Crossy

but QED ("Quod erat demonstrandum", not sure) means that if the guest is pushing the temp. up buttom it will be a bigger problem for me.

I will talk with a good aircon man..

555, QED really isn't the correct phrase, 'sorted' would be better

Disable the button that DECREASES the temperature setting so the guest can only INCREASE the temperature (reduce the cooling) which should reduce your electricity usage.

This site suggests that there is at least a modicum of truth in this report http://www.aviation.com/safety/071116-etih...0-incident.html

And the actual Airbus press release http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/press...s_facility.html

How stupid can you get? Well, this Arab flight crew will show you. Hard to believe the French just handed them the keys and let them go at it. Photos show total destruction of a $200 million aircraft, brand new off the assembly line. And check out the French reaction to this.

- - - - - -

THE TALE OF THE ARAB FLIGHT CREW

Written by: To The Point News

Friday, 16 May 2008

The brand spanking new Airbus 340-600 sat in its hangar in Toulouse, France without a single hour of airtime.

Enter the Arab flight crew of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT) to conduct pre-delivery tests on the ground, such as engine runups, prior to delivery to Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi.

The ADAT crew taxied the A340-600 to the run-up area. Then they took all four engines to takeoff power with a virtually empty aircraft. Not having read the run-up manuals, they had no clue just how light an empty A340-600 really is.

The takeoff warning horn was blaring away in the cockpit because they had all 4 engines at full power. The aircraft computers thought they were trying to takeoff but it had not been configured properly (flaps/slats, etc.)

Then one of the ADAT crew decided to pull the circuit breaker on the Ground Proximity Sensor to silence the alarm. This fools the aircraft into thinking it is in the air. The computers automatically released all the brakes and set the aircraft rocketing forward.

The ADAT crew had no idea that this is a safety feature so that pilots can't land with the brakes on. Not one member of the seven-man Arab crew was smart enough to throttle back the engines from their max power setting, so the $200 million brand-new aircraft crashed into a blast barrier, totalling it.

The extent of injuries to the crew is unknown, for there has been a news blackout in the major media in France and elsewhere. Coverage of the story was deemed insulting to Moslem Arabs.

Finally, the photos are starting to leak out. Airbus $200 million aircraft meets retaining wall and the wall wins....

A Cunning Plan

Dismantle your remote, find the 'temperature down' key and stick one of those sticky paper circles over the contact, re-assemble the remote. Set the temperature by pushing the 'up' button, guests cannot reduce the temperature 'coz the 'down' button no longer works.

QED

There could be an issue with the set temp going to 18C (or whatever) when you remove the remote batteries (so smart guests will not be defeated), but I currently have no better ideas

EDIT Naam, can you not simply unplug / remove / short / replace with suitable resistor the air temperature sensor in the fan unit so the unit thinks it's always too warm?

Actually, our OP could possibly re-calibrate his temperature sensors so that '18C' is really 25C, could be worth a chat to the aircon man

We were over at a friend's house a few evenings ago. I made a trip into the house. Most of the lights were out, but I noticed that all of the flourescents were glowing slightly...is this a faulty job of wiring or something else? What do you think?

Almost certainly caused by the switches being in the neutral, or possibly (and considerably more worring) an overall live-neutral swap. If you have a neon screwdriver verify that what you think is the live in the CU really IS live.

If you don't have a neon screwdriver go and buy one (the type you put your finger on the end of), the best 100Baht you can spend if you intend going anywhere near a Thai electrical installation.

Just out of interest, Haico have a reasonable collection of electrical bits and pieces including 3 pin slimline vertical plugs and connection boxes with grommets. Do Home and Home Pro are a couple of places that hold some of their stock.

Interesting, IME HomePro have always been sadly lacking in 3 pole plugs (outlets no problem) and cable.

