Crossy

Checking that the correct stamp is entered is YOUR responsibility.

If you attempt to use all the 90 days it is quite possible that the outgoing immigration chap will notice leaving you with the overstay stamp and fine. They do a lot of looking through the passport even on leaving, they're obviously checking something.

If I were you, I'd come clean and go to immigration to get the error fixed.

Yep ^^^

You really do get what you pay for, look in almost any data centre and you'll find APC kit, nuff said.

It sounds like the better option would be to run the cable straight across the land (dodging fruit trees), which would be around 80 meters. Cable recommendations for that length?

It's always best to minimise the run length (keeps the cost down too).

2.5mm2 cable with an out-and-back volt drop of 18 mV/A/m will drop 80*18*5.4/1000 = 7.7V on start 80*18*3.5/1000 = 5V on run.

2.5mm2 it is

You should use directly buriable cable, regular cable in underground conduit can lead to issues with pests and water ingress.

Make sure your pump is properly grounded, you can use a ground spike at the pump to avoid running a long (expensive) ground wire.

Since the pipe already runs around the edge, it may be sensible to run a bigger (4mm2) cable alongside it, to avoid future issues with someone digging it up

I agree with Lop ^^^ that is a long run.

To get some perspective, a quick and dirty calculation:-

You want to drop less than 5% of your supply (say 11V).

Motor draws about 3.5A on run 5.4A on start

Run is 166m

2.5mm2 cable with an out-and-back volt drop of 18 mV/A/m will drop 166*18*5.4/1000 = 16.1V on start 166*18*3.5/1000 = 10.4V on run (ok if your mains is really 220V but marginal on start if your supply is on the low end of the tolerance).

4mm2 cable with an out-and-back volt drop of 11 mV/A/m will drop 166*11*5.4/1000 = 9.8V on start 166*11*3.5/1000 = 6.3V on run

I would install 4mm2 for safety.

You need to minimise the run length (straight across the land?) or as Lop suggests move the pump nearer the house.

Mr See finally decided he needed a pump after some months of 'not need', we've put a lot more trees in recently.

We got a 40mm 'Robin' from our local pumps, generators and engines shop, 5000 Baht plus another 1500 for suction and discharge hoses along with a slack handful of adaptors and a strainer for the suction.

I've never come across a self-priming centrifugal pump before (sheltered life), amazing, sucked the water up the 3m from the river in about a minute, once primed it shifts a lot of water. Interesting page on 'how it works' http://www.pumpstoreusa.com/knowledgebase/selfpriming/ just need to ensure there's water in the casing before starting.

When light is on no neon. I guess I will call the sparky tomorrow . Probably 200 baht. I sure don't want to go into the hot attic to try & fix it!

Thanks again for the help Crossy!!!!!

Barry

That's why we're here mate

Do PLEASE check that your incoming 'live' really is the hot side otherwise your whole installation could be reversed, not a good situation

OK. firstly, normal colour code here is US standard, black is live, grey is neutral so the neon should come on when touched to the black in an outlet! Assuming grounded outlets live is should be on the left with the ground at the to, illustration here http://www.crossy.co.uk/wiring/plugs.html

To check your light switch do this (care please):-

With the light OFF touch each connection of the switch (with the neon of course), you should get a light on one side only.

With the light ON touch each connection of the switch, you should get a light on both sides, if you get no light either side then the swich is in the neutral, get your man to fix it.

BEFORE doing the above, you should check that what you think is live really is. The incoming live should go via the ELCB to the common of your MCBs (breakers) in your distribution board, verify with your neon. Check the diagrams here http://www.crossy.co.uk/wiring/Consumer.html anything coloured RED on the diagrams should illuminate the neon, blue should not.

Two votes for switched neutral, any advance on two?

NOTE If your switch is correctly wired and you have ELECTRONIC ballasts there could be another effect in play, I won't discuss it now to avoid confusion, come back to this thread when you've confirmed the wiring

Flickering fluorescents is invariably because the switch is in the neutral, semi confirmed by the result of swapping your incoming (by the way, this is a highly dangerous thing to do unless you know exactly what you're doing, in a MEN system it is possible that the results could be explosive [direct live to ground path]).

Get out your trusty neon-screwdriver and verify that the switch is correctly wired.

Looks like I need a new ethernet card but why does it work with Linux and not Win XP?

It's probably just lack of drivers, check out the manufacturers website for the latest versions.

no one really believe those mails.. isn't?

Sadly some do, and it's invariably those who can ill afford to lose the up-front payment that is invariably requested before 'payment' can be processed.

An Indian friend of a work collegue fell for one, and lost their life savings, only a grand or two US, but to them everything

The desk is well marked, situated in the immigration buffer hall behind the Thai check in desks, it's inside the glass partition before you go through the passport desks so you must have checked-in first, allow plenty of time.

Open 24 hours. Make sure you have photos, there are no facilities at the airport.

Confused here.

