Gonsalviz

I have a plan. I would like to know how well it might work from the experts.

The typical construction here is a brick wall with a mortar covering. Then the wiring and plumbing is on the outside of the wall.

My plan is to let them build the walls and plumb and wire as they will because it is very difficult to change the Thai mind.

Then I plan to modify the plumbing and wiring as I desire. After I have modified and inspected the work I plan to use plastic sheeting for a moisture barrier, attach studs to the wall, fit fiberglass insulation between and cover with gypsum board.

I am hoping to insulate for cooling and to reduce the echo of the cement walls.

Any thoughts.

Depending on where he is located, pilings may not work. It was my plan to use them but was told that there were too many rocks in the ground. And this was farm land, so they must have been well under ground.

That near Udon Thani? If so, I'd say your best bet is a "Home Mart" type store in Udon. Gonna have to travel.

I am about 100K to the west of Udon near the Loei line.

By travel, I meant like Bangkok.

Thanks, though.

I installed a 13,000 BTU split unit. It was installed free except for the wiring that was left out to the C/B switch. 500฿

My electric bill was around 1000฿ per month running it 24 hour in a bedroom room with the sun heating the wall in the afternoon/evening. Up about 700฿...

...said the fairy queen and all the children were fascinated by her fairy tale

but little Johnny, who's father is in the aircon business, asked "what's the thermostate setting in ºC?"

Ok it was a small room. I bought a large unit so I could use it in my future house. 25C in the day, 22C at night. I am not one of those that like to live in a refrigerator.

the settings do not match the cost. i still consider it a fairy tale and will retract from my opinion only if the room was 10m² or less.

The room was around 10 sq mtrs. I did not actually measure it but there was about 1 meter between the sides of a king size bed

and about 1 1/2 meters from the foot to the walls. All I know is that my max electric bill was 999฿ + a few satang.

I bought a very good bed with mattress and frame for a good deal at HomePro.

But I still don't like to go there because of the pressure sales tactics. I once I went there to buy an airconditioner. I knew what I wanted because I had shopped around and inquired on TV.

When I showed them what I wanted, I was told that another brand was better. The brand I wanted didn't have so and so feature etc.

I stuck to my guns and found that what I wanted was in fact what I wanted and that the features it didn't have were there.

My wife won't go there for another reason. If I am not with her, they won't give her the time of day. They figure she doesn't have enough money and is 'eye shopping'.

Proves to me it is a store to rip off expats.

I still go there but I will not give them the time of day. I look for what I want and if it is at a good price, I'll buy it.

Many modern fans have a control switch to reverse the direction of the airflow. In the countries that have heating and cooling seasons its better to reverse the airflow so the fan can gently blow the hot air from the ceiling area down to the floor levels for better heating in a big room.

Ceiling fans have always been used for blowing air downwards. I have not see the reverse.

Wrong.

There are separate hot and cold lines altho they bifurcate off the same initial line, i.e. one side, controlled by the cold water knob on the faucet, goes straight into the shower or tub while the other, controlled by the hot water knob on the faucet, goes through the heater and comes out hot.

The heater you have most likely is working correctly. It has a heating element somewhere in the 4 to 12 thousand watt range depending on the model. When you open the mixer valve at the shower or bath the water flow will cause the flow switch in the heater to sense the flow of water and turn on the heating elements.

She does not have a "mixer valve". She has two separate taps.

The problem can only be one of two things;

1] the total water supply flow rate is not sufficient.

2] pipe sizes (flow rates) for the cold water throughput & the hot water throughput are such that when the cold water tap is opened, the water pressure restricts the flow of the hot water outlet. Think of two resistors in parallel, one resistor being very large & the other being very small.

I am leaning toward this theory.

I installed a 13,000 BTU split unit. It was installed free except for the wiring that was left out to the C/B switch. 500฿

My electric bill was around 1000฿ per month running it 24 hour in a bedroom room with the sun heating the wall in the afternoon/evening. Up about 700฿...

...said the fairy queen and all the children were fascinated by her fairy tale

but little Johnny, who's father is in the aircon business, asked "what's the thermostate setting in ºC?"

Ok it was a small room. I bought a large unit so I could use it in my future house. 25C in the day, 22C at night. I am not one of those that like to live in a refrigerator.

So, in the 200,000 square kilometers with a population of 20 million people that comprise the region of Isaan, could you be just a bit more vague on your specific location?

If you insist. Nong Bua.

I installed a 13,000 BTU split unit. It was installed free except for the wiring that was left out to the C/B switch. 500฿

My electric bill was around 1000฿ per month running it 24 hour in a bedroom room with the sun heating the wall in the afternoon/evening. Up about 700฿.

I need an on demand water heater large enough to fill a bath with 'HOT' water in a reasonable amount of time. Also to be used for a shower with good water flow.

Where in Issan such an animal available?

I can travel to other areas but I am lazy.

Hi,

There are several brands available from HomePro outlets. All can do the job - just ask the sales assistant for advice.

Do you mean those guys that chase you down to sell you whatever gets them the most commission, nevermind what you want or need?

It is better to know what you need before you go in and get what you want no matter what they say.

Thanks for the great idea. Burning excess wood for heat instead of just burning it. Also it is really only required for a few hours a day during the cold season.

