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Hornyskunk

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Posts posted by Hornyskunk

    Is the Thai economy collapsing?

    in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments

    A place to feel at home but far from home

    in General Topics

    Posted · Edited by Hornyskunk

    I would absolutely choose to live in a farang village if I could, but I don't think I represent the average farang in Thailand. For starters, I never wanted to be here.

     

    Ideally, I want to live in a community similar to the one I grew up in: http://castlehills.com/

     

    However, I think importing the Castle Hills model to Thailand would be virtually impossible. Also, the price of a house alone would exclude almost everyone from living there. 

    Transformer blowing fuse

    in The Electrical Forum

    Posted

    If it blew its internal fuse are you sure you connected it / configured it correctly?

    I would suggest that you may be connecting the 110V winding to the 220V supply, but without seeing the transformer couldn't be certain, can you post a photo?

    EDIT Do you have a means of testing the voltage at your outlet, just to be sure? If you plug a regular tungsten lamp into the outlet is all OK?

    I connected the transformer with the switches in the same position as in the picture above. It should have just worked.

    I don't have any means of testing the voltage and I don't own a lamp, sorry. However, the outlet continues to work for a TV, a gaming PC and an Xbox One. Those weren't plugged in at the same time I connected the transformer, though.

    I will return to Amorn tomorrow to exchange the transformer again. This time I think I will go for three 500w transformers of a cheaper brand. I remember that those were a lot smaller, lighter and did not have a ground plug.

    Step-down transformer wattage

    in The Electrical Forum

    Posted

    Thanks for all the replies.

    The TV and sound bar both require 120v 50Hz according to their stickers. According to the wattage on those stickers, I could get away with using a 500w transformer or even less.

    I recently got a 2000w transformer from Amorn (overkill, I know), but it blew its fuse when I tried to plug it in. If anyone can help with this problem, I started a new topic here:

    http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/932952-transformer-blowing-fuse/

    Transformer blowing fuse

    in The Electrical Forum

    Posted

    Anyone understand why this is happening?

    I recently bought a 2000w step-down transformer to use with 120v electronics I brought from the US.

    With the transformer off and nothing connected to it, I tried plugging it into an outlet at my condo. When I did, the outlet loudly and visibly sparked (once) and the transformer blew its fuse (also loudly). Meanwhile, the circuit breaker for the room tripped.

    The transformer was the heaviest and most expensive that I could find at my local Amorn. This actually happened twice. After the first time, I exchanged the transformer for a new one and tried again with the same results.

    I wonder if it is a problem with the wiring at my condo, but I doubt it. My condo is not exactly cheap and it was very recently built (2 years ago) in downtown Bangkok.

    With the second transformer, I had the store test it before I took it home and it worked. Neither the first nor the second worked after blowing the fuse. The outlet seems to be fine, though.

    Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

    Baht to Weaken to 37 to the US Dollar

    in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments

    Posted

    I don't think anyone expects a policy change from the next FOMC meeting later this month. Same could be said for the meeting in September, but that's still a while from now.

    In the meantime, USD to THB is actually trending down. This is despite the Brexit giving a small boost to the dollar.

    It does look the SET is (or was) pulling in hot money, but I don't know much about Thailand's economy or history of capital flows.

    Personally, I'm interested to find out whatever effect the constitutional referendum in August will have on the exchange rate.

    If there is political instability in Thailand, then yes, I think 37 baht per dollar is possible.

    Step-down transformer wattage

    in The Electrical Forum

    Posted · Edited by Hornyskunk

    What capacity (wattage) should I get for a step-down transformer to run a 42-inch TV with a matching 42-inch sound bar?

    Any brand or specific model recommendations?

    Any other advice? I've never used a transformer before.

    I realize bringing a TV and sound bar from the US was a stupid idea, which is why both have been sitting in storage unused for a year and a half.

    Thanks in advance.

    AIS Fiber - anyone have recent experience?

    in IT and Computers

    Posted

    I've been using AIS Fibre 50/20 for one year. My plan expires in two weeks and I've already ordered a new 50/10 package for another year.

    My only complaint is that it feels like I was being ripped off. I paid around 2k/month for the 50/20 package and will soon be paying 800/month for the 50/10 package. Why such a difference in price?

    Other than that, I have not had a single problem with AIS Fibre. It's as good as or perhaps better (cheaper) than Verizon Fios back in the US.

    • Like 1

    Need Advice: What to Bring to Bangkok from US?

    in Bangkok

    Posted

    I moved here from Texas about a year and a half ago. I hate living here, but I hope you'll like it more than I do. I'm also here for work and I live within walking distance of Central World.

