CapraIbex

Well, I too object to this over-generalized statement. There are many who are either trained in a different field or find it challenging funding a solar generated power system or locating a competent contractor. I reside in Buriram and have the means and ample (sunny) space for financing a high capacity solar system but don't have the know-how. I would love to have a solar system charging my future electric vehicle and air condition units. Lucky to them who are blessed with this knowledge. Some of course have engaged a competent contractor procuring and installing a solar system alas they don't divulge contact details. There is no need boasting about the advantages of a solar system or how much one could sell to PEA over-produced power, most of us know - it just bloody frustrating for not able to jump into the boat!

Thanks for very useful information.

What are the number of solar panels, specs and costs for installing such a solar system charging an EV battery exclusively. And since I reside in Buriram which is not far from Surin, could you recommend an electrical contractor to install this system.

Well, this is quite a selection to choose from. A Lazada search indicates 125 items found for "20A MCB, ChinT" - very overwhelming for non-experts. I begin to realize that all this is way beyond my capabilities. Since the electrical breaker system is sourced by SAFE-T-CUT I am going to contact them and purchase a new consumer unit with an 80KA Surge Protection Device already installed and then re-install the existing breakers including Main breaker & RCBO to the new box. This will save me from installing a "baby box" and eliminate additional rewiring. I realize that the SAFE-T-CUT SPD rating is lower by 20KA but this just will have to do the trick. But I am going to inquire if SAFE-T-CUT offer a unit with 2x80KA SPD installed. Thanks again for your expert input and patience for responding.

I will pass on the wiring instruction to the sparky; Thanks for detailed explanation. I make certain that the 'baby CU is located as close to the existing box as possible ensuring short wires. There are many pole breaker (MCB) available at Lazada. Could I bother you again for advising the preferred make and correct size?

My apologies, I just am not familiar with the technical lingo pertinent to electrical components. And since my electrical know-how is limited the "Many, many ways to go about this job" are adding challenges to my attempt explaining all this to the village electrician. If I understand you correctly: a) the 4 channel consumer unit will accommodate the Surge Protector and Main Breaker; b) my existing SAFE-T-CUT Consumer Unit will contain the RCBO and all other breakers; and c) my existing SAFE-T-CUT Consumer Unit will be installed following the 4 channel consumer unit. Can I assume that the grounding (earthing) arrangement needs not to be changed?

Okay, I won't change the breaker arrangements for the air condition units and obtain from Lazada a 100ka Surge Protector. My search in regard to "garage" CU box to which the surge protector is to be installed was unsuccessful. Would a cabinet as offered by https://www.safe-t-cut.com/en/product/premier-eu-eng/ be adequate for accommodating: 1. the 100ka Surge Protector; 2. the Main breakers; and 3. the RCBO; and then followed by the existing "SAFE-T-CUT Consumer Unit" containing all other breakers.

The three inactive 20A breakers are meant for 3 air condition units (2x18,700 BTU and 1x8,500 BTU) wired with 6mm square. Could I use only one (1) breaker with a higher rating of Amps? If yes, this would give me 2 additional slots.

My aim is to protect our electrical home appliances from power surges. But I am unsure on the requirements of Surge Diverters and Surge Filters in addition to a Whole-House Surge Protector and request advice what's needed for a residence. The village sparky installed a "SAFE-T-CUT Consumer Smart Unit & RCBO Premier" but there aren't any slots left installing additional products (refer to attached photo) but I am prepared buying a new larger c/unit if necessary and available. In addition I intend using voltage stabilizers for TV, computers, fridges and chest freezer as the power supply is not very stable and 'brown-outs' are frequent. The product I'm eyeballing is available at https://www.lazada.co.th/products/stabilizer-avr-schneider-ls1000s-th-1000va-500w-automatic-voltage-regulator-i3350462786-s12429314211.html?search=1 but am concerned about the low joule rating and relative long response time. Any opinions or alternatives of this product are much appreciated also.

Apropos inverter air-cons. I recall a thread posted many moons ago stating that the inverter unit did not perform to its specification. The poster claimed that the brand new inverter unit was not producing the intended cooling effect. I can't locate this particular post - maybe some of the readers here can.

Thanks to all for useful input. The advise for using the inverter as a primary unit is certainly most helpful. Based on the replies, I just may try using my existing aircon first and check for cooling effects power consumption. I generally set the the temperature to 27C, comfortable enough for me but may be inadequate for arctic duckies. And I do make use of ceiling fans.