Are you saying that switching off your monitor fixes the problem? If so hardly likely to be a drive issue.

You MAY be able to run from an external drive but you're looking at a serious performance hit unless it's an E SATA drive box.

what do I do with all the spares?

Wasn't sure which food forum to put this in, but since the wifey is Thai let's have some Western ideas as to what I can do with the sudden glut of bananas that will be ready in a couple of weeks (according to Mr See our gardener). We put them in to provide stabilisation to the khlong banks, this they seem to have done well and provided screening too, but there is a by-product, lots of bananas

We have at least three sizes (if that matters) from the big 'farang' bananas to the tiny, sweet, delicious 'Thai' ones, I'll never eat them all

We'll give a lot to the neighbours who have a fruit stall, they can sell them for a few Baht, help feed the kids.

Ideas, recipes, whatever

Immigration at the airport don't seem to bother about checking your 90 day reports, seems only to become a problem if you need to deal with immigration in town whereupon they'll slap a fine on you.

You're on an extension of stay so don't forget your re-entry permit (get it at the airport, need a photo or two) otherwise you'll be back on 30 day visa exemptions when you try to re-enter

As I said, it is bad form. It is also bad netiquette, or worse, to modify the format or colour of part of the quoted text.

Interesting, I tend to do as you suggest, and snip out everything not relevant. BUT, sometimes I highlight (usually bold) a particular part of the quote to clarify exactly what I'm replying to. Are you suggesting that this is bad form?

How about replying in-line? In for example a quote with multiple questions, I sometimes insert my reply inside the quote, in a contrasting colour and with a comment like "my replies in red". IMHO this can reduce the chances of misunderstandings in these circumstances.

Do you have a reference where we can look for guidance as to what is and is not, proper form?

With luck the charges will be similar in magnitude (massive) to the regular on-board phones. Better yet, why not limit it to business/first class seating.

Decided not to bother.

I for one will be avoiding routes that permit mobile useage, not that I use Emirates anyway.

The shower unit in another room works the same as Lopburi3's - and I can hear an audible click as soon as I turn the water input on or off, which I presume is the pressure switch working.

Pop the lid off (power off). You'll be amazed how primitive simple these things are, it's possible the switch actuator is seized (bring on the WD-40) if it's the switch itself it will likely be a standard unit, a quick trip to the hardware store should yield a replacement

Glad you're back in circulation Mobi and mainly intact, reckon you've used up all your positive karma, be more careful in future

VERY, VERY worrying that the doors locked and the airbags didn't deploy, another Fortuner software issue perhaps (remember the ABS problem?).

but are we perhaps just sometimes worrying too much about this issue?

How many people are killed per year in Thailand as a result of poor wiring? Is there some reliable stats on this, or are we just guessing?

Someone asked a while back about the lifespan of a copper grounding rod (earth spear). I did not get the real answer (if there is one), but we have recently refitted a house with a full new 3-phase wiring, and the builder put down a long (about 2 meters) grounding rod.

Ah, final question: is it normal in Thailand that the lights dim/flicker a little when the a/c compressor kicks in? Or do we have a problem with the supply?

You can never worry too much about what is an invisible killer, you can't tell a live surface by looking at it. I've had numerous shocks over the years any one of which could potentially have killed me (but didn't obviously), it only takes one fatal shock to remove you from the realm of the living.

I've got no stats. reliable or otherwise, electrocutions are rarely reported in the English language press (unless it's a foreigner), I can't read the Thai press, but look how many fires are reported in the media as being started by 'wiring faults'.

A good quality copper/copper sheathed ground rod should outlast you, once the verdigris (corrosion) has built up on the outside it won't decay further (look at the 2000 year old copper/bronze helmets recovered from Roman ruins). The top of the rod and its connection should be above ground and protected from corrosion by being painted with a suitable acrylic paint, it's this connection that is the most likely failure point.

It's fairly normal for a SLIGHT dip in voltage when a big load (air con) starts, enough to dim the lights for a fraction of a second.

EDIT Regarding switched outlets, I never saw any in mainland Europe, I'm pretty sure that only the UK and Oz require them.

You CAN extend your first 60 day stay, but you won't be able to use it all, it is vital that you activate your second entry by doing a border run before the 'must enter before' date

I'll never get used to that resounding 'splat!' when plugging stuff in (it happens in the UK too, we just don't see it 'coz the contacts are buried deep in the socket out of harms way), the concept of switched outlets is totally alien here too.

This generally doesn't happen in Australia as all socket outlets must have a built-in switch. Of course, arcing may happen if you choose to plug or unplug an appliance whilst the switch is left in the "on" position but only silly buggers do this.

Actually, I think the UK regs also now require all newly installed outlets to be switched.

It could be sore. Remember that time when you caught your skin in your zip.

Several times

Had a mate who was 'getting it on' with his GF when her dad came home, caught himself in his zipper and had to have 4 stitches in it (not the zipper), I cringe even thinking about it