electau

Shower heaters conforming to Thai Industrial Standards (TIS) are fitted with a 10mA RCD unit integral with the unit as an ON/OFF switch.

The heater should be earthed either to the existing earthing system or earthed to an individual electrode if the former is not possible.

The circuit to the heater should be protected by a 30mA RCD. The shower heater should be permanently connected in an approved manner.

Yes, it would be recommended that all final subcircuits be protected by one or more 30mA RCDs depending on the distribution of the circuits within the electrical installation.

Marijuana is a class A drug in Indonesia, it is not in Australia. This is the problem. One method might be is to exchange some of the Indonesian children in detention in Australia, who were crew members of the people smuggling operations. But it may have gone too far now for that.

Remember politics will generally override justice. And one must respect the Indonesian legal system.

A tax assessment notice from the ATO for the last financial year plus a recent payslip from your current employer. The payslip will show your fortnightly rate of pay and the amount you have earned this financial year.

And here is the website for those interested.

http://www.thaiconsulatehobart.com/

Is there a webite that shows water levels at different parts on Bangkok and surrounding areas?

Levels at Bangkapi and Suan Siam areas for example.

One may suggest that you contact DIAC at the Australian Embassy and advise them of your intentions to visit Australia. Quote the file number if you have it. They will then advise you.

HOC. website http://www.immi.gov.au/gateways/panel_doctors/conducting_medicals/where_to_send_australian_visa_medical_results/

Crossy, Are you putting any lightning rods above the roof of the house with dedicated grounds? I never considered this back in the USA but the storms here can have much more lightning occurring. We are bringing in our power underground from the last pole so a major stroke has a place to go and will probably have at least one rod up above the roof. I have had a lot of experience with lightning mitigation and there is never a guarantee as it is so unpredictable.

Lightening protection /surge protection on the main switchboard is all that is required as primary protection. Lightening protection as you describe is not required on normal residential installations located close to ground level.

High rise buildings are a different matter altogether.

Have you considered a small storage HWS? eg a 45 litre with a 1800/2000watt element. You can switch these on a time switch.

You would have to install an RCD on all final sub circuits as the fault loop impedance will be too high to operate an overcurrent protective device (MCB) on an earth fault within the required time (0.4secs).

Would replacing the incomer with a 63A/100mA RCBO do the trick if I can get the L-E loop impedance down to a few hundred ohms? Otherwise the fridge can have a 30mA RCBO to itself.

One would advise you to put the fridge/freezer on its own dedicated circuit with a 20A 30mA RCBO.

You would have to install an RCD on all final sub circuits as the fault loop impedance will be too high to operate an overcurrent protective device (MCB) on an earth fault within the required time (0.4secs).

Nuisance tripping can be minimised by reducing the standing leakage current by installing extra circuits to supply equipment that may be affected.

Thanks for your comments Crossy, one was using AS3000. 10A MCBs and 1.0sqmm cable. 30mA RCDs.

A generator able to supply 30kW at 220 / 380V 50Hz. might solve your problems.

Simon stated that he had 15 amps per phase supply to 'play' with. If he really meant 45 amps per phase then he should have said so

I said that I had a 15A, 3 phase supply. In Thai electricity company parlance, that means a supply of between 15-45 amps per phase. The provision of 45 amps is not guaranteed 24/7, which is why it's prudent to minimise total current demand.

Simon

The PEA cannot guarantee to supply a max demand or peak load of 45A per phase, you have a 3 phase 4 wire supply and the loads are 220V single phase balanced across three phases to neutral.

If you connect a generator you can increase the peak load. There would be NO parallelling of the PEA supply and your proposed generator.

Again the main factor is cost.

I understand your problem.

You do not have much of a choice. What is your proposed max demand in amps?

1. Upgrade at your expense for a HV supply and transformer on your property, proposed distance about 400meters.

Estimated cost 1000000THB.

2. Install a diesel or LPG fueled generator and connect your load as essential and non essential load. The generator supplies the essential load only. The non essential load is taken from the existing 220/380V supply. You can run your generator ar peak periods.

3. All HW systems solar thermal.( which you propose).

4. Inverter airconditioners, one small unit to each room.

What ever way you go cost is the factor which will determine which way you go.

Other alternative sources of supply, solar PV panels and wind generation are not ecomomically viable.

Crossy, here are some suggestions that you may like to consider.

1. The main switchboard split into essential and non essential supply, if you have any distribution sub boards these will have to be split also. it means running two sets of sub mains to each board. However you may be able to dipense with the sub boards and run all circuits from the main switch board.

2. The manual 63amp transfer switch switches the essential load to the generator.

3. A 2 pole MCB installed on the main switch board marked " generator supply". Current rating to suit generator FL current.

4. Essential load. At least one 10A lighting circuit supplying essential areas. A minimum of two 20A power circuits for socket outlets for power in essential areas. the 20A circuit for the UPS, and a circuit for the water pump. If the pump is a small one it can be included on one of the essential power circuits.

5. The main switch will be a 63A 2 pole MCB that may be upgraded to 80A or 100A in the future.

6. Lighting circuits 10A.

7 Emergency lighting, from the UPS at present. Would suggest 230V LED lighting.

8. TT earthing system retained.

9. Any circuits on the ground floor to be segregated from the first floor and can be isolated from the main switch board.

10. RCDs on ALL socket outlets including the refrigerator and UPS.

11. Essential circuits clearly identified as such at the outlet.

12. During normal conditions the mains supply the non essential and essential loads, when on generator supply only the essential loads are supplied.

You have Crossy some of these already in your proposed electrical installation.

