david96

Here is some information on the Electronic Travel Authority, ETA, Thailand might be on it one day.

http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/55eta.htm

I use securecash express. Costs me $7.95 Aud to make deposit. First withdrawal free. Exchange rate has been 28 baht. Works well for sending my missus money every fortnight.

You mean http://www.securecash.com.au/

They are a courier service that only picks up money and delivers to your bank in Australia on your behalf.

Transfer using Commonwealth Bank Internet banking, fee $22 same day to Thailand, transfer in AUD for best FX rate.

The arrival of my tools and test kit from the UK (including my Lux-meter) means I now have some quantitative measurements:-

Two measurements were taken:-

a. 1 Metre below the centre of the fitting

b. 1 Metre below the centre of the fitting and off-axis by 1m (to get an idea of beam width).

Results.

...................................... On Axis Off axis

34W circular fluorescent:- 360 Lux 190 Lux

21W warm white LED:-.... 300 Lux 194 Lux

21W white LED:-............. 384 Lux 165 lux

9W white LED:-............... 260 Lux 88 Lux

What would the readings be taken at 1 metre above floor level and a ceiling height of 2.5metres, for this is what one would want in practice.

In Australia we have severe lightning storms any one living in the tropics and the NT would know of its effects especially in the remote areas.

But we do have good earthing requirements.

In areas of high risk surge protectors may be installed at the main switch board, and on sub boards, protected by MCBs. Along with surge protected power boards at the equipment end.

MEN system mandatory. Most strikes are taken by the HV arresters at the transformer Earthing of the neutral also provides protection if the strike hits the LV.

The phone line should be protected by gas filed arresters where it enters the building.

One can only minimise the risk of damage. Unplug equipment that may be affected during an electrical storm.

Re post #24 by gburns.

You are quite correct the post refers to Australian immigration and the applicant is a Thai

Citizen holding a Thai passport.

And post #23.

As far as one is aware an Australian cannot hold more than one current Australian Passport.

there are probably some exceptions such as a Government Minister or a Diplomat while in the employ of the government. But these are special passports.

If you have solar or wind you will require a backup diesel generator, you have the cost of batteries, which have to be replace every 5 to 7 years, cost of the inverter etc.

The solar panels peak power have to be twice the proposed peak load at least.

The battery capacity has to be sufficient to run at least 24 hours and only use 30% of their

capacity before recharge. Be able to charge batteries within 4 hours and supply existing load.

The capital cost is expensive.

But if one can afford and accept those costs it is the way to go.

There should be surge protection (lightning arresters) at each of the the HV terminals of the transformer.

There should be 3 HV fuses protecting the transformer.

Are there any HRC fuselinks on the LV side of the transformer?

Is the LV neutral of the transformer earthed?

On the LV side it would be recomended that surge protection be installed one on each phase at the main switchboard, these should be protected by an MCB.

The "phase protection (failure) relay" is a device that operates if one or more phases fail, if phases become imbalanced (%) or the phase rotation is incorrect (R. W. B. )

Functions are dependant on the specific type. Available in DIN rail mounting.

The N0/NC contact is connected to operate a secondary device such as a contactor which switches the load to be protected. May be time delayed usually to prevent operation on transient system voltage events.

In the event of the fault on the HV as you mentioned was on the load side of the HV fuses

an HV fuse may have cleared the fault first, causing the voltage to be lost on one phase

thus operating the PFR.

Inverter type split system airconditioners are the obvious way to go, they proven to be more energy efficient and have low starting current.

But you must correctly size the unit with the area to be airconditioned along with the number of persons in the room at one time there are many variables including operating air temp (25C)

A compentant airconditioner installer will be able to give you the recomended size. You do not use a "salesman" from the store to do this.

Refernce to post #13.

All the latest information on this Australian Embassy Bangkok website page.

http://www.thailand.embassy.gov.au/bkok/DIMA03.html

From DFAT website last update on Thailand 28/04/2010.

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand

Being a Moderator on the forum does require some responsibilities.

You do not moderate a topic or post because you do not like it.

There has to be some control over the content.

Eg. Defamatory statements (libel). Compliance with the Laws and Legislation of the country where the server is located.

Political views, eg, discussion of the Monarchy in Thailand.

Content that may be morally undesirable.

Contents that encourage sedition.

And thats about it.

Remember there is no such thing as pure "free speech" it does not exist in practice.

It is your decision if you want to ignore those warnings, but do not expect the Australian Government to bear the expense of returning you to Australia if the current political situation turns for the worst. Civil war is always a possibility.

If you have travel insurance you should read very carefully the requirements concerning rioting, war, civil disobedience, government policy etc.

But these warnings are just that "warnings", The Australian government has complied with their "duty of care" to its citizens.

Bali, Oct 2002 was an exception, the government of the day used that incident to their own political advantage.

A guy I know arrived in Pattaya for a 3 week stay married the girl from reception from the hotel .

And this was in the July of 2008 she was living in the UK in October 2008.

Once she realized he was a two week millionaire things have been rocky .

Although you have not stated what the visa type was, this could well be an example of the application of policy along with a compelling reason.

One would certainly agree on that point. Good advice. Ref post # 42.

To prove a relationship (financee/dejure) generally is 6 months and 2 visits but this is policy not legislation that is why there is no fixed time period. Policy can change at any time.

Policy makes the application of legislation ( which is the legal requirements) more flexible in its application in some cases.

A relationship in the case of the above must be genuine and ongoing. If one does not meet this criteria your visa application will fail.

Policy does not require legislative changes, but it may have to have ministerial approval before being implemented.

