Dellboy218

I was booked for dangerous driving in Mae Sariang. A Honda Dream towing a trailer on a fast wide open and otherwise empty road decided to move to the other side of the road as I was overtaking. He had to cross the whole road to hit me. Fortunately no one was hurt and damqge minimal. The Police Officer told me that what I should have done was to stay behind the bike, match their speed of 20km/h (in this case) sound my horn, see what they do and only then overtake. I trust you all do the same!

Are you sure it is a bad signal or is it interference from roof mounted communication/electronic equipment? Might be worth checking to see what is overhead.

As an alternative to what you suggest which personally I think is fraught with problems. Why not consider talking to a reliable and established motorcycle renter who will lease your bike for rent. They will then take care of the day to day running and servicing and renting of the bike. You accept a lower rental fee but it will be safer for you.

Why don't they have a yearly safety inspection on any vehicle over 5 years old and make a reasonable decision if the vehicle is safe for the road or not. Oh wait this is Thailand and this is too simple of a solution

There is such yearly inspection on all vehicles over 7 years I believe, whereby the vehicle is inspected for all safety and mechanical roadworthiness,

Yes, it makes you wonder does it not? I thought they were supposed to enforce the observance of the law that is laid down. They do not need to scrap 7 year old cars but to enforce the condition. This is as ridiculous as the announcement that the government were considering taxing vehicles on CO2 emissions. Perhaps they should join with the police and stop all vehicles that continuously emit smoke, easily done with no fancy gear required. They will then probably find that a number of those vehicles have not paid any tax and insurance which means they do not undergo any testing. A fantastic money spinner just waiting for their attention.

Try www.helmet2home.com

I talked with the OP several times & I think what she is asking is more for tips on what GEAR works best & where to obtain it in Bangkok area.Rubberside & KRS are on the right track. Anyone else have some good gear suggestions for her in the $160.00- $200 dollar range 4500-6000 baht. Alpinestar makes a great set. The good jackets from moto air start at 12000-18000 baht. Joe rocket has some great gear at good prices. Cycleworld in the U.S. offers some gear that is super reasonable on the Bilt brand. Most important is something they will wear faithfully to stay alive in BKK.

Have you looked at Komine gear from Japan. This website might help http://japan.webike.net/bm/top/Riding+Gear++Apparels/3020/ They are also available in CNX so they must be in BKK.

There are many calculators available on the internet from many companies. Just google ''Aircon size Calculator" This particular website from Panasonic allows you to download a calculator App for your Apple or Android

http://panasonic.com.au/Products/Air+conditioners/Sizing+wizard Most of the sites will ask you the length and breadth and height of the room, how many people and computers etc, some ask whether the room is insulated, either way the answer is getting close to 20K BTU. Some people argue that it is better not to go oversize as the compressor will kick out quickly before the humidity has been lowered sufficiently. Most aircon units have an ''air drier'' function which works on the humidity level rather than temperature. I have an old Daikin 24k BTU and a Toshiba and Mitsubishi (Mr Slim)9k BTU in the bedrooms. Most these days have an inverter driving the indoor evap unit fan so it continuously varies making them very quiet when the room reaches the required temperature. Some have ionisers built in. I have not had a problem from any of them. The 9k units were under 15kBaht fitted but the bigger unit is around 40k Baht fitted. If your bedroom gets the afternoon sun, consider a bigger unit. Personally I would buy one with the fitting fee included, just in case it gets dropped or wired up wrong.

One requirement or factor which is not discussed yet is the availability of sufficient water. A relative old looking Haier AWT-120LI Twin-Tub washing machine keeps on running under extreme circumstances, whereas a Samsung WA90F3 washing machine having a much modern look will simply stop functioning. Both top-loaders.

As far as I am aware all automatic washing machines have a pressure switch be they top or front loaders. The cycle will not continue until such time as that pressure switch indicates that sufficient water has been loaded. No point in agitating if there is no water in the drum. The twin tub I presume is purely manual so the makers will presume you will not continue unless there is sufficient water.

Try www.chiangmai2car.com

Rice Rubber Maize

When are the Thai farmers going to grow something, that the markets actually want?

