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I used to think we were safe during a lightning storm. I would open the knife switch cutting off all power to the house. One day, we had a lightning strike, it jumped right across the knife switch and blew out two light bulbs. No damage to the tv or fridge?

Now we have a modern fuse box. If the main breaker were switched off, I wonder if lightning could jump across that as it did with the knife switch?

I just put in a new septic system with a plastic tank and I built a real leachfield. The only tanks Ive ever seen were concrete or steel. This tank looked as though it should work ok, and so far so good.

I do have one concern. The plastic baffle should allow only liquid to enter the outlet side, but there is some solid material on that side. Im afraid that some solids will enter the outlet pipe and eventually clog up the leachfield.

The outlet pipe is right up tight to the baffle, so Im hoping only liquid will enter the outlet pipe.

Has anyone with a plastic tank noticed if the baffle keeps out solids?

Tom Khon Kaen

Sealant, you mean like silicone caulking?

I would think there must be something here that could be used to make a ring, wax or other.

I want to install a new bucket flush toilet. I dont like tank flush ones as it seems there is always something going wrong with all the moving parts in the tank. The bucket flush works everytime.

I would like to know the proper way to install this type. There are no holes for anchor bolts. Ive installed one before and the only way I could figure out how to line up the toilet with the hole in the floor, is to turn the toilet upside down and make a paper template and then trace around the template on the floor. This worked, but Im wondering if there is a different way.

I cant find a wax rig anywhere, so I just use cement (tile adhesive actually). Im concerned that when I lower the toilet in place, the cement will ooze out making the drain hole smaller.

Ive been thinking maybe I should just buy a tank flush toilet that comes with a flange and wax ring, and just not use the tank, but flush with a bucket.

Suggestions welcome,

Tom

Khon Kaen

Thanks for the tips.

Now, how big should the leachfield be?

Ive read that here we have to make our own perforated pipe. (no problem)

Do you make a distribution box, or just use pvc "T"s?

I have plenty of land, no flooding, and the ground absorbs water well.

The toilets I have now just go into a Thai style tank, (concrete rings) and it works quite well. I have lots of time and like to keep busy,

so I thought it would be fun to build a western system. Life here is great. Right now Im remodling the temple kitchen and building a treehouse for my wife. I just want some jobs lined up so there is no down time.

Thanks again,

Tom

Khon Kaen

I would like to know how to install a plastic septic tank. I havent found anything on the net for instaling the ones that are shaped like a hand grenade. I saw a diagram of one that showed it sitting on a concrete pad and it said to fill with water before backfilling, but thats all.

I will probably buy a small one as it will only be for one toilet used by 1 person.

Ive been reading about leachfields here on the forum. Some guys have built western style fields but I havent heard how the have held up over time. Instead of a leachfield, I think I will build a drywell for the overflow from the tank. This is just a big hole in the ground, about 2x2x2 meters filled with large stones, broaken blocks, bricks, etc, anything to create voids. I have built several septic systems in the west and I prefer the drywell to a field. Everyone Ive built is still working today, some after 50 years!

Any help will be appreciated.

In the US, I have a small house (50 sq mt.), and a single unit of 5,000 BTU cools the whole house! In the summer, its just as hot as it is here, so I can only imagine that its because the house is well insulated.

Perhaps it would pay to insulate a house here?

A few years ago, our mail stopped coming. Nothing for over 2 years. I went to the PO and told them about it. They said they had no idea what is going on. Suddenly, the mail started coming again!

Pizzes me off because now I have my credit cards sent UPS at $60 for just 1 card.

I painted my house 3 years ago and have some Dulux primer and paint left over.

Is it still ok to use or not?

To the OP,

Our village also just had a young man enter the monkhood. Like your village, there was drinking and deafening music.

However, we also had several fistfights and half naked young girls dirty dancing.

I guess our village is more religious than yours!

When laying a marble floor, the edges are butted up tight instead of leaving a joint like with tiles. Im wondering what is used to fill the crack between the pieces of marble?

A few years ago I saw a television show about an antique car museum in bangkok.

