bamboozled

Hiya folks,

I just bought a big Hatari fan, a 22" that stands on a tripod and really lets it rip (can see it on Amazon here at about 10 x the price: https://www.amazon.com/Hatari-Industrial-Electric-Glossy-Hc-i22m1/dp/B01AZ94FVK). In fact, it's a little bit much and strangely the difference between the speeds 1, 2, and 3 is almost negligible (almost as if the slow speed was already almost the top speed). Well, I put a cheap rheostat on it that I had laying around and I was able to knock the speed down to the perfect level...and all was good. But the top of the motor housing got pretty hot and I started to think that perhaps this was not a good idea electrically (though the motor gets hot without the rheostat, too, but perhaps not as much) and so I've gone to searching on the internet where I've seen answers saying it's fine and answers saying don't do it. Some folks claim I need a different kind of thing-a-ma-jig to properly cut the current. Anyhow, does anyone with feet on the ground here in Thailand and knowledge of such things have any conclusive input? Can I use the rheostat? Do I need to purchase a "fan speed controller" (such as for a ceiling fan) or a different kind of switch? Or is there nothing to be done except be blown away? Thanks folks, cheers.....

My wife bought these at a Royal Project thingy in Mae Sa Mai (sp?) village in Mae Rim (at Mae Rim?). It is a Hmong village somewhere up in the mountains around those parts. I had some more of the berries this afternoon since posting and they are getting sweeter and really are quite enjoyable. I'm a convert.

My wife just bought a couple kgs of them. They look albino, 85% white. However, much to my surprise, they taste pretty good. Tart yes but with enough sweetness to make them enjoyable. Kind of like a green mango when it's half sweet/half sour. Are they adulterated? I dunno...

Ok, I'll get a thermometer and also test the temp dial on unit. Thank you. There is no doubt that the pump needs to be serviced. The owner of the house refuses to do it in the sense that I brought it up when her son-in-law jack of all poorly done handiwork was here to install some new PVC pipe and they kind of laughed it away. It's like the fix-it guys for the heater. Warm water comes out therefore heater working. Water comes out of tap therefore pump working.

Some pics... I've been told on this forum that my pump is under powered for a 2-story house. Plus it is ancient. As for the water heater, mine is the HES-45V

My candy thermometer does not seem up to the task. I re-read your post and saw you mentioned an "instant" thermometer. Indeed, mine is too slow to react to the changing water temp. Interesting, last night I had the hottest shower I've ever had in Thailand with high water pressure and volume. So, though I still have no hard numbers to back up my research there is no doubt that the heater is capable of producing much hotter water than it has been producing if everything is working correctly. I should back-track a bit and mention that there is also a water flow problem. The shower is on the second floor on the other side of the house from where the old leaking pump is located (outside of course). I'm in a rental and the owners do not see fit to address this pump as for them it works just fine...even though leaking and always surrounded by a water stain. So when the pump is on the pressure and volume surges and ebbs...of course causing temp problems. I can test without the pump on though, just using the city water pressure. But your comments about switches kicking on or off depending on the pressure AND the 10 minute very hot water/high pressure shower last night (for some unknown reason the pressure was unusually high) makes me think that perhaps the problem is an overall lack of water volume/pressure causing the machine to not work correctly? I know they will cut off when the volume is super low. My pressure is never THAT low unless I turn it down manually. But...makes me think. I do here various noises from the heater, sort of a wheezing sound I believe when the water pressure decreases. Is this the reed switch you talk of? Ah, more likely the heat exchanger boiling. Can I think of the trim pot as an actual pot...of water? Where would I purchase an instant thermometer? I assume these are digital, yes? Thanks for your help RichCor.

It's a Hitachi HES-45V about 6 months old now. I quite appreciate the technical aspects of your answer. I always love to know a little bit about how things work. It's fascinating. Ok, it's shower time and I've got my thermometer ready.

Well no lights flicker and there is no other indication of fluctuating voltage so it's not to the house. But I will check the connections they made to the breaker...with main off. Right! for some reason, I did not think of a simple thing like a thermometer, duh! Yes, I am aware the volume of water will affect the temp but it doesn't always seem to go down with increased water flow. The flow and temp both go up sometimes to a point that I can no longer stand under because it's too hot. That is the temp that I rather thought I would be getting with the unit maxed out at 10. But sadly more often than not I am still shivering while showering, this time of year at least. I'll report back. Thanks for your help.

Good morning all, I've asked some questions about my hot water heater in the past but here I go with some more. Is there a test available to determine if the unit is functioning correctly? Mine does indeed provide hot water but the temp goes up and down. The water pressure/volume also goes up and down which does affect the temp of course BUT sometimes the water volume goes up...and so does the temp to where it is scalding. It is under warranty and we called the shop about it. They sent out two boys and of course they turned the water on, felt warm/hot water and said hey, working, and left. Surely there must be a proper way to test these units other than that. Could the current to the unit somehow be fluctuating (wires not tightly connected?) and causing the unit to function at less than maximum? I showered under a 3000 watt unit for years and this is a 4500 watt unit. The 3000 watt unit seemed to function better and provide hotter water though when the 4500 watt unit gets the hot surge it is indeed hotter. Of course "seemed" is not adequate which is why I would like a proper test done. Any ideas what could be the issue or how I can resolve it, short of buying a new one?