Like organic food, a steady growing market, where they apart from being able to make a living without handouts, don't have to poison the soil and surrounding waterways as an added plus!

What would you suggest they grow then? How much of a handout do you think the poor rice farmer has had? By their very definition they are poor, poor farmers are subsistence farmers, if they are lucky they grow enough for the family to eat, there is none left to sell to make use of the much advertised subsidy. That goes to others. Rubber? To try and help the poor farmer some years ago the government of the day encouraged them to grow rubber and even subsidised the purchase of young trees, that in itself was subject to another corruption scandal as many trees were of poor quality or in fact, dead, 7 years later when the trees have matured and they can earn some money, the government changes the price plummets, of course they are not happy. One government tells them to send their money and grow one crop and the next government tells them to rip it up. Organic food? I wouldbe interested in a soil analysis unless you are talking hydroponics.

Well, according to the reports, those poor rice farmers you mention made an extra 66,000 baht this year on average under the rice pledging scheme. Not sure I would classify many of them as "subsistence" farmers.

There was talk of proper "zoning" here in Thailand a little while ago, i.e. grow the crop that suits the land, not try to force grow things. We'll see if that ever takes off.

As for what the Govt. tells them, it might behoove some of them to actually look to the past and to the future and make their own decisions rather than following blindly what others tell them.

Home Pro & Global House has had it in at various times.

Rice Rubber Maize

When are the Thai farmers going to grow something, that the markets actually want?

Like organic food, a steady growing market, where they apart from being able to make a living without handouts, don't have to poison the soil and surrounding waterways as an added plus!

What would you suggest they grow then? How much of a handout do you think the poor rice farmer has had? By their very definition they are poor, poor farmers are subsistence farmers, if they are lucky they grow enough for the family to eat, there is none left to sell to make use of the much advertised subsidy. That goes to others. Rubber? To try and help the poor farmer some years ago the government of the day encouraged them to grow rubber and even subsidised the purchase of young trees, that in itself was subject to another corruption scandal as many trees were of poor quality or in fact, dead, 7 years later when the trees have matured and they can earn some money, the government changes the price plummets, of course they are not happy. One government tells them to send their money and grow one crop and the next government tells them to rip it up. Organic food? I wouldbe interested in a soil analysis unless you are talking hydroponics.

Have a look on here for a general idea of whats available and prices.

www.chiangmai2car.com

the price is meaningless without understanding what's included and if there is a good regular customer base that doesn't rely on tourists then presumably the figures will speak for themselves. Just ask around how much it costs to equip a restaurant and establish a loyal customer base - the number of (good) places that open and fold are a testament to how people underestimate what a slog it can be.

Just looking at the key money, over a ten year ownership that would equate to 44k p/m before rent, power, staff, products etc. etc.

Let's hope that customer base stays loyal. Never mind all numbers of possible political, social (and even natural) turmoil that is quite probable within that timeframe.

If 5.3m isn't pocket change I would recommend something a bit more stable.

When he sold Happy Pizza, the customer base stayed loyal, and moved to his new place Yummy Pizza.

In the end the new owner of Happy Pizza walked away losing 100% of the key money.

The new owner wasn't very happy that he bought a business with no customers.

That might have had something to do with the person that took it over. Leaving your young children to play with TV remotes next to a bar is not the best way to keep customers. It lost him this one anyway.

Why not teach / tell the rubber farmers who to grow something else?

Why do they keep growing crops that are not in demand?

Probably because not so long ago the Government of the day pushed rubber growing as a way to help the farmers lot. They subsidised the growing and purchase of young trees. That in itself subject to a corruption investigation over claims of poor quality stock and quite a lot being dead, a bit of a give away. The farmer then patiently waits 7 years for his surviving trees to produce, the Government changes, the price drops form around 180 down to 60B and the Government of the day tells those self same farmers to cut their trees down, sell the wood and grow whatever is being pushed this month that someone somewhere will make a buck out of. Somewhat cynical but not too far from the truth.

mate, I got my 5 year licence last month and it was just under 1,500 baht all up, I did list the costs in here somewhere so others would know what they are. You get the choice of 1 year or 5 year licence after the first year, a 1 year licence does not need you to do the tests(pulling the strings and the light tests) but the 5 year one does.

