canopy

No Desmond, it's not about how long it takes to get the water warm. On colder days in my area a 3500 watt unit can't get the water warm enough for a shower and it's too chilly. When you have a heater that is too small what you can do as a work around is reduce the water flow. For a shower I wouldn't get anything less than 4500 watt, 6000 sounds really nice. Maybe for a low flow faucet a 3500 would do. Will depend on how cool your area gets. Better to err on too large than too small as you can just dial a big one up to as much heat as needed rather than be capped.

I have experience laying cables underground here. A couple other details: use NYY cable underground. Put sand all around the cable. On slopes it is good to go deeper than 60cm.

Last tip. Warning tape is ineffective in Thailand because anyone digging there will just think it is some buried trash and keep going. I recommend laying empty pvc pipe with the warning tape so when someone hits pipe and breaks it, it gives the best chance they will stop and ask questions.

It is a good first step to see a consensus that prices are generally much higher in Thailand than the US. The second step I hope we can all agree by now is:

it cannot be explained by customs duties and shipping fees

Any skeptics need only do the math. I have and it is why I frequently buy things in the US and ship them to Thailand. After customs and shipping I save a bundle. Sometimes I even have food sent over rather than paying the rip off prices at Villa. To go on a slight tangent my Dad visited me in Thailand and I brought him to Villa to stock up on some groceries. He filled one of their tiny shopping carts and it cost $250. In the US he can fill a regular size shopping cart for $50. And he is a vegetarian.

Nokia makes/sells OEM IP54 (weatherproof) cases for some of their models.

I will try to say this more clearly for the 3rd time: for reasons too numerous to list, I absolutely do not want any afterthought hunk of ugly black plastic wrapped around a phone to achieve waterproofing.

A Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is an Android phone so you'd still need an off-line mapping application.

Which goes back to the original question which is whether this is possible out of the box or not.

GPS units can record place-marks; they are relatively portable.

I will try to say this more clearly for the 2nd time: I absolutely do not want to haul two devices around everywhere. A small phone is pushing it already.

A camera can take pictures, and record place-marks.

Sounds like we are really going off course now--3 devices in my pocket? It sounds like a bad dream to me.

Still not sure why you need a smartphone when you say you don't use a phone, or a smartphone, or want to use mobile data? But maybe you have a few more requirements which you've yet to share?

Sorry but where was it exactly I said I don't use a phone? I will try to be clear that all I want is a waterproof phone with GPS navigation included and web access for rare usage is a plus. Smart phones seem appropriate because their larger screens are better for navigation and they can browse the web in a pinch.

Adding paid 3rd applications to an Android phone is hardly a "can of worms"? If your heart is set on a 19,000 baht GPS/camera then just get a free/paid off-line mapping app.

I have previously explained my apprehension to 3rd party apps. It may very well be the way I end up going however though I just envision all of the problems I outlined having myself saying I told you so to myself and end up hating the phone. So if any one can confirm the existence of a more suitable device or whether the Xperia Z might still be appropriate are welcome.

Hey thanks again. Whoops, yes that should read Xperia Z, hope a mod can update the title. It costs 18,990 baht in Phetchabun.

Good idea about a separate GPS, but I prefer having a GPS built into a phone rather than 2 devices so that if I happen to be walking somewhere of interest I can drop a place mark as I may not be lugging a GPS at the time. Also photos can be GPS stamped.

Note the nokia c6 is not waterproof which is why I want to get rid of it and as indicated I don't want an ugly aftermarket shell around whatever I buy. I've read about the Samsung Galaxy 4 Active being waterproof but haven't seen it in stores and I am not sure if it would have practical GPS navigation or not.

Thanks for adding some clarity and links. After a bit of reading wow, this sounds like a can of worms. I am uneasy with installing 3rd party apps besides google--you know bloatware, adware, bugs, and other annoyances. It would be preferable to get a stock phone and stay within the experience of the manufacturer out of the box and not have to fiddle with add ons. For me this device would be a phone usage model, not a computer--I don't really know what android means and hope I can keep it that way. By the way I may not even use 50 baht a month on my sim card that I add money to at 7/11 once in a blue moon. So subscribing for a monthly "data plan" or something like that sounds like a huge unnecessary cost to me.

So I guess the next logical question is does nokia have any waterproof phones? And just to say it I wouldn't want just an ugly black shroud afterthought wrapped around a phone for this purpose. That's what drew me to the xperia--I can choose a color and enjoy a good look and feel and form factor and still have it water proof.

