likethemthin

Many thanks to everyone taking the time to post, the comments have really given me a lot to think about and now thinking to take my dog with me, like people said, crappy future place, but with the owner. Makes a lot of sense.

Thanks to all again

Very entertaining and informative!! OK, I am over and out, signing out, because as usual, a very good bunch of expats has given me the info and direction I was looking for.

Many thanks to all, and thank you for your time and trouble.

Hi HereinThailand:

I reviewed your link to mostly Chinese suppliers, but Yes, this seems to be what I had in mind. 65 liters is not a large unit, but good enough to test out the procedures. I think I read somewhere that 65 liters of mash would yield about 20 liters finished product, so you would have to be running this thing constantly or using a series of them which is somewhat appealing in that you keep possiblity of explosions to a minimum. And very good prices, most under $200 USD. So I will study these offerings carefully.

Very good tip!!

To BlackCab:
All of your points are well taken and I printed out to keep this list. But I am up here in Loei and things are quite a bit more informal, it is really “who you know” (isn’t it everywhere??)and I feel I am well covered in that regard. Also, I would not think to start this as a farang, my Thai wife and assorted relatives will be involved not me. I note there are many many smaller distilleries in Thailand, and many are set up as partnerships. I was also following the story of this fellow who started out quite small and had none of the investment you are mentioning: Article starts in Thai but there is an English translation at the end: http://www.tcdc.or.th/articles/business-industrial/17138/#เมรัยดอกไม้-Drunken-flower-ความคิดสร้างสรรค์บรรจุขวด

And I also think I can follow along what Isaan Rum did, I feel there are successful models out there: http://www.liq9.com/issan-rum-750-ml.html

And again, as this product is solely for export (and Thailand seriously promotes exports) some of the things you mention may not be applicable.

But anyway, I am just investigating, and first thing would be equipment and cost. If it turns out this will not work, then OK I just wasted a little time.

and to: Hereinthailand:

Many thanks, I had those, but trying to avoid import tax/customs duties where I have been improperly burned before, I will double check to be sure I did not miss a Thai supplier, and also, I seem to have better luck using DHL since the customs law seems to be better followed and one just pays what is appropriate. Thanks again for the ideas.

Just asking those that may have been through it, maybe had some leads.

Hello: Not sure what you are driving at, but being in Loei Thailand, we have a local attorney to take care of any permits, but have not proceeded to that process yet as we do not even have any equipment. Also, as we intend for export only, I do not think we need an excise tax permit or payment of taxes, but rather this would come under the Export taxes dept. Sorry I do not know more, but by "home making" I only meant, a small operation of maybe 500-1200 bottles per month tops (and that is probably seasonal) Have no interest to compete with the big Thai companies in this sector. 

Guys, my post specifically mentioned Legal. We have a Thai lawyer to get all permits and product is for export only. But at least nice to be read!! But as there are few "home brewers" here in Thailand compared to other countries, trying to land a Thai equipment supplier for this kind of equipment has not been successful.

Cheers!!

Looking to buy alcohol distilling equipment for home legal rum making.

Some members of Thai Visa in some old posts ave had experience distilling alcohol from mainly corn or cane sugar. I need to locate a source of stainless steel or copper distilling equipment, particularly the big tank and “worm” apparatus, for a legal but small distilling operation.

If anyone has any leads on where this kind of equipment can be purchased (from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam), your answer much appreciated. I don’t want to even try to import from US or UK.

Walter

Greetings:

Looking to buy alcohol distilling equipment for home legal rum making.

Some members of Thai Visa in some old posts ave had experience distilling alcohol from mainly corn or cane sugar. I need to locate a source of stainless steel or copper distilling equipment, particularly the big tank and “worm” apparatus, for a legal but small distilling operation.

If anyone has any leads on where this kind of equipment can be purchased (from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam), your answer much appreciated. I don’t want to even try to import from US or UK.

Walter

I went to the Thai Watsudu in Nong Bua Lamphu to get wire, but they would not break 100 meter rolls for me, Home Pro too in Loei would not break, but I found just past Thai Watsudu a Tesco Lotus, and next to it was a Best Lighting Supply which had every wire and you could buy any length. This is fairly close to line with Udonthani if anyone in that area.

As my meter is 30/100, and my incoming copper line to Main panel is 35, I bought a short section of size 25 to connect output from Safety Cut to Main Panel. Also, from what I learned here, I am also replacing my 2 x 6 mm2 wire which I had run but not connected, with size 16 from my generator 32 AMP wall outlet to a second safety cut about 15 meters away. Probably overkill, but I want to squeeze every bit of power from everything, and have minimal resistance.