Remember, a visa application will be decided using the legislation and policy and if it meets the criteria your visa application will be successful.

The personalities and personal views of an Immigration official are not biased for or against any applicant.

Being legally married may help shorten this time period if you can prove a compelling reason. But then again they would look at the policy.

Your voltage at the main switch board may be quite ok if you reduce your load to say 15 or 20A.

Have you offered to pay some of the capital cost of upgrading the transformer, this is what the PEA may be waiting for as they appear not to have the funding in their current budget.

You would only do this as a last resort of course.

One of the biggest problems in Thailand is before connecting an electrical installation it should be determined by the PEA/MEA if they can supply your proposed or existing load. If not they should advise you and when an upgrade will eventuate. You should supply this information on your proposed/existing load to them first.

Just supplying a 45A or 100A meter means nothing, Your load is the max demand of your electrical installation. And any distance from the main switchboard to the point of connection to the distribution from the transformer will require voltage drop calculations.

Calculate the max demand first, this will determine your meter current rating.

Then calculate the size of consumers mains to suit the max demand and voltage drop requirements. Allow about 3% in the consumers mains and 2% in the final subcircuits.

From your information supplied you have a 220V single phase supply.

The distribution transformer must be large enough to supply all consumers that are connected to it. this is the responsibility of the PEA.

They failed to prove that their relationship (defacto) in this case was genuine and ongoing.

Of course one has to supply documentation to prove this. After three years this should not be difficult.

Most visa applications are refused on the following grounds.

Visitors visas. Insufficient funds for travel and /or no compelling reason to return.

Financee/defacto/dejure visas. Relationship not considered genuine and ongoing.

One might well have an application for a visa that is well prepared and detailed but if you have not addressed the criteria for the visa it will in most cases be rejected.

That time period for a relationship is policy of immigration depending on type of visa applied for.

I justify my statements from experience with Australian Immigration procedures as an Australian Citizen.

And one would think the UK would be similiar in their decision process.

Part of the criteria is the date when you first met the applicant in person, how, when and where.

The reason was given in post #1.

Failed to prove a defacto relationship (cohabitate as man and wife) over a three year period.

And as this was for a visitors visa there was no right of appeal.

So to solve the problem apply again this time with proof of relationship, making sure the applicant meets the criteria for the visa applied for. With proof that she will return.

You may be luckier next time.

With reference to post # 37.

Policy is not Legislation, the policy is what an Immigration officer consults and is in a Departmental Procedures Advice Manual or equivilant. Decisions are based on that policy as well as the critera set down in legislation.

So to determine if a relationship is genuine ( within the law of probabilities) Immigration would need to know how they met,where they met, and when they met (date) and information on the relationship itself along with an interview perhaps depending on the visa. For guidance the Immigration official would consult their Manual.

This makes the process of making decisions consistant and fair to all as far as practicable.

From your post it would seem that all an applicant has to do to get a visa to the UK is to say "we met on a certain day" and they will automatically get their visa. One thinks not. One just meeting once does not prove a relationship.

To justify any decisions Immigration can and do quote the Legislation and their Policy.

On this basis an Applicant may be able to lodge an appeal if legislation allows.

The applicant must meet the criteria for the type of visa applied for.

The criteria for a visitors visa is different to a visa for marriage, where the relationship must be proved to be genuine. Generally this is 6 months and 2 visits to Thailand by the sponsor for a marriage visa. (Policy )

For a Visitors visa the applicant must prove that they have sufficient funds for travel and they have a reason to return to Thailand and do not overstay. (Criteria). The relationship here is generally one of "friend". Policy in this case would be different as she could have a guarantor for her stay.

Policy is not fixed and can change from time to time , but it is consistant. Policy is not legislation.

The key words here are Policy and Criteria.

The word "relationship" -- the best definition is in the Oxford Australian English Dictionary, 6th Ed. which defines the word as (n) 1. state or instance of being related. 2. a connection or association.

(The colloq. or informal meaning of the word should not be used in a formal document).

So relationship could mean, legally married, defacto marriage, friend, aquaintance etc.

And you would be wasting your time trying to get a letter from your Federal or State Member.

You may supply information on financial support and accomodation but DIAC will want to see evidence that she will not overstay her visa. You are not sponsoring her, you are going as a guarantor for her stay in Australia on a 676 visa.

If the compressor and fans are running it is possible that you have lost refrigerant and have a leak in the system.

You should not have to "top up" as you say with refrigerant every 3 or 4 months.

^^^^

I really think this is an over simplification, for sure they will look at the relationship, I'm no expert but they will not only want to be satisfied that the sponsor can afford to pay for the trip, if that's actually what is being proposed, but that it's reasonable to do so.

But you have left out the most important thing, the reason to return, after all that's the real reason that many visa applications fail, and is the reason that visas are required.

That is covered in the criteria for the type of visa applied for.

She as the applicant has to fill in the application form correctly and answer any questions.

[befor internet banking it was possible to authorise transactions by Fax or Mail.

But the risk was born by the account holder, one usually telephoned them first before sending the Fax.

Don't know what bank you are with but I've transferred money by mailing the instruction and having them call me to confirm with two of my UK banks, the latest being last November and no problem. You do need to include a certified copy of your passport with the letter and they phone you on the number they have on file so if you've changed phone number you are bu66ered.

It was an Australian Bank, however transfers were able to be done by fax to the HSBC bank in Brisbane up to about 8 years ago, before internet banking was introduced. They still have a standard form on their internet site which can be printed off an sent by mail or fax, but they prefer transfers by internet.

And lets face it internet banking is fast and secure.