Thanks for recommendation and technical advise. In terms of power consumption, would an inverter unit be compatible with a 'non-inverter'? And how to ensure that one of the units is not 'overworking' and used in concordance?

I am going to increase my open plan living area to about 60 sqm.; The ceiling height is 2.80m. The room is well insulated, the windows may leak a little but have no afternoon sun. My existing air-condition unit (Carrier 38FCE018-R1, 18,700 BTU) is maintained on a regular basis and working extremely well but am unsure if adequate for cooling down the new room (my Internet searches yield mixed results) . Would installing a 2nd air conditioner (equal brand/model) in the same room be an option or would I have to bite the bullet buying a new unit and dispose of the old one?

Good video info, thanks.

Many thanks for detailed arrestor info and reassurance concerning my RCBO plan.

Thanks for chip in with additional info/advise. Re: 2 - The house is already connected to a permanent (PEA) power supply. Re: 3 - Assuming installing 3 consumer units I'm struggling to determine the sizes of the surge arrestors recommended/required as BIG and/or small seem somewhat subjective. Re: 4 - I still need to check if the house is connected to TNC-S. Re: 5 - Understood, install one rod only. Re: 6 - Each individual level/story will have a 8kw water heater and intend to install a RCBO to the respective consumer unit - hope this is satisfactory.

Thanks for info and photo shots. I edited my profile. My wife's house is located about 12km south of the New Buriram I-Mobile stadium.

Thanks again for your excellent input. I really don't have any branded preferences concerning the consumer units. As far as I can determine both ABB and SAFE T CUT seem to fit the bill and am going to obtain what's available locally. I intend to comply with PEA's requirements but am almost sure that they won't carry out a inspection after completion of work. I purely rely on the local electrician for completing the installation and most importantly ensuring safe use. This is what I intend to do, i.e. 2 consumer units (CU) with RCBO for each downstairs and upstairs residence. As you had recommended previously, the power to these 2 consumer units will be provided via a separate smaller consumer unit ("splitting box") without residual current circuit breaker (RCBO) and miniature circuit breaker (MCB). With respect to surge arrestor specifically to my intended electrical installation. Would an arrestor installed to the "splitting" box be adequate or should a surge arrestor be incorporated to each RCBO consumer unit? I leave up to the sparky to work on the load requirements for each individual breaker. He worked on 3-core cable installations before and is familiar with its colour coding. My main concern is earthing the "3-consumer unit set-up" and hope he will be able to complete this properly. Is there a gadget available for checking that the grounding connection is done correctly?

How about solar operated fans for ventilating roof cavities installed to both sides of the gable roof?

This is not what I proposed. Rather than your "twin+earth cable" wiring method, I inquired about extending/connecting the SINGLE ground cable from the "splitter box" to the other two cabinet consumer units. And the whole idea for grounding does indeed encompass earthing all 3-pin plug sockets.

Thanks for responding and valuable advise. I was able to locate a SAFE T CUT electrical control cabinet (separate small box) for splitting the power supply and am proposing fitting it out with a suitable sized Main Switch and two (2) suitable sized breakers one of which would feed the downstairs unit and the other would feed the upstairs unit. If this sounds feasible and safe what would be the recommended size/capacity of the Main Switch and breakers? Concerning fastening the electrical equipment to earth. Naturally, for safety reasons I wish ground the electrical connections properly. Would you endorse grounding the "separate small box" only and then connect the ground wire to the two (2) SAFE T CUT electrical control cabinet consumer units with front-end RCBO ?

The house is located in a very rural environment. The existing electric power supply comes from a nearby power pole and runs through one meter unit. "Licensed" village sparkies may not be familiar with my plan viz: For convenience and manageability, I'd prefer utilizing two (2) SAFE T CUT electrical control cabinet consumer units with front-end RCBO - one (1) for downstairs and one (1) for upstairs. The 'upstairs' electrical control cabinet would receive its electrical power by splitting the incoming power cable just before or at the connection to the main circuit breaker of the 'downstairs' electrical control cabinet. I would install two ground rods, one for each electrical control cabinet. BTW: My wife is happy retaining the existing (one) meter arrangement. Would this general idea be safe and sound for piggybacking two (2) control cabinets to one (1) incoming power supply?