Well, I understand your formula, but not sure I have that accurate measuring equipment. On the chart, closest seems to be a diameter of 3.09 mm with 7 wires total handling 48 amps. Certainly better than what my thai "electrician" was going to use: 2 x 6 mm2!! But as the operative word is "temporary", I will proceed to get the wire you recommended.

Thank you so much, as I do not know very much, just trying to peer over shoulder of "installer" so my whole system doesn't blow up. Hmmm, seems he mentioned someone's system blowing up...I wonder was he involved in that job??

I will also go look at the meter end to see whether I can get lucky and have a bit extra main copper cable at that end that I can use.

My "green" ground wire just has no markings, and I have 10-15 meters, cannot find any markings. I cut it clean and it measures 3 mm cross section (not insulation, wire portion only), containing 6 strands in a circle with one in the middle, and for sure is a lot thicker than the 2 x 6 mm2. While it would probably work, I will follow the suggestions to purchase correct known wire size and be safe. I do have the regular cable feeding into the Safety Cut as it will just be removed from the panel box entry and relocated to Safety Cut, so input is OK, just need that darn 30 cm output back to panel.

Many thanks to all.

Thank you so much, that is what I was afraid of. When you say 16 mm2, is that copper? If aluminum, which is likely all I will be able to find a Home Pro or Thai Watsudu in another province I have to drive to, I saw a roll marked 16 and one marked 25 but was clearly aluminum (or steel I really don't have any idea, but NOT copper). So, if aluminum, is 16 mm2 still good or should I be looking at 25 mm2? I am only running about 30 cm from Safety Cut to main panel.

On my street, when I had to bring the electric down the country road, I am pretty sure PEA was 50mm2 aluminum. Then I ran I believe 35 mm2 copper from street 150 meters to my house.

Wow, I am very boring, but anyway thanks again and I will bird dog much larger wire.

I will check on my green wire tomorrow, I did not spot any writing, but may need to look at more length, but is does seem heavier than 6 mm2.

Walter

Hello:

I read the FAQ about electric cables, but I thought "braided" wire was less desirable than solid copper. I am installing a Safety-Cut between main lines coming in and my 63A service panel (single phase service).

I need a short wire from the Safety-Cut breaker back to the electric panel. I am wondering what wire I can use. The Thai electrician seems to want to use 2 x 6 sq mm braided wire from Home Pro. By "braided" I mean there is more than one wire in the cable and the pieces are less than 2.5 sq mm each. I also have available 2 x 2.5 sq mm which is solid copper wire (not braided); and also I have some left over rather thick braided copper wire with green insulation used to ground my entire system (runs from panel box to long large copper stakes poked into the soil outside the house).

So my question is are any of these wires suitable to carry my main electric current from the Safety-Cut back to my electric panel, about 30 cm?

I am starting to think possibly none of these three are appropriate and will either burn up or create resistance so that I will be losing some power.

I am not sure what to do, as it is difficult to buy a small piece of "mains" wire, but I did find an expensive roll of I think 2 x 16 that electric salesman said was used for main house power.

Any advice or input would be very appreciated. Seems I may be creating a big problem where none existed. I wonder what people use for wire when installing a Safety-Cut circuit breaker??

Walter

The Thai owner at [email protected] will answer email questions in English I believe, but I did have to get a Thai friend to finalize payment arrangements, after I sent my delivery address in English. Specs can be found here for the 50 HZ model: http://www.fordpower.cc/productsshow.aspx?cateid=19&productsid=49

But the 3 outlets I received are as shown on the 888powertools website, 2 smaller ones and 1 big 3 pin 32 amp; not sure why outlets shown different on the above website.

I was able to download a parts list somewhere (English) for what I think is the identical model, FG9250PE .

Also, my supplied Owners Manual is in English; and the exact model number shown on what I received is FG9250P(E)

For people that only need smaller units, the Honda and Yamaha "inverter gens" in which the motor adjust speed depending on load and are more economical are the way to go, but even though those companies make nice big 6000-7500 watt units, the bigger units are not in Thailand and must be special ordered from possibly Hong Kong, not interested in folling with that risk.

Thank you for all helpful comments, very good thread!! I am signing off, as usual, everyones comments contributed to me fixing my problem.