My local mom-and-pop electrical emporium (it's such an Aladdins Cave it can't just be called a shop) has a far better selection although all the plugs are very agricultural in design

I'll look out for the Haico stuff

Most of us have come across the classic sentence with the word 'and' repeated five times, you remember, this one:-

"I want to put a hyphen between the words Fish and And and And and Chips in my Fish-And-Chips sign"

Well, whilst researching something else (don't ask), I came across this which has twenty one (count them) consecutive 'ands' and it still makes sense, sort of

Wouldn't the sentence "I want to put a hyphen between the words Fish and And and And and Chips in my Fish-And-Chips sign" have been clearer if quotation marks had been placed before Fish, and between Fish and and, and and and And, and And and and, and and and And, and And and and, and and and Chips, as well as after Chips?

correct Crossy. fan of inside unit is single phase only. the most economical way is to change the compressor of the outside unit plus some rewiring.

Thanks for the confirmation Naam, it seemed that that would be the sensible configuration (same indoor unit for single and 3-phase models) but I don't have a 3-phase unit to look at.

This post http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=2022245 will help you calculate your maximum demand and size your incoming supply requirements.

That's a pretty big house, you really need to do some proper load calculations. By the time you add on your water and pool pumps, lighting and kitchen equipment it's possible you won't be able to get a single phase supply big enough anyway. The biggest normally available single-phase supply is 45A although I believe some in some areas you can get a 100A supply.

Using the sizing tables on the site you reference. In order to run two 35,000 BTU A/C units drawing about 12 Amps (running) each you'll need at least a 10kW converter (to cover the start surge). The website prices this at US$1700 (55,000 Baht). Note that this unit IDLES at 4.5 Amps input current so you'll need some means of powering it off when it's not running the aircon if you don't want a massive power bill.

I would investigate:-

1. Swapping out the 3-phase units for single phase (they'll have a resale value so this may prove the most economical course of action), it's likely that only the outdoor units will need changing anyway, talk to your aircon man.
   
2. Getting a 3-phase supply (you may need it anyway)
   

Motors and generators are readily available all over the country, maybe a home-brew solution built by your local generator man would an option.

Yup there's something adrift, just logged out and back in, I get:-

Welcome back; your last visit was: 2007-12-17 22:43:35

I've used several machines since then, and this one was new in march, cache well and truly cleared

EDIT Just logged in from a virgin machine that's never visited this site, same result. Houston, we have a problem

You will find it very difficult (impossible) to swap passports at a land crossing, immigration at both ends want to see exit stamps from the other country (and it's probably not wise to show immigration your other PP).

The only practical way is a cheap air trip somewhere

Sorry it was a forum link, not permitted

This one isn't http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/...Off0248438.htm

Youtube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nj-Ddg9XCA there's a bunch of other 'interesting' videos linked as related

It will be OK except your programs will run about 10% slower.

And, since you are now in the Northern Hemisphere the image on the LCD will be upside down

No problem whatever

Your laptop likely has a 'universal' power supply anyway.

Check the label it will state the operating voltage, universal units will say something like 100-240V AC input.

Generally I believe any device of this nature to be Snake Oil, I've seen no scientific evidence that these beasts actually do anything useful.

The FAQ on this site (for the Uk version of the device) http://www.energyenv.co.uk/PowerSaver.asp contains the following statement:-

Power Saver helps improve the environment by minimising the amount of reactive power which otherwise is wasted in distribution networks, cables and your appliances in the form of heat.

Suggesting that it performs power-factor correction.

Now PF correction can, in the case of highly inductive loads, actually have a measurable effect, but sure as heII nothing like the claimed 10-20%, and it has to be tailored to the load being corrected in order to prevent over correction which is just as bad as no correction.

I suspect that the box contains a simple capacitor, which will cost a lot less than the 42 quid the UK device goes for.

I would love to be corrected on this, as although my bill is nothing like yours I'd love it to be smaller

I'm sure a look round Chinatown with a Thai who knows what you're looking for will turn up the goods.

BUT.

It may be cheaper to simply replace the 3-phase motors in your kit with single phase units, heaters can be easily re-wired for single-phase operation.

What exactly do you need to run? If it has motors then I'm not sure Tim's UPS solution will work unless you have a well over-rated unit, switch-on surge may kill it

Obviously, the ideal solution (if you can't modify the appliances) would be to get 3-phase installed in your location.