I'd need it on and off for 3 months in my area though.

I found this on another thread. Also I found out they are fertilizing, I just had to pay for the land and the trees. lol

rubber.pdf

Maybe they are just gifts from their other halves?

I know this is where mine came from. It is way bigger than I would want but I am not one to argue with the one that loves me and takes care of me so well.

I really would not want to hurt her feelings. She seemed really proud that she could give something so valuable to her.

Is this your wife you're talking about or girlfriend, or nurse?

If it's you're wife, don't be a woose and tell her it's too big.

I wouldn't wear one at all if it was left to me. A chain is all I had before I met her. I didn't mean it was godawful huge, just bigger that I would have bought.

I don't think I am a wuss but I think you need some manners.

Water tanks/ towers are an eyesore and unnecessary, my tank is located underground and I have no problem with water pressure,

just have inch pipe from the pump to the house and then go off with half inch going to the water closets etc etc.

If your water from your tower goes through sediment filters and then a carbon filter and finally a resin filter this will cut your pressure down and you still may need a pump

The water will be filtered before it makes it to the tower and I have trees to hide the ugliness of a tower.

Don't brand all MIL's as the same. Mine's OK. Just wants her daughter to be happy.

I remember shortly after getting married we made a visit to see my wife's parents, who run the local restaurant in the village. An old couple stopped in for lunch and started talking to the MIL. They assumed that as their daughter had a falang husband we must have met in Pattaya and my wife had been a bar girl. I don't know what my MIL said to this old guy, but she gave him a right old tongue bashing. Never seen someone do so many "wais" in 30 seconds, quite amusing.

My inlaws took it quite well. The FIL was a little hesitant but came around in a short time. There were some rumors started by her ex's sister but it was soon noted by everyone in the village that the rumors were a feeble attempt at saving face.

I am the second farang in the village. Everyone knows me and are very friendly and helpful even.

No money has been asked for or given except for a few items I have purchased or installed for my own comfort as well as theirs. (Electric blankets for the cool season and a hot water shower).

I met my wife on Thai Love Links while she was working at a 5 star resort making much better than average wages.

Now all we need are 'competent' officers that enforce the laws.

I thought the law was to get where you are going without hitting anything but if you do, that is when you find out the right way. 1 rule at a time.

Maybe they are just gifts from their other halves?

I know this is where mine came from. It is way bigger than I would want but I am not one to argue with the one that loves me and takes care of me so well.

I really would not want to hurt her feelings. She seemed really proud that she could give something so valuable to her.

I am currently in the planning stages of building a house. (The Hin" has just been put down)

I want to use a tower for water pressure because of my experiences with the 'cheapo pumps' they have here. I have read all about the .4328 psi per foot and I know it would be a massive tower to generate 40 psi. Also the tower would hold a reservoir.

I plan on using a 'rain' style shower head so volume is more important than pressure but for the rest of the house, (bath and sinks) what height would I need to have so it would not take an hour to fill the bath or so I could wash my hands without bending over the sink for an uncomfortable amount of time?

If it will be too tall, I suppose I'll try to find a decent pump.

I have 3. 2 are dark skinned. The youngest looks like any white westerner. Except that she has won many beauty contests. The other daughter is a fine dark skinned Thai looking lady and the boy has been compared to Tiger Woods, but he says he is better looking than Tiger.

All are very well adjusted in the USA.

All went through university on scholarships. (good for me).

Girls are 5'4" and 5'5". Boy is 6'.

Looks like you may be prejudiced without knowing it.

Showing my stateside DL and no passport has been no problem anywhere in Thailand. And Trust me I get stopped a lot. Sometimes for speeding but mostly because they are looking for coffee money.

That was always the case for me with my British driving licence ('better still', you'd think). However, I was stopped at a police road block coming back from Chaing Rai a few years ago and he pointed out that I should either have an International Drivers licence or a Thai drivers licence. I was reaching into my pocket to get the money to pay for the fine ("fair cop", I thought) but unfortunately for him we had been done the day before for going through a red light (it was only just red, but once again - fair cop) and so my wife was having none of it.

She started giving the policeman a fair piece of her views on Chiang Rai hospitality, or the lack thereof, and after about 5 minutes of that he handed her back my licence and sent us on our way. What guy wants to argue with a woman in full flow? It doesn't matter that he was right, he knew he was in for an earfull, so he did what any self-respecting male would do ... he gave up!!!

I did get a licence after that, mainly because I don't always have the missus with me. It is invaluable as an ID card too.

Another thing worth thinking about ... how would it affect an insurance claim? No valid licence, technically?

After an accident I had the insurance company at no time ever asked me for a driving license. That may not hold true all the time though, it rarely does in Thailand.

I've heard you can drink the venom but can not let it get directly into the bloodstream.

I had a brother in law that used to catch scorpions for the sole purpose of pulling out the stinger and drinking the venom with a shot of Mekong.

I've been filing for my wife and daughter for the past 2 years. We don't live in the US currently however I use my permanent

US address on the filing.

My wife has a ITIN, my daughter (born in Thailand) has a SS# and the filing each year has never been questioned.

Why don't you look into a ITIN for your step daughter?

Do you only need a translated Birth Cert? Or more. Can Thai children under 15 get a passport?