Only thing I would add for whatever it is worth, I found my Ford generator at http://www.888powertools.com

Model FG 9250 PE, electric start, 6000 running watts, 7500 max watts (to get motors started.. Everyone will have their favorites, but the Thai owner will ship anywhere and claims to have the parts. Parts are the main issue it seems to me. I chose it because in addition to two smaller outlets, it has one big 32 amp 3 pin outlet that outputs the whole current, which for me worked for hooking up to home electric panel. There are a lot of other brands out there, just what I ended up with. (6000 watts is more than my PEA which many times I feel is down to 2500 watts total!!!).

OK, many thanks again.

But as Crossy said: The ABB box from Home Pro just as good: "You need a DIN rail box, the ABB System proM series will do the job, bags of room inside for a customisation job, get them from HomePro and the like."

I see from IMHO, that there are two boxes for this unit available, one a metal enclosure, and one a plastic weatherproof one.

Hello: The Link for the changeover switch in a weatherproof box is here on the A-1 Electronics ebay site:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/changeover-switch-125a-240-V-mains-generator-Weatherproof-enclosure-IP65-125-amp-/262262389729

and actually, I even see the blue switch for changing between two sources that the other poster kindly pictured above at the same site:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/A1-Electrics?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

it seems Crossy has uncovered a treasure trove of great generator parts!!!

Walter

Should have not been so excited, and purchased instead the one that already comes with a box!!

Actually, I see where it does sort of hook on the back, and fill fit a Home Pro panel box Haco brand.

Wow Crossy, that is Exactly what I have been looking for a long long time!!!! I will go buy it immediately. I just bought my other stuff and can return no problem.

One last question, I looked at the back, it does not seem to be compatible with either the Schneider or other panel boxes I saw at Home Pro (our only supplier). Can you tell what panel box it might work with? do I need a panel box at all? I will go back to that Sellers website and try to investigate if you don't know off hand. Great item, perfect, and even has every terminal marked!!!

Many many thanks, you are a scholar and a gentleman!!

Walter

Hello Again:

Lot of great advice!! Thanks. My Safety Cut was tripping because electrician did something wrong adding a switch to my Franklin well pump. Wow, I sure wish I had found that nice blue changeover switch. I found the other one pictured, but only in US and cost of shipping was beyond. Even though it is a Schneider changeover switch (double throw transfer switch) Schneider Thailand was oblivious....I could not source it. ABB has a LOT of changeover switches on their website, but again , after several inquiries both phone and email by a Thai friend, never got anywhere. They want to know which one you want but no help to learn which one you need.

So I settled on essentially building my own manual transfer switch with two 63 amp circuit breakers in a "new" master panel ahead of the existing electric panel, in which the Mains enter one breaker, and the generator lines enter the other, side by side, and both outputting to the existing panel input which is also a 63A main breaker.

I know about the danger, so will have my sheet metal guy create an interlock plate that slides back and forth and prevents both breakers in my "new" panel from being on at same time. In other words, only one power will be servicing my existing panel, either the mains or the generator.

The reason I wanted the generator to serve whole panel is to be able to select one or two circuits at any one time, maybe cooker in morning, Air Con in evening, just depending on what time of day utility power is off.

But if anyone thinks I will blow myself up with this kind of manual transfer switch, please tell me now!!!! Thai electrician seems to think this is OK, but not totally confident he knows more than me and I do not know much.

Thanks again for helpful comments.

Walter

Many thanks lopburi3. Actually My meter is 30 (100) amp. I looked at the front. I am way out in rural Loei.

My original electrician knew I had all this electrical appliances (he grounded each A/C separate), and yet when the dust settled, I ended up with my main circuit breaker being 63A.

Originally when the Provincial electric Authority came out for inspection prior to final meter connection, they said I had a problem in that I should have had 100Amp Circuit breaker and there was a discussion about them ordering for me since I could not source locally. But after a week or so, they came without warning and just installed the 30 (100) meter. And so I still have 63A service but never trips...probably because not enough power here anyway.

There are no transfer switches period in Thailand. I tried to source in US but could not find anything for a 220 volt system, and some sellers said the transfer switch (looks like an electric panel with two circuit breakers one for main, one for generator input plus interlock to avoid both on) would not work because circuit breakers are rated for 240/120 there which apparently means not for 220).

That's why I mentioned making my own transfer switch (which won't have any interlock device!!!) by creating a new “master electric panel”, in other words a new main electric panel which would only have two circuit breakers, a 63 amp like I have now and a 50 amp for my generator; and then place this panel ahead of my main current panel, which would essentially become a sub-panel. (Of course only one of the two new circuit breakers on at a time).

Seems you feel that could work.

Thanks again.