I'm pretty sure it can't. Lose it and it's just like losing cash. Website here http://www.thaismartcard.co.th/home/ English option available

The whole point of the smart purse is as a cash replacement for micro-purchases. No mucking around with cash and change when you want gum or a pack of ciggies, just touch-n-go

IF they get it right (TiT) then theoretically you should be able to use it on the Skytrain and Metro, maybe for taxis and parking (not implemented yet).

Octopus in Hongkong works like this and works very well too. Ride the bus, metro or ferries, buy stuff at the mini-mart or supermarket, even photo-booths take it (and not cash). There are actually more Octopus cards in circulation than there are people in Hongkong so they're obviously doing something right.

i just made up a poll, it was so meaningless they deleted it.

so i win lol

Twice in fact

The mods got to it before I could vote in either

I voted to sacrifice a virgin, or at least reduce the number of virgins available by one. Unfortunately a shortage of virgins (or at least ones willing to be reduced or sacrificed) forced me to go to the pub instead. Sacrificed the Missus later (twice)

We were all set for a viewing, and could actually see the sun, until about 5.45 when a bloody great black cloud came and parked in front of it

I reckon it was one of alexlah's clouds 'coz it didn't budge even in the stong wind, until the sun had actually set whereupon it promptly vanished.

Domestic ring mains with fused plugs do not exist in Thailand, in fact they are a peculiarly British thing. Leave everything on radials.

Have a look here http://www.crossy.co.uk/wiring/ it should answer most of your issues

Wire your outlets with 2.5mm 3 core cable (it probably has a 1.5mm ground core) or 2.5mm twin with a separate 1.5mm ground if you can't get 3 core. Protect each radial with a 20A breaker. In a domestic situation you're unlikely to run into cable length issues but there's a volt drop calculator on the page noted above.

I would limit each radial to 7 double outlets although there is no actual maximum number permitted, we've got it split by room with two circuits to the kitchen where the high current appliances live.

An ELCB/RCCB/RCD/RCBO/GFI/Saf-T-Cut does not require a ground to function correctly, your seperate pond and pool ground rods will protect you perfectly well

Junction boxes are also unknown and unobtainable, the best you'll do are twist-on 'wire nuts'. These are perfectly acceptable provided they are correctly fitted and taped. If you really want UK type JBs you can get them in Malaysia where MK have distributors

I would install an RCBO in your pump house if it's not running from the protected side of your split-load CU. If you have pool lighting I would strongly recommend you replace any mains fittings with low voltage units.

This is not unique to USA. Any Customs in any country could confiscate your laptop on entry...what would you be able to do about it?

Whilst this is undoubtably true, customs in most western countries have to provide a REASON to confiscate your property (they can examine it of course and if they find something iffy then confiscate). It seems that US customs can relieve you of your property without reason and then rip it apart with no guarantee that you'll ever get it back, (sounds awfully like Thai customs and motor vehicles).

I had my laptop checked flying into Paris CDG and got ticked off for having a data encryption program (Truecrypt) installed. Apparently it is illegal in France to have data encryption software, something I didn't know, I do now. They didn't ask to open my encrypted files, just make sure it wasn't installed next time.

I'm not sure exactly what they expect to achieve by this draconian action, apart from reducing the number of business travellers arriving in the US.

I am totally sure that Bin Liner et-al have far better ways of getting their data into the country than by carrying it through airports.

A few gigs of 'gentlemans files' would also be safer being transferred via a secure server and link or even a non-secure server (there are loads of free online storage facilities now), the traffic would get lost in the general mele of the internet so unless they're tracking your traffic already.....

Unless you already have the inverter I'd look at a 24V unit, lower currents are more manageable and the efficiency is better, otherwise that charger looks a good match if you can get something similar here. The main Amorn branch is in Chinatown (BKK of course), that's the area to get what you need, website here http://www.amornelectronic.com/ should have shop locations on there somewhere.

I would NOT use car batteries, if you discharge lower than 60% of charge they will rapidly sulphate and die. Much better to get deep-discharge gel batteries, more expensive but much longer lived.

How are we going to stretch this one to be Thailand related? 'World Economy' Joker has already been played.