You shouldn't have to do any kind of test when you get the five year because you already did it before when you got the one year in the first place . Unless things have changed ......

Renewed my 5 year earlier this year, had to watch the safety video and a do couple of the eye tests including colour blindness..

You can pretend to be Thai and try to wing your way into national parks for 20 baht.

A favourite boast of some holders.

Why do you say it is a boast? In some places, not as many as one woud like perhaps, it does work and always worth a try

North end of Moon Muang, follow the road left onto Than on Sri Poom, take the first 'U' turn, just there on the left there is a shop selling Police and military gear, they also sell gas powered plastic ball firing BB guns, or at least they used to.

From my own personal and very humble point of view I would not be cutting plugs off or changing anything until I had checked it. I appreciate you may not for whatever reason be able to check it but if it was my own humble self I would:

1. Have a look at the main cable as it enters the machine to see if it is in actual fact 3 core with the earth connected to metallic parts.

2. Use an Ohm meter to see if there is any impedance between those same metallic parts and the third pin of the plug. If there is something less than a couple of Ohms then there is no point to cut it off.

3. Have a look at the socket and see if there is anything connected to the third pin.

4. If so then use a Voltmeter to see if you can read anything across to the live or the neutral. If you end up with nowt then its not connected.

5. Normal earth rods are heavy copper coated steel. Bang one into soft moist ground with some heavyish cable. Small cable will not be able to ground nasty fault currents. Then you have a choice of connecting it to the third pin or to the body of the machine.

6. I would expect leakage to occur through transformers, motors and heaters if fitted.

7. Regardless of earth or no earth fit a Safe T Cut of which ever flavor catches your fancy, ELCB or similar. Something that will take out the supply before it does you permanent injury. Google Safe T cut and you will see pictures of them, they can be stand alone or built into the consumer unit. They are a life saver.

I wouldn't know if they are exactly the same species but the local giant variety do seem to have a penchant for slug bait, usually get a couple turn dead up after putting some down. I understand they can be painful but fortunately I have yet to savour that!

Taking it that this vacuum uses an induction motor and not a commutated motor. an induction motors speed is indirect relation to the frequency of the supply. As this came from the U.S. it will be for 60hz, here it is 50hz. This means that motor will running a 5/6ths its rated speed. This will reduce the rated power output from the motor, reduce any cooling effect from its fan and it will probably be taking more current to achieve it.

Interesting, thanks. Can a transformer change the frequency or is that unlikely or not possible?

No it cannot, a transformer can only change the voltage. As an example, a 2 pole motor on 60Hz will have a rated speed of 3600rpm, 60 x 60, simple. The same motor on 50Hz will be 60 x 50, 3000RPM. If the motor requires cooling with its own fan then this is not going to give the same effect. Some motors are designed to operate on 50 or 60Hz and will have two sets of performance figures, others however are not. You can change the frequency by changing the supply to DC then passing it through an inverter to give whatever frequency you like. This is used on soft start systems where the motor is started slowly and is ramped up. Hope that helps.

Amorn sell stepdown transformers, they are in Big C on Hangdong Road and Big C extra, the old Carrefour place. Their main store is in Icon Square on the northwestern side of the moat. As it is likely taking more than the stated current buy one with some spare capacity but do not expect the vacuum to perform the same as in the states.

Taking it that this vacuum uses an induction motor and not a commutated motor. an induction motors speed is indirect relation to the frequency of the supply. As this came from the U.S. it will be for 60hz, here it is 50hz. This means that motor will running a 5/6ths its rated speed. This will reduce the rated power output from the motor, reduce any cooling effect from its fan and it will probably be taking more current to achieve it.

That's too bad. Having speeding cameras in Chiang Mai would ruin my day if I lived there. Move to Ubon where their is only the occasional police road check where they only ticket motor bikes for no helmets and current license . Never see them stop automobiles nor heard of anyone getting a ticket here in Ubon for speeding.

On the other hand Ubon is the only place I have ever had Police point a radar gun at me!