MangoKorat

On 6/29/2024 at 6:19 PM, HauptmannUK said:

Uniroyals are a great tyre. They have a slightly soft sidewall and a softer rubber compound - very good grip in the wet but a somewhat shorter tyre life.

Yes, and grip in the wet is why I use them.  I'd rather save my life than a couple of thousand kilometers.

5 hours ago, Hummin said:

No, rotated the last stock ones at 50k, got 80k I think out of them. The ones I have now, better overall grip, but will not last as long. 

 

 

 

Jeez, my girlfriend must be correct - I drive too fast 😁.

I presume you're talking about KM not miles - in which case I rarely get close to 30k out my fronts. Mind you, after some pretty bad aquaplaning in Thailand, I tend to soft compound wet tyres.

Anyone looking for the same? I can thoroughly recommend Uniroyal Rainsport 5's.

4 hours ago, CallumWK said:

 

And how would that extend the overall tyre life, knowing that front tyres wear out faster than rear tyres?

So swapping the existing tyres to the front will actually lower the overall tyre life.

Because, disregarding legal limits which in my opinion are rarely safe in the wet - a pair of tyres that are close to the limit on the front will often do another few thousand miles on the back. A lot depends on driving style, if you're a hard driver then that wouldn't be sensible. If the OP has to pay someone to swap them, it may not be worth his while.

The above only applies to a front wheel drive.

It all depends on the condition of the existing rear tyres, your driving style and whether your car is front or rear wheel drive.  On the basis that its a front wheel drive - if your existing rear tyres are good, you might extend your overall tyre life by swapping the rears to the front and putting the new ones on the back. It used to be that when you swapped them you should do them diagonally but as most quality tyres are directional these days, that would be the wrong way to go.

To be honest, there's not much in it - prior to directional tyres I swapped them all the time, I don't these days. As someone's already pointed out, the better the tread depth, the better the water dispersal and its rainy season.

I'll give you 2 pieces of advice:

1. Answer the questions asked by Tod Daniels so that people can understand your situation.

2. Do not come to Thailand looking for a wife.  Spend some time on your own, learn about the country and its ways but especially learn about the Thai women that have only one interest - your bank balance.  That is not to say that all Thai women are that way but a sizeable proportion of those looking for a foreign husband will bleed you dry, make your life a misery. Meet one of those and you'll end up alone and back in your home country penniless within a very short time.

Given the recent addition of new and proposed long term visas for 'digital nomads' etc, this is a problem that the Thai authorities should have dealt with already but will they?

I very much doubt they will ever allow a 'self employed' work permit - the floodgates would open.  For the moment, if you are tax resident, as long as you pay tax on any income remitted to Thailand, I don't think you will have a problem.

When you sit at your computer dealing with your online income source, technically you are working but the Thai authorities seem happy to leave it as a grey area.  I really can't see you having a problem as long as you keep your tax affairs in order.

If the matter worries you, then your only option currently would be to set up a Thai company, obtain a work permit on the back of that and do whatever your online work is, through that company. The problem then though, would be the requirement to have a set number of Thai employees in order to qualify for a work permit. You could use 'ghost employees' but you would need to pay social security for them.

Much easier to leave it as a 'grey area' and just pay your taxes.

10 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

The battens are to stiffen the carcass panels not the doors. For doors you are best advised to use a torsion box structure 

I might just see if I can by a white gloss sliding wardrobe door kit, they are available in the UK but I haven't looked in Thailand yet.  That would be a far easier solution.

8 hours ago, Crossy said:

 

Yeah, this is what those of us with an ATS (Automatic Transfer Switch) are doing, except it operates automatically to switch to grid if the inverter(s) fail.

 

So legally, the PEA have no right to demand an approved installer?

No chance of any 'ghost' exporting using that type of switch?

Thinking about this, suppose I removed any chance of feeding back into the grid by completely separating the 2 systems using some form of double pole switch so both live and neutral were switched. What business would it be of the PEA's? How could they demand that my system/installation was approved?

I seem to remember having such a switch once on something else but a much lower amperage. I know such switches (automatic) are available for generators etc. but not sure if they are double pole.

Edit: Something like this - Listed as a 2 pole 40amp changeover switch.

19 hours ago, UWEB said:

Of course you can buy your own PEA approved Equipment and install it, but you will face massive problems to register it with PEA.

Next week I get my own Solar upgrade installed, and I grilled my Installer with two A4 pages of questions to ensure all will get approved by PEA if needed.

Not sure if you have read attached block,

 

Cheers.  I have a 'tame' PEA electrician - I'll have a word with him. Hopefully he'll sort it. A bottle of Black Label can work wonders.

On 6/25/2024 at 12:31 AM, lom said:

When not exporting the inverter is still physically connected to and importing from the grid so for safety reasons the inverter must be a PEA/MEA approved one and the installation has to be inspected by them. That's just how it is for an on-grid system.

So are we saying the above is now incorrect?  You can't just buy approved equipment?

22 hours ago, UWEB said:

A System connected to the Grid must be installed by an approved Installer, even if you are not exporting. What I not do.

I'll talk to my 'pet' PEA guy.

10 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

As it’s going to be a built-in the comment about thinness of the veneer does not apply and several cuts don’t need to be chip free, also the thickness of the board isn’t a factor as you can add glued on battens to the back of the boards to stiffen them. FWIW I think my boards are 12mm plywood 

Yes, I guess if I build a good carcass it doesn't need to be 18-20mm. Plus batten the doors as you suggest.

9 hours ago, lom said:

When not exporting the inverter is still physically connected to and importing from the grid so for safety reasons the inverter must be a PEA/MEA approved one and the installation has to be inspected by them. That's just how it is for an on-grid system.

