ThaiWx

No, I haven't tried that area yet but I will check it out. Appreciate it. Yeah, I remember when Amorn used to have a lot better choices for wire, components, and such. It's not what it used to be.

Thanks again!

edit: I just looked on Google street view and see a place where you describe called "T. Ham Shop" . This place perhaps?

Does anyone know where in Chiang Mai to buy a small roll of the red enameled wire used in speaker coils and transformers? My searches of the popular electronics shops around have not been successful.

Appreciate any help.

For any astronomers out there, the planet Venus passed by the sun this morning and a break in the clouds let me get a few pics. Taken from here in my yard in Chiang Mai.

I think we're just starting to see the shortages of all sorts of things that are warehoused and distributed out of the Bangkok region.

Good point. This is going to be a longer crisis than many especially in BKK are imagining.

I'm hearing stories about gasoline shortages for ChiangMai as well due to trucking delays.?.?.

Yes, as previously mentioned, it's a reticulated python. Non-venomous but can still bite. Beautiful picture! (except for the blood?) Not long ago I had a Burmese python (around 2 meters) visit us in our yard.

and the past 2 mornings have been pleasant, around 73F (23C) to make it nice.

Talk about unstable voltage, we're near the end of a service feeder so when the consumer load changes on the line our power jumps all around. It's the dips in the power where you draw more amperage, that is, his 4500 watt heater will require 20.45 amps if the line voltage is at optimum 220v.

Actually not quite right. You don't draw more current as the voltage drops but less as the heating element is a, for the most part, a constant resistance. You know I=V/R.

good catch, sorry 'bout tthat. I flipped the equation. Coffee hasn't woke my remaining brain cell up yet.

The info I gave was from a UK water manufacturer...........I didnt stop to work it out, maybe I should have done as it looks like they have had a typo in there. 20A would be right on the limit wouldnt it. 30A would be a bit over the top unless there are other items on the circuit. but a 23 or 25A breaker should do nicely.

^Yep. One problem is the unstable voltage in Thailand and need some margin to cover it. For example, the voltage at my house is 236 volts meaning more current drawn for the same heating element resistance. My numbers come from the US NEC standards regarding the 80% operational capacity.

Talk about unstable voltage, we're near the end of a service feeder so when the consumer load changes on the line our power jumps all around. It's the dips in the power where you draw more amperage, that is, his 4500 watt heater will require 20.45 amps if the line voltage is at optimum 220v. A dip to say 200 volts (which is not uncommon) will require 22.5. I leave a meter on our power to monitor it and have seen it down to 185 volts here before. It's good that you mentioned the 80% margin needed to allow for the power swings.

For a 4.5kW heater load, the recommended cable size is 4.0mm and a fuse/breaker rating of 20.0A

I think I would use the next higher rated breaker/fuse size available. At 4500 watts on a 220vac line you will be drawing just over 20 amps already.

What flood? As of yesterday 3 October 2011 I don't see no flooding in Chiang Mai.

I saw some dry areas.

The way I see it, your water heater wattage is allowed up to just over 3000 watts before 15 amp fuses/breakers start tripping. This is on a 220 volt line. At 3300 watts you are drawing around 15 amps using ohm's law P = I * E. (Watts=Amps X Volts).

I haven't looked for it personally but I'd be willing to bet Kaseam's has it. I'm in there often and always surprised of the (western) items I see in there.

Glad to hear you're all drying out some up there! I was supposed to fly in last week, but thought better of it. Now I'm debating going Wednesday, and probably just staying in the old town. Sounds like that will be right in the aftermath of whatever Nesat leaves . . . any thoughts on whether that's likely to affect airport to inner moat area (specifically getting from one to the other)?

That section of town seems to hold up well during the floods (airport to inner moat) and you should be o.k. edit: as long as you stay up on Mahidol. Thipanet does flood and get difficult.

Thipanet floods? That's pretty far from the river . . . the flooding doesn't cover all the way over to the river, does it?

It was flooded yesterday about 200m or so from the airport intersection. Surprised me because I've never seen it flood there. On my motorcycle heading toward the airport intersection and had to get near the oncoming traffic side where the road is higher to get through..

