Why You Get Electrocuted In Thailand.

[Formaleins]

Seriously, there are no basic standards here, it is no wonder that so many people die from electrocution when a country cannot implement basic standards. In fact this place is incapable of making anything of any quality unless supervised / instructed by smarter more diligent competent people.

 

Take a look at this POS lighting adapter, a simple plug, (Well not really simple when you have no standards and you have maybe 6 different variations on how to plug a couple of prongs into a 230V socket!)

 

So the simple plug has a switch, it also has a screw in receptacle for a bulb. Not really rocket science is it? But no, they couldn't even get this right. Take a look at this crap out of the box so to speak. The neutral (blue) is broken off already, the live (brown) is hanging on by a thread! The switch looks not fit for a 5 volt circuit, the "copper" is thinner than angels pubes. What a piece of total shit! I plugged this junk in and was getting an intermittent light,  opened it up and behold the crap inside!

 

There really is no hope when you cannot get the basics right. This shit will kill you, but they cannot make anything properly. I was using a brand new paint brush the other day to put on a bit of woodstain, 5 minutes in and the entire end of the brush just falls off!. I have a blender made locally, you can take the blender jug off and the motor is still running, you can open the blender and put your children inside, no safety measures. No, I don't want a Nanny State (even though this place behaves worse than a nanny state with its rhetoric) just a bit of common sense. Be interesting to have a topic where everyone can post a list of Thai shit that fails out of the box,  - DEVICE / PRODUCT / DATE / REASON FOR FAILURE / PRICE PAID / SOLD BY....SHAME THEM! They have set up laws to prevent you calling their shit products out, you cannot name companies for fear of legal action, it is not just about poor products, this is about pecking order and keeping the scum in their place. It is the CONTEMPT that these "upper class" (removed) can just sell shit and deadly shit to poor people with no recompense. If the scum dare to call them out these (removed) will have you up in front of THEIR beak and you will be jailed or fined. Rotten to very core in every sense. Yes, I know, mountain from a molehill, but it is deeper than that, it points out the way this society works. The wealthy can do what they want and the poor can go <deleted> themselves and if they complain they will regret it!

Edited July 1, 2019 by CharlieH
Profanity removed

[worgeordie]

They use so many different coloured wires here,instead of the basic

3 colours,no standard at all.

regards worgeordie

[Formaleins]

19 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

They use so many different coloured wires here,instead of the basic

3 colours,no standard at all.

regards worgeordie

Standards? Hah, well these are normally something you can measure against some sort of basic goalpost....there are no goalposts at all here.

I don't care about the colours, I care whether they are thick enough and connected. This stuff is just garbage, I couldn't even make an acceptable solder joint with this shit. The strands of cable are thinner than the cheapest audio cable junk, yet it is supposed to carry 240Volts! It is much deeper than that though, it is just the contempt they have when they make anything, it is like "Ahh, <deleted> them they deserve nothing better" besides they know now with the current laws most people cannot name and shame. It is like the bloody Nuremburg trials, the truth is no defence. It is like a rotten tree, the tree is already rotten through the core and all of the fruit is rotten too, but no one dares say anything.

Edited July 1, 2019 by Formaleins

[Thongkorn]

When i Rewired the Mrs house, I got some good Electric wire, I bought it  by the real, each colour, I also installed Earth and Circuit breakers , It can be done but maybe not cost effective for House builders, 

[thequietman]

I will use one of the words that you so frequently use in your post.

 

Don't be a cheap bastard and buy quality goods, they are out there. This 'light' is a 20 baht piece of crap. Spend some money, go to global and get quality. If it's cheap, then it's crap.

 

Use that as your mantra as you move forward. "Cheap means crap, cheap means crap."

[CharlieH]

My favorite that always stood me in good stead is "buy cheap and you'll buy twice" it's just false economy to buy cheap budget stuff.

 

[Singhajon]

To the OP

The size/thickness of the copper conductor has nothing to do with the voltage its designed for, its the insulation (plastic)  that does that. The size/thickness of the copper conductor dictates the current carrying capacity (amps) the cable can supply, there are many other factors but that is the basic outline.

That said the quality of many electrical materials available in Thailand are poor and produced to a price point the population can afford, unfortunately the local electricians £8/$10 per day and little schooling are all the vast population have to turn to when needing electrical work. As a Expat a visit to GH will find cable and accessories that are fit for purpose at a price that's comparable with Europe. 

[David B in Thailand]

There in fact are Thai Standards when it comes to electrical goods. There is in fact a set guideline to follow for electric cable colors which you can pick up at the PEA office. Look for the Thai Standards logo on any electrical goods you buy in Thailand. I've seen the "rule book" of the PEA and it is very clear on size of cable, colors of cable and grounding. One must put out extra effort and have a great translator to find out safety related items in Thailand in my experience. Now hiring a sparky to go by the guidelines, is a challenge itself. 

[CGW]

On 7/1/2019 at 11:24 PM, CharlieH said:

My favorite that always stood me in good stead is "buy cheap and you'll buy twice" it's just false economy to buy cheap budget stuff.

In the same vein, one of my favourites has long been "There's always time to do a job twice" meaning off course - just do it right the first time!

[johng]

[Orton Rd]

We had a shower installed and asked the 'electrician' to make sure it was earthed. His reply was- what does that mean?

[Golden Triangle]

26 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

We had a shower installed and asked the 'electrician' to make sure it was earthed. His reply was- what does that mean?

Always throw him a towel and bar of soap when he says he is done, don't pay until he safely dries off.

 

[mike787]

Why you get electrocuted in Thailand?  Simple reason you have an excellent chance of meeting your maker while near, on, or about any Thai roads....Because this is the This wai! Ie; its Thailand.  I know, some are maybe confused by my comment.  Give it time, you may see the light...

[Golden Triangle]

On 7/1/2019 at 4:05 PM, Formaleins said:

Standards? Hah, well these are normally something you can measure against some sort of basic goalpost....there are no goalposts at all here.

I don't care about the colours, I care whether they are thick enough and connected. This stuff is just garbage, I couldn't even make an acceptable solder joint with this shit. The strands of cable are thinner than the cheapest audio cable junk, yet it is supposed to carry 240Volts! It is much deeper than that though, it is just the contempt they have when they make anything, it is like "Ahh, <deleted> them they deserve nothing better" besides they know now with the current laws most people cannot name and shame. It is like the bloody Nuremburg trials, the truth is no defence. It is like a rotten tree, the tree is already rotten through the core and all of the fruit is rotten too, but no one dares say anything.

To a certain extent you are talking to the converted, but as many have said above, spend proper money on whatever you buy, most if not all this crap stuff comes from China & every man and his dog knows what a

'Made in China' label means. The problem is I suppose if you are buying on line so therefore can't judge the quality before you get the item, if buying from Home Pro or the like at least you have a chance ????

[seajae]

at my wifes aunties house I got a severe jolt when I placed my hand(cupped) over the top of an unused power outlet on the wall as I was walking through a door way, sat me on my arse real quick, I could understand if I had pushed something into it but not just on the plastic cover

[sometimewoodworker]

On 7/1/2019 at 10:05 PM, Formaleins said:

The strands of cable are thinner than the cheapest audio cable junk, yet it is supposed to carry 240Volts!

There is no problem with the "cable" carrying 240V if the insulation is OK and the current is in the milliamps.

 

But when the current gets into the amp range then you should not be buying the cheap cable or extension leads. 

 

Cheap is avalable, good is available, just not cheap and good. You will almost never get more than you pay for, unfortunately you can often get less.