The meters are rated at 5/15, 10/45, 30/100. The first figure is the test current, the second is the continuous full load rated current.

These meters have a high overload capacity. In Thailand service HRC fuses are generally not installed on the line side of the meters, Service fuses are for short circuit protection only. They are not for overload protection. They are installed by the supply authority.

They also provide a point for electrical disconnection of supply.

Oh dear, now I'm confused!

Leaving aside the washing machine, I have no readable resistance anywhere in the wiring, using low ohms setting, as far as the earth rods, and between the wires and the exposed rod, so there is no resistance as far as the actual rods.

So until someone can hopefully come up with an agreed method of testing the rod to earth resistance that does not involve thousands of baht, I'll just have to make like a Thai and trust in Buddha that everything is OK. At least I do have rods in the ground, so that's 100% more than before.

Thanks everyone.

If you have less than 2 ohms resistance between the earth electrode (NOT the soil around it) and any earthed point eg washing machine , socket outlet etc you will have an earthing system that will be functional.

A 2.5sqmm earth conductor has a resistance of 0.008ohms per meter.

Why are you so concerned with the resistance of the general mass of earth/ground soil? All that is required is that the electrode has sufficient contact area with the surrounding soil.

You surly can make a good check using voltage and it is much safer than trying to use ohm meter. We are talking home tests not an oil rig or commercial exam test.

To check earthing one uses an ohms range of a multimeter in this case. the resistance must be less than 2 ohms.

You must carry out a visual check of the earthing and electrode.

The earth resistance must be low so as to mimimise the touch voltage, with the TT system the RCD will provide automatic disconnection in the event of an earth fault.

IEC, AS and BS standards all give the requirements for earth testing.

An ohmmeter is a device which measures resistance in ohms, with a normal multi meter this test voltage is about 300mVDC. A multimeter on the voltage ranges is a high impedance device and may give correct voltage readings L-N. L-E even when the resistance is many thousands of ohms.

There are no such tests as "home tests".

The terminology( IEC) can be confusing.

RCD is any protective device that operates on residual current in mA ( earth leakage).

RCCB is a residual current circuit breaker with no overcurrent and short circuit protection. It operates only on residual current in mA.

RCBO is a device that has over current, short circuit and residual current protection.

The generic term is "Safety Switch".

RCCBs must be provided with short circuit protection on the line ( supply side).

10mA units must operate in less than 0.04 secs, 30mA in less than 0.2/.3secs.

The US NEMA term is GFCI, ground fault circuit interupter.

Thai RCBOs may have settings of 5mA/10mA/15mA/20mA and direct. This last position disables the earth leakage functions. These do not comply with IEC standards but comply with TIS and NEMA standards.

If you have the same cheap Lotus meter I have (Yogo DT-830B) you need to use the ACV 750 setting to measure voltage. You should get the same reading between L-N and L-E if the earth is working.

Thank you. I did as you said and it is indeed the same for both the kitchen earth and the shower earth.

So unless someone wants to dispute the above method, I am earthed.

Now I'll just have to pull the back off the washing machine and see if there is an earth wire attached to anything from the plug wire.

Thanks for all the advice, everyone.

One does not use the voltage ranges of a multimeter to check earthing. the voltage L to N, N to E and L to E is to verify polarity tests.

To verify the earthing conductor. 1. Visibly check it and the electrode/electrode connection and 2. Use the low ohms range of the multimeter to verify continuity.

To do this you will require a trailing lead ( point to point test) and zero out the resistance of the leads first.

If you are receiving mild shocks similiar to a slight burning sensation the electrical equipment is not earthed. However the touch voltage will be very low, ie, probably less than 25VAC.

With a TT system there wil always be a voltage from neutral to earth depending on how far one is from the source of supply.

With a compliant MEN system the voltage between the neutral and earth will be between 0 and 1 volt.

These AC voltages will distort any readings that you are trying to read using the low ohms range on a multi meter, you are effectively trying to read AC current.

If you have voltage between N and E you must have current it may only be mA

Trying to measure the resistance of the soil is of no practical value and is a waste of time.

We are dealing here with an individual electrical installation within a building or structure.

Earthing for HV installations , HV/LV distribution transformers and LV network earthing are covered by different requirements.

Providing the earth electrode has sufficient area in contact with the soil that is all that is required. The minimum is 1 x 13mm copper clad electrode a minimum of 1.2/1.8 M in the ground located in an area exposed to the weather and visible for inspection.

The resistance from the electrode to any exposed conductive parts of the electrical installation including the earth terminals of 3 pin socket outlets should not exceed 2 ohms. (From the electrode not the soil).

Protection is provided by an RCD with a TT or direct earthing system as in the event of an earth fault the fault current flows from the RCD through the fault, the PE conductor, and the main earth and electrode. While the fault exists a touch voltage is created and if this is over 50VAC automatic disconnection must occur in less than 0.4secs. Touch voltage only exists under fault conditions.

With the MEN system the fault path does not return to the source of supply via the ground but through the consumers main neutral and distribution neutral conductor. Current through the main earth and electrode is negligible and may be disregarded.

You should retain the colour codes as these comply with Thai standards.

The use of a RCBO as a main switch complies with Thai practice.

Earthing, all protective earth conductors from electrical equipment should be run to the earth bar.

Using polymer notes and having different colours for denominations solves a lot of conterfeiting. The USA has never changed its colour or size of its bank notes and they are still paper.

They may well have been counterfeit. Did he have a formal receipt for the original banknote purchase in the RSA?

Did he file a formal complaint with his embassy?