    I've been keeping a list of things I absolutely need to buy when I go back home later this year. Most of these are a lot cheaper in the states, especially during Christmas-time, than they are in Thailand due to excessive import taxes. Maybe this will help you on deciding what to bring. I wish I'd have known to bring more of these things when I first came.

    SHOES AND SOCKS - The brands and styles I want are either impossible to find or ridiculously overpriced in Thailand. With size 13 feet, there's no way I can "go native" with shoes and socks. If you're bringing good wood/leather work shoes (like Allen Edmonds), be sure to also bring shoe supplies like shoe trees, a horsehair brush, extra strings and all those various oily substances which keep em looking new.

    ELECTRONICS - I'll pick up a new smartphone, a new laptop for work and high-end components/peripherals for my gaming PC. These things are typically cheaper on amazon or newegg than anywhere in Thailand.

    TOILETRIES - The replaceable parts for my philips sonicare toothbrush and philips norelco shaver are overpriced here. My cologne is also overpriced and my GF uses a specific toothpaste which isn't even sold here. Actually, this category is mostly for her. All her female stuff (lotions, cosmetics, lipstick, etc.) is pretty expensive so buying in the states can save hundreds of dollars vs buying here. You could easily "go native" with all your bathroom stuff, however, if you're not picky.

    CLOTHING - Same as with shoes and socks. The brands, styles and sizes I want are either impossible to find or ridiculously overpriced in Thailand. I don't know about underwear, though. I could never understand why men would wear underwear. It's worth noting that getting clothing and shoes tailored or repaired is insanely cheap in Thailand.

    ACCESSORIES - Leather belts, brand-name sunglasses and quality automatic watches are all cheaper on amazon than in Thailand. That said, you won't find anything back home like the 100% silk items (ties, pocket squares, lady scarves, etc.) sold by Jim Thompson in Thailand. If you're gay a fashionable male or female, you might also want to bring some fancy brand-name bags and wallets, too.

    COOKWARE - My GF likes to cook and high-quality cookware is very expensive here. You don't actually need a kitchen, though. It's easy to eat out cheaply. What's hard is to limit your intake.

    SUPPLEMENTS - I'm gonna raid a GNC when I get back.

    PERSONAL ITEMS - Easily-concealed self-defense weapons. Pickled jalapenos. Stubb's BBQ sauce. A real cowboy hat. Guacamole. Beef jerky. Pecans. Pecan pie. Tequila.

    Unofficial TV survey

    in ASEAN NOW Community Pub

    Posted

    Why survey no easy?

    1. Do you live inside of Thailand - YES, UNFORTUNATELY
    2. If you do not live in Thailand, where do you live
    3. If you reside in Thailand, in which city do you live. - BANGKOK, UNFORTUNATELY
    4. Do you own a property - NO
    5. Do you own a motorcycle - HELL NO
    6. Do you own a car or truck - YES, A CAR
    7. Are you working for an employer - YES
    8. Do you own your own business - NO
    9. Are you married - NOT YET
    10. Do you have children - NOT THAT I KNOW OF
    11. Are you retired - NO, BUT I WISH I WAS
    12. Are you a tourist - NO
    13. What is your age - 28
    14. Are you a male or female - MALE
    15. Do you earn over 100000b per month - YES, IF CONVERTED TO THB
    16. Are you
    A. Deliriously blissfull
    B. Blissfull
    C. Extremely happy
    D. Happy.
    E. I'm okay
    F. Unhappy <- THIS ONE
    G. Miserable

    17. Do you feel that the country is safe?
    A. Extremely safe
    B. Very safe
    C. Safe
    D. Not safe
    E. Dangerous <- THIS ONE

    18. Please rate Thai visas news coverage
    A. Excellent
    B. Very good
    C. Good <- THIS ONE
    D. Ok
    E. Could be better
    F. Horrible

    19. Moderation cannot be discussed, so unfortunately this portion cannot be part of the survey.

    20. Do you sleep more during the day or in the evening? - I SLEEP AT NIGHT LIKE A NORMAL PERSON (BUT NOT ENOUGH)

    21. What other social media do you use? - NONE, FOR REAL

    22. Which new outlet other than Thai Visa do you get your new? - GOOGLE NEWS, THE ECONOMIST, BBC, 'MURICA (FOX, CNN, ETC.)

    23. Do you use the Thai Visa website, app and newsletter service everyday? - NO

    24. Do you have health insurance? - YES

    25. Do you think this topic will be removed? - NO

    International Transfers experiences

    in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments

    Posted · Edited by Hornyskunk

    I've used transferwise and they are awesome.

    However, after repeated testing, I always found that the most cost-effective option for me is to transfer funds from my US bank to Bangkok Bank via domestic ACH transfers in the US. The difference, though, is like 100 baht per $1000.

    Of course, do make use of any promotional, no-fee offers you get from transferwise.

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