I am no expert on smart phones, but I became interested in the xperia 7 because it is water proof as I sometimes get a little wet and this causes my nokia c6 to stop functioning for long periods so I would like to get rid of it. I basically would use the xperia for a phone and gps navigation and only rarely use the web and probably nothing else. I backed off buying it at the last second when I went to pop open the GPS. It gave an error message each time that a data connection was required and refused to open. Curiously this message was coming up in English even though the phone was configured for Thai language and the guys at the shop kept dismissing it without reading it and said it needed updates. I asked if I could do GPS navigation without any sort of data connection and they didn't know. One guy said "offline" mode would be very slow even if it could. Does anyone have an idea if this device can do classic GPS navigation with driving instructions without connecting to something and needing fed money? Basically I would like the same functionality I get from any nokia gps phone out of the box. Any help understanding how the xperia is different in this regard would be great.

Yeah, I could use those cheap concrete pipe segments as the forms need to be just a half meter each. The downside is I need 25 of them which is a whole bunch and it is a bit tricky cutting those pipes with an angle grinder to have a nice squared up and smooth enough top for screeding. I also want to add some concrete color so would break the pipe form off above grade after it sets. Anything necessary/good to prevent sticking in this case?

Has anyone come across concrete forms like this picture sold in Thailand? Mainly what I need is the pour above grade to be round & neat and have a smooth, level top. If not available, any substitute ideas? Some sort of forms are a must as it will be vibrated.

Other areas I knew would only ever have two prong appliances plugged in (and with no metal casing) I ran a 2 conductor lumex and installed a 2 prong compatible receptacle.

I just don't get it. Running proper 3 wire would have been just as good so why not do it? Over time needs can change. People inhabiting the place can change. Deciding where not to have grounds is a ticking time bomb waiting for the moment someone eventually shoehorns a 3 prong appliance to it dangerously and that day will come. It's not if, but when. I would have sleeping at night if I took shortcuts like that and had to pray no one would ever use it differently than my original intention. I think the simple response to this thread is all outlets should be 3 prong. It's cheap, easy, better, and required by the power company. End of story.

It's hard to understand why disadvantageous suggestions are being offered after cheap, easy, and readily available solutions are already recommended.

you can but loads of white or clear bin liners at Makro (for example) and if the algae build up is beyond the little fishes eating capacity and the pot turns green inside, just replace the bin liner.

Can't see the logic in this. Such plastic deteriorates quickly by sun alone and will leak. It is also a waste of plastic and requires routine maintenance that should be totally unnecessary. A balanced pond never gets too much algae growth and judging by the many container ponds I have seen in Thailand as well as my own it is really easy to let nature handle this job.

What about painting the inside of the pots with good old fashioned varnish?

Sounds detrimental to pond life, even if it stops leaks which it may fail to do anyway.

I used the Lanko mentioned to seal a concrete ring pond that leaked. I just troweled a light coat everywhere inside. Very satisfied with the results and I believe it is even approved for water potable applications. Highly recommend.

Earlier this year I experienced first hand the insane smoke pullution north Thailand suffers from every year so deleted Chiang Rai as a potential long term place to live

Amen, that's exactly what I did--visited Chiang Rai during the burning season and crossed it off my list forever. On that trip spent the night in a hotel with a blanket over my face trying to filter the air trying to sleep at night and couldn't wait to get back to Bangkok as the air was so terrible in Chiang Rai.

does central Thailand (Phetchabun, Sukhothai, Ayuthaya etc) also get affected by the pyromaniacs

As far as Phetchabun is concerned, not so fast. It certainly is impacted by burning, but nothing like the far north. This can be confirmed by reviewing the air quality index data the government tracks. We don't get off the scale red days like they do, but it gets unhealthy. Let me explain. The first thing to know about the burning season is that it roughly 4 months give or take: december through march depending a lot on when the rains initially stop. It gets worse as weeks and months go on. Fields and land are continually burned during this period. Even land that is not being used is burned because it is considered prettier burnt rather than being covered with weeds. Forest fires are either deliberately or through carelessness set. This was a really bad year for them as it was really dry. Visibility is often reduced, not to just a few hundred meters like Chiang Rai, but to some number of kilometers. For months out of the year you can't see blue sky unless you look up as in all directions there is some haze. This is ash, not fog. I spend virtually all my time outdoors and on the bad days I can feel a scratchiness in the back of my throat and a slight burn in the eye. Some days it rains ash from nearby fires. So basically the air isn't that good a lot of the year. Is it bad? Well it is all relative I guess. I certainly wish it was better.

The last critically important thing to consider is don't forget about the burning that happens every single day of the year! Thai's burn their garbage in their yards daily including various plastic bits and green leaves. Many start their cooking fires using pieces of old shoes and plastic bags. And many actually make charcoal in pits in their yards which is the worst of the worst for smoke. So if you are living by them which is going to be just about 100% of the time, you may be getting a lot of acute smoke blowing at you.