Glad to hear you're all drying out some up there! I was supposed to fly in last week, but thought better of it. Now I'm debating going Wednesday, and probably just staying in the old town. Sounds like that will be right in the aftermath of whatever Nesat leaves . . . any thoughts on whether that's likely to affect airport to inner moat area (specifically getting from one to the other)?

That section of town seems to hold up well during the floods (airport to inner moat) and you should be o.k. edit: as long as you stay up on Mahidol. Thipanet does flood and get difficult.

Does anyone know if the Airport Plaza got heavy rain tonight? I hope not...pls let me know if you have any info.

Not much. Starting around 9PM the airport area received nearly 1/4" (6mm). That was all for the rest of the night.

Water level rising again at Nawarat, still rising at San Sai (slowing)

That's what I was just noticing. San Sai has been rising since around noon and still rising and now Narawat is just starting to come back up. Going to be an interesting night ariound ChiangMai tonight.

looks like Typhoon Nesat should have blown out by Sunday when it could get here

http://www.wundergro...g/wp201120.html

Sure hope it does die out or at least turn more northerly. Still looks like quite a bit of moisture heading this way and that's just what we don't need.

Here's "See Ping Meaung Rd." just west of Chiang Mai Land on Mahidol Hwy. This was taken from Mahidol about 9AM this morning.

I know you can notify up to 1 week ahead of the due date as I do every 90 days but did not know there was a past due period allowed.

According to the schematic provided by Dellboy, the GFA-555 has dual 120v primaries wired in parallel, so it should be easy to wire them in series for 240v (if you know what you're doing).

Good point. Could take the amp and pre-amp (assuming it's strappable as well) down to a competent electronics/stereo shop and have them re-strap them both for 220v. Print out the very bottom of this schematic and bring along. - http://www.audiolabg...5II%20Adcom.pdf . No step down 1000 watt transformer to worry about this way.

Glad I found some knowledgeable ppl here, definately more than me on this subject. Not sure what the PMPO is. It says "AG FUSE 10A AGC" and the power says 1000W Max (1000VA). It was a pretty high end system (ADCOM GFA-555 amp) when I bought it 20 yrs ago if that's any help.

Just as a matter of interest, would that be1000W PMPO (peak music power output) which would be averaging around 60W which would be a normal power output? Stereos display so many power ratings all based on different criteria.

What mains fuse rating does it have? This will tell you the rating of the transformer you require.

The GFA-555 runs class AB so at idle and relatively low volume levels it's not going to draw anywhere near the 1000VA that it says on it's UL label. And it's definitely not going to pop a 10A amp fuse l unless there's a malfunction.

As far as 1000W PMPO (peak music power output), as I recall those adcoms has a RMS power rating of around 200W into 8 ohms, so if the are able to peak out at 1000W that's got to be only on transients and most likely into less than 8 ohm loads. I'd probably hook it to a dedicated 1000W 220/110V transformer and not worry about it being too small, but I suppose that it is possible that using a bigger one might provide some marginal improvement in sound quality if you're going to be pushing the amp hard.

Specs of this amp do show it will deliver just over 200w into 8 ohm speakers as you say and around 1000w capable using 2 ohm speakers. http://www.bobbyshred.com/infinity/adcom555.html

One, 1000 watt transformer should be enough to cover both the main stereo and the pre-amp. If either of the components (main stereo or pre-amp) has an outlet AC receptacle on the back you could just plug the other component in there and power the two components from the single transformer. Otherwise you could just use a multiple AC outlet from the transformer and plug the two components in this way.

If I understand you correctly , you used to plug the main stereo into the back of the pre-amp's 800VA unswitched outlet. You can still do it this way and plug the power cord of the pre-amp into the transformer, powering it all this way.

Here's another discussion on this topic with some links that may help. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/88935-thailand-slow-sand-water-filter/

Got a break in the clouds long enough for this shot but by this time it was low on the s/w horizon in thicker air so it's not clear.

I bought something similar while stateside to supposedly stop barking dogs, an ultrasonic sound activated device. Didn't change a thing. The dogs still came around and barked all night. Only difference was occasionally they would raise their ears and twist their head while looking at it but continued barking.

I agree with CMSteve's advice and try to block off the possible entry points where they get in.