Could someone please give me the address? Thanks, Tom

Here in Issan, many home fuse boxes consist of a knife switch and a breaker. (some are just a knife switch! Lately, new houses are installing real electric systems.)

Ive seen alot of people replacing thier knifeswitch-breaker system with a safe-t-cut, or just adding a safe-t-cut to the incoming line.

I would like to know if that is a big improvement and if so, why?

I have a 2 burner countertop gas cooker. Im surprized its lasted 16 years, but anyway its time for a new one.

Im just wondering if I should replace the regulator too. Do they wear out also?

Tom

A while back, I asked for advice on house paint and got some useful replys. Now I would like to report on the results.

I think the brand of paint is not as important as preparation and application.

The old paint on my house was 14 years old but quite sound. It was powdery, so I used a scrub brush and garden hose to wash the walls. That was alot of work. but Im sure, worth it.

I waited till the cool season because I dont think painting in hot weather, especially direct sunlite, is a good idea.

I went with Dulux. 1 coat of Dulux super primer and 2 coats of Weathershield. It went on smooth and was an easy job. I diluted the paint with 5% water.

Its been over a year now, and looks as good as the day I painted it. The dog jumps up on the walls sometimes and gets it dirty, but it washes right off.

We are very pleased with the results, it looks like a new house.

Thanks for the advise Thaivisa.

Tom Salarak Khon Kaen

The foot valve should take care of that.

Ive been looking at shallow well water pumps and dont understand all the labeling.

Suction max. 9m is self explanatory, but does Head max 25m mean, the pump will pump water verticaly 25 meters? Also, how far will it pump horizontaly?

The instructions say to install a check valve. What is the purpose of a check valve? And where should it be installed? Ive seen alot of pumps but, never seen a check valve.

Tom Khon Kaen

Im the OP and Id like to report back about my experience.

I knew nothing about flat screens a week ago. My old tube set was fine except the picture was small. It was a 21 inch model and the actual picture was only 11 by 16 inches!

I got alot of info here on TV and google. At first I was more confused the more I learned.

Anyway, I bought a 40 inch, samsung LCD for 15,000 B.

I hooked it up to my True sat dish and I couldnt be happier. The picture is crystal clear on all channels.

Thank you all for your help.

Tom S. Khon Kaen

I want to buy a new television. I see now, most are the flat screen type. I have a true satalite dish and just want to watch normal tv programs.

My problem is, I dont know anything about these things. Do I want LED, LCD, or Plasma? Price isnt a big deal, but I dont want to pay for features I wont use.

Could someone please advise me.

Thanks, Tom

I have always done my own construction, home maintainance, gardening, everything. But now, as Im getting older, it is getting a little too much for me. Im going to need some help and will hire a handyman. Probably a neighbor, or someone I know in the village.

I'm just not sure how much to pay. Ive been very generous with the neighbors over the years, but I want to pay what would be fair to them and myself.

I would like to know if anyone here in Issan has a handyman and what you pay.

Tom Salarak Khon Kaen

Thanks Sheryl,

I was diagnosed with BPH 10 years ago. The symptoms wernt bad then, but unpleasant now.

I guess Ive been putting off a cancer check because all the men in my family have died of prostate cancer.

Ill have to consider a checkup.

Thanks again, Tom

I'm hoping medications to shrink the prostate will make urinating a more pleasant experience for me.

I would like to hear from anyone who has tried these meds and the results. Plus, any side effects.

Tom Salarak

Khon Kaen

When working in refugee camps, I was told most people had intestinal parasites. Ive been living in Issan for 15 years and we are very close to the soil, (in the gardens, ricefields, orchards). Also, the hygene in restaurants and the market places isnt what I call good.

We give our dogs medications for parasites, it would seem logical to do the same for humans.

Any thoughts?

I just went to see a farangs new house. The septic tank is 3 meters from the bored well. Ive seen this before in Issan and it concerns me. Where I come from, the law states they must be 25 meters apart. I didnt say anything to the farang because Im not sure how dangerous this is.

Is this ok, not ok?

Thank you all,

As I said, the instructions say use a larger size pipe. If the inlet is 1 inch, how much larger should the pipe be?