No, for completeness I had not come across the product in post #101. Each needs to make their own decision, but I personally would not switch from borax. I found the effectiveness and environmentally friendliness perfect. Cost was insignificant and the quantity should last a lifetime.

I had pockets of those really tiny ants around the house; some around the beanbag, some on the desk, some in the kitchen, and elsewhere. I tried all the store bought stuff to get rid of them and nothing worked; chalks, granules, etc. I had resigned to living with them until about a year ago I came across the OP's borax approach and to my surprise they all disappeared in a few weeks and never come back again. It is just so nice to be able to put donuts on the counter and they are completely safe there.

That's a really thick concrete base, but I have seen the specs for q-con lightweight blocks used as load bearing walls and it is pretty rigorous and will pass some of their specs as a guideline. Footings under the wall perimeter are roughly 40x40cm and slab is minimum 10cm thick. There are charts for sizing the footings and rebar appropriately. 25cm thick blocks should be used for exterior load-bearing walls, not the small ones like the normal 7.5's. They sell floor panels you can lay across the blocks for making the second level. Since in your case you don't have the flexibility to follow the standards for a new build so you should consult a qualified engineer. Perhaps you can get by with less than an entire house would normally need. For sure make sure you get the proper rebar & concrete strength for that second slab.

A few more things for load bearing walls. You need a damp proof course slip joint between the blocks and the slab to allow for differential movement. You also need to properly secure the roof to the wall. There are a lot of details like this that most Thai builders will not know how to do and will be omitted so be sure all of the superblock specs are understood and followed precisely.

I consume 1.5 cubic meters of water per month. The dry season without reliable rain can last 6 months. So I opted for 8 Thai jars linked together which each hold a months supply and cost 750 baht each. It's more than enough water for my household needs. It would be better to have an underground tank sized to serve an entire household of people with lots extra for landscaping and I may do that at some point. But for now the system I have is plenty for my modest needs.

"We think the scorching heat set the dried leaves and grass ablaze,"

Is it technically possible for a fire to start due to ambient temperature?

Anyone who blames another for falling for a scam is delusional because for 100% sure they themselves have fallen for scams that many other people would never fall for. So we could just as easily laugh at you but we instead have threads like this as a service to others. And the funny thing is people commenting on this scam don't even know how it works. The trap is far more sophisticated than a group of tuk tuk drivers at the entrance trying to bring people to gem shops or any other such ripoff places. Nor does it involve any well dressed people speaking perfect English. What really impressed me was seeing how they successfully thwarted a Thai citizen from going in.

Another data point for you. I was quoted a year or two ago from 3 drillers in Phetchabun between 150,000 to 165,000 baht for what they projected would be at least 70 meters deep as I am in the mountains. No payment if water is not found. The price difference of drilling only without the full package was just a few thousand baht. If it had been in the price range Wat dee found in Sakaeo I probably would have done it. But instead I opted for rainwater catchment which due to my modest water needs cost 15,000 baht--just 1/10th the price of a well and no pumping it from the depths is needed.

I am not too proud to admit I fell for this trick at the exact same place 10 years ago and it really ruined my itinerary of touring in Bangkok. I can't imagine why such a disgraceful act out in the open is still allowed at such an honorable place in Thailand.

I live alone in the mountains along a national forest and love the outdoors and nature and am never bored, but rather just too busy all the time. I know 99% of people would think where I live is one of the most boring places in Thailand. That's a plus to me so I feel fortunate. I don't need any escapes and just driving to the city for resupplying I find a bit hectic. The less people and news the better. Peace and quiet is what I enjoy the most. Spotting a rare creature is exciting to me.

Colorful birds spend the night in my bamboo shelter.

Crabs are not just at the ocean, but also thrive in the mountains not even around water, who knew.

A walking leaf.

Door is metal just like the panel. Normally it is locked with a key. I open it to use the outlet and the wind swings it frequently. Hoping for some sort of gadget or better technique might exist for this situation.

I have an outdoor metal electrical panel. It has screws to ground the panel as well as the door. The problem is after the door swings so many times the ground wire breaks as shown below. Is there any way to remedy this?

You should be able to find what you're looking for in a decent bookstore

Great idea, I don't know why I didn't think of it.

Sadly though road safety does not seem to be much of a priority for kids in Thailand

Yeah it seems a touch irresponsible to let them drive, but that won't change. The younger the driver, the less they are paying attention to what they are doing. I have learned anytime I see a motorcycle with someone wearing a Hara Jeans jacket to be extra careful around them as it is a telltale sign of a 14 year old and they usually have a number of people on the bike distracting them.