Right, that shouldn't be a problem.  As far as I know, if you are exporting, the system has to be installed by an 'approved' installer. I thought the poster was refering to something like that.

8 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Maybe have a look at IKEA.

They have all kinds of cabinets and wardrobes and kitchens and whatever.

Some, i.e. some kitchen cabinets, have 20 years warranty. They are good quality, easy to assemble, and they have all the accessories like feet, door hinges, grips, etc.

Thanks but this is going to be a built-in cupboard - built in to an alcove.

7 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

Standard sized sheets (1220 x 2400) with a laminate coating are available from better wood yards, I have some in stock. However the laminate is remarkably thin. You would be better advised to buy the laminate separately from the board and do it, or get it done, yourself 

 

For cutting it, use a high quality track saw and do a 0.5mm ~ 0.9mm climb score cut first. There will be no chipping of the veneer. 
 

The company I buy from makes wooden doors as well as selling wood.

Thanks very much, very helpful.

On 6/22/2024 at 3:25 PM, Y Chang said:

A friend of mine has found a condo for rent in Bangkok.  Prior to transferring the deposit, she asked the real estate agent to send her the property owner's ID and proof of ownership.  For the proof of ID, she expected a title deed document.  However, the agent told her that a electricity bill from MEA with the name of the owner and the address will be sufficient, because in Thailand only owner can set up electricity account.  The agent further said that when one opens an electricity account, the person has to bring the title deed document to the MEA.  Once the account is opened under the owner's name, it cannot be changed to a different name, until the property is sold to another person.

 

I want to confirm if what he said is true.  Thanks and look forward to any input.

Well yes and no........strange answer but this is Thailand, let me explain:

When I took over my house I tried to change the electricity account into my name, just as a new owner or tenant would do in the UK. I was told that the account could only be in the name of the registered owner but the bills were sent to the property and they would allow monthly direct debits to be requested from my bank account. I thought it was odd but hey, who cares?

However, a few years later I upgraded the supply and had to fill in a few forms in order to do that and pay the usual deposit - the 'owner' got their deposit back.  The account is now in my name - I don't know if the rules have changed or if someone made a cock-up but the bills are in my name now.

I have a Usufruct so I'm neither 'owner' nor tenant - technically.  I do know from friends who rent, that they cannot change the account into their name.

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Try "wood street" in Bangkok. Google will find it for you.

 

Something like this?

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/mdf-6-2-diy-i2890084912-s10553522334.html

I know, that is not the size you want, but it should help you to find similar products.

Thanks for that. A little wary of buying board online - high chance of damage.

Never been to 'Wood Street', I'll check it out. 

I am aware of an area, I seem to remember it being, North West of Bangkok where there's loads of woodyards. I got real wood skirting board from there when I couldn't even find a planed plank in my area - only fencing wood.  I have a business card from there in my desk (in Thailand) so I'll contact them when I get back.  Its possible but I just can't see wood yards selling MDF/MFC.

Wood Street on the other hand, being within the metro area might well have what I'm looking for.

Does anybody know if gloss white board - MDF, MFC or similar is available in Thailand?  I have a gloss white kitchen and would like to build a matching cupboard in the dining area - quite a large cupboard, wardrobe sized. I've searched the local DIY outlets - nothing doing there but that's not unusual, I still have to go to Bangkok to get a lot of DIY things or buy online. We have a Thai Watsadu and a HomePro but they only stock what sells locally. I'm near Pak Chong/Khao Yai so we're not exactly in the jungle and things are changing but still a way to go.

The kitchen manufacturer said they might be able to order some from Denmark - at a price but I suspect the maximum widths will only be 600 or 700. I can work with those widths if I have to but I'd like to see what's available. 18, 19 or 20mm thick preferable but could possibly use 15mm - just rather not.

I guess I could try a Thai based kitchen manufacturer as gloss white is popular at the moment - anyone know one that actually builds their own and not just buys them in?

Also a little advice from a woodworker about how to cut the sheets without chipping the gloss?

On 6/4/2024 at 10:42 AM, UWEB said:

My Registration(no Export) with PEA has taken around 3 month. Your Installer has to provide a lot of Paperwork, then they will come to your House and check the System .

What?  You have to register with the PEA even if you're not exporting?  Why?

I've had my house in Thailand for around 9 years but as I have never lived there full time, I've just paid a local man to keep the garden weed free and generally keep things tidy.  I will be moving to Thailand permanently later this year and want to start planting.

Coming from the UK, when to start planting seeds is almost entirely dictated by the weather/seasons - most go in in spring and flower in summer.  However, the weather in Thailand is completely different and so are the photo periods.  I have no idea when to start or as yet, what to grow.  Although I intend having some annual flowering plants that I will change each year, I would like to plant the main areas with perennials. 

The garden area is entirely surrounded by a 5ft/1.5m wall - I would like to plant some kind of flowering bushes against that wall that will eventually hang over the top and show on the road side.  There is a very common flowering bush in Thailand that produces pink flowers - I quite like those but I have no idea what its called. They often seem to grow wild along rural roads.

I'll learn as I go along but can anyone give me some basic advice on when to start plants and does anyone recognise the pink flowering bush I mention above?

As for the plants that I will change every year, I often grow Snapdragons in the UK, they grow very well and often continue flowering until late November but I've tried them in Thailand and they wouldn't even germinate.  All the advice on them states that they don't tolerate high temperatures very well - not something I have a problem with in the UK. There are some areas of Thailand that are famous for them so I'm guessing some strains tolerate high temperatures better than others?

I also intend on having a small vegetable patch - mainly salad veg.

Most of the garden faces west/south west so apart from the areas immediately behind the wall, it gets sunshine all day.

Just looking for general advice on what to grow and when with the aim pf providing some colour all year round if possible. I don't want to grow things that need a lot of work as I will also be working.