it more dangerous than say leaving a TV plugged in (But turned off)?
 
Hi. I am just running the 4 from a double socket on the ring main at present. So 2 per extension cable out of the double sockets.

I was wondering whether leaving the pinballs permanently switched "on" underneath, but using the wall socket directly to power them up or down damaged anything. I imagine that this is what many arcades would have done anyway
 
DRD said:
Hi. I am just running the 4 from a double socket on the ring main at present. So 2 per extension cable out of the double sockets.

I was wondering whether leaving the pinballs permanently switched "on" underneath, but using the wall socket directly to power them up or down damaged anything. I imagine that this is what many arcades would have done anyway
Click to expand...

No that's absolutely fine to do that :)
 
I never turn mine off at the wall, how much are they still live and how long would it take to wear out what you said. I'm feeling like I should go and turn off the wall switches too which is also a crawl under the machines!
 
Adrian Hufton said:
I never turn mine off at the wall, how much are they still live and how long would it take to wear out what you said. I'm feeling like I should go and turn off the wall switches too which is also a crawl under the machines!
Click to expand...

The line filter is the main concern, most people with a decent sized collection will have had at least 1 or 2 machines chuck out smoke when the filter fails and shorts out.

I guess the risk is fairly low, but it does increase over time
 
I've replaced lots and lots of filters that have become short circuit, but have never seen one that has shorted so badly that has caused any damage or have any outward signs of damage. In 15 years I've heard of 1 that has actually smoked.

I'm not saying that there's no risk, but I don't think the risk is any more than keeping a TV or other appliance plugged in on standby. I'd be more concerned with cheap remote switching devices plugged into the wall.
 
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