Thank you.

For the past few years I've just booked online myself but I used to go to a place called Travel Shoppe on the outside of the moat just before reaching the Starbuck's at Thapae Gate. I quite liked the service from Pidet. I assume he is still there but I have not been in in 5 years probably. You might check it out.

Pidet  ( Vasin Khamngoen )
เดช  ( วศิน คำเงิน )

working hour : 08.30-17.30 Mon-Sat

TRAVEL SHOPPE
2/2 Chaiyapoom Rd., Thapae Gate, Chiangmai , 50300
Tel : 053-874280 , 874091 , 232352 // Fax : 053-232300
Email : [email protected]
MSN : [email protected]
Skype : pidet.trvshop

...I don't actually have a car! It was just to make an example.

Thank you for the replies. It's interesting that with the folks I or my wife talk to in person, both Thai and farang, they all agree that the neighbors should pay. Yet virtually no one on TV thinks that. If my cat was in the neighbors yard when it was bitten, then yes, I would not consider them responsible for the vet bills. The soi in front of the house, however, is not a lawless land where anything goes. If I (or you) was bitten by their dog on the street in front of my house, would they be considered accountable? If I hit their dog with my car on the street could I just say, well, too bad, not my problem? Or if I hit them with my car? Why is it different because it's a cat? In my opinion, it's not. And as for being good neighbors...why aren't THEY concerned with being good neighbors?

The attack took place in the street in front of my house. I appreciate the view of keeping the cats indoors and realize it is dangerous for them to be outside. Or perhaps I am realizing that truly just now. I had assumed, wrongly I guess, that cats were smart enough to keep away from the dogs. After all, they have their own walled in area in which to carouse and they are neutered/spayed so that desire has been nullified. And they enjoy so much being outside that I did not want to keep them from that pleasure. It seems I have over-estimated the survival skills of the one that was injured.

In my book, a dog owner who takes no responsibility for their dog mauling a neighbors animal, that shows zero concern or compassion and does not offer to pay the vet bills, or at the very least to contribute, is a class A ass. I really find it surprising. Call me stupid.

Hi folks,

Of course I'm opening myself up to catcalls here on TV but anyway... My next door neighbors dog recently nearly killed my cat, along with another dog that lives down the street a bit. The cat pulled through to the tune of 7500 baht and 8 days in the hospital. Both dog owners saw the cat getting bitten by the dogs and my wife also saw it happen. Neither neighbor came by to ask about the cat after this event nor, surprise surprise, to offer any help with the vet bills (nor to drive us to the vet though we have no car). We have since been to both neighbors to ask them to pay the bill and got a lot of hemming and hawing..again, surprise surprise. They have not blatantly refused to pay but both women claimed they had no money and that they had to speak with their husbands about it, etc... The dog next door is menacing to any moto rider that comes down the soi (they are the last house on a dead-end soi) and has previously killed cats, so I recently heard (of course, this is from the OTHER dog owner...MY dog LOVES cats) and has menaced us in the past, as well. In my mind, if you have a dog that kills cats and bites people, it should not be running around loose. Also, in  my mind, if my dog bites my neighbors cat, I should pay for the vet bills. It is the right thing to do, especially as a next door neighbor.

What do other folks think and do I have any legal recourse or any recourse at all, other than beating the dogs to bloody pulps with a stick (which I can't and wouldn't do). I do not have a lot of extra money floating around and 7500 baht, sad as it may seem to some, is painful to absorb.

Thoughts?

Cheers....

There is a shop in the Kham Tieng flower market area that sells this type of furniture. They have a place in Ban Tawai but it might be closer to go to the flower market. Small show room but might be worth a look. You'll have to drive around in there to find it, or ask.

I think it must be this one: Most decent VIP bus runs to Bangkok go from Mukadan 19:30 & 20:00 at earliest - Roi Et Tour (622Bt)

Hello, is it still next day service? Apply morning day one...and pick up afternoon day 2? Thank you!

Can anyone shoot me the name of the bus company that does the night trip from Bkk to...I guess it's Mukdahan? There was a recommendation a while back which I followed (a year ago) and the trip was quite pleasant.

oh very good! thanks!

Hi folks, the search function for me on Thaivisa no longer works...and is returning "no results" for a search on O-visa Savannakhet. If anyone could point me in the right direction (links?) I won't bother you all with repetitive inquiries. I've been once before, a year ago I suppose, but don't remember the route from CM to Laos. Or rather, which overnight bus I took from Bkk, which was quite fine I might add. Is an overnight stay in Laos now required? Which hotel to stay in, etc.... I know there is all this info on here...but I can't find it!

Thanks all....

Thanks everybody. Sorry for the late reply. The Thaivisa website is not sending me notification emails that anyone has responded to my post, as it used to. I have passed on the info to my friend. Much obliged!

A friend of mine is visiting CM and said he used to buy Jim Thompson scarves in the Meridien hotel but they are no longer for sale there. Does anyone know where they can be found?

Thank you....

Tesco has some.

Thanks Kevin, cheers.

Does anyone know where to find inserts for decorative pillows/throw pillows? For example, 18 x 18 inches, 20 x 20, 12 x 20, and 14 x 22? I found 14 x 14 at Chiang Mai Plastic but only the 1 size.

thank you...