Restrictions for DIY 12V ceiling lights in a Bangkok condominium?

[OneMoreFarang]

I think about installing LED lights with changeable color in my ceiling in a condominium. They need 12V.

Maybe something like this: https://www.lazada.co.th/products/rgb-5-led-strip-light-24-smd-3528-rgb-color-shoppingmart-i1037852622-s2303306799.html

Or recessed lights 

I work with electric and electronic for many years and I know the basic rules what to do and not do and how things work. But I don't know Bangkok condominium building regulations. Are there any (non-intuitive) regulations which I have to follow? Does anybody have to inspect and approve what I am doing?

Thanks

Here is a video or a guy doing something similar with white LED. The concept what I want to do is similar to this.

 

 

[Kwasaki]

Who's ganna care in Thailand I do whatever I like inside my house.

 

Edited March 12, 2021 by Kwasaki

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, Kwasaki said:

Who's ganna care in Thailand I do whatever I like inside my house.

 

Are you a sticky taper or a wire nutter?

 

For the OP, I would be wary of cheap, Chinese-made electric fires regardless of what the product description says.

Edited March 12, 2021 by NanLaew

[Kwasaki]

Just now, NanLaew said:

Are you a sticky taper or a wire nutter?

I do many things depends on how I want to go about at the time.

Twisting wires has two ways of doing it. 

Solderdering and heat shrink wapping is what I do on my motorbike. 

A twist together and sticky tape in the house works for me,  those nut and screw joiners seem to come loose overtime where they have been used. 

Find the same with wall sockets and switches screws loosening too. 

[lopburi3]

11 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Are you a sticky taper or a wire nutter?

 

For the OP, I would be wary of cheap, Chinese-made electric fires regardless of what the product description says.

As one who has experience plastic fire from overheating outlet strips (several times) and major flames from a MSQ Block Hole ripoff second caution for any cheap Chinese plastics.  They burn!

[blackcab]

With regards to simple maintenance, what you do inside your condominium unit is to to you, as long as what you do is safe.

In addition, you cannot destroy common property. This means you cannot knock out exterior walls; add extra doors from your unit into the corridor; replace exterior windows and change the overall look of the building.

Changing the lights is no problem.

[NanLaew]

8 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

Solderdering and heat shrink wapping is what I do on my motorbike. 

6 and/or 12 volts DC systems. Non-lethal.

 

8 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

A twist together and sticky tape in the house works for me, 

240 volts AC systems. Potential killer.

 

8 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

those nut and screw joiners seem to come loose overtime where they have been used. 

You're doing it wrong (but I already had that worked out).

[Kwasaki]

12 hours ago, NanLaew said:

6 and/or 12 volts DC systems. Non-lethal.

 

240 volts AC systems. Potential killer.

 

You're doing it wrong (but I already had that worked out).

Disagree a 12 volt wiring can still cause a motorcycle fire. 

240 system I have never had trouble with trip switches work fine. 

[spiekerjozef]

23 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

But I don't know Bangkok condominium building regulations. Are there any (non-intuitive) regulations which I have to follow?

Are you kidding? How many times a year there is some sort of a power failure? Instead of fixing it is always a temporary repair from the so called professionals...

You'll be much better of doing it yourself, then at least you know it was done the correct way.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, Kwasaki said:

Disagree a 12 volt wiring can still cause a motorcycle fire. 

240 system I have never had trouble with trip switches work fine. 

People can die from touching 240V.

People don't die from touching 12V. But to get the same power (U*I=P) low voltage needs a lot more current. And more current requires bigger wires. If the wires are not big enough then they get warm, hot, and accidents happen.

I don't recommend that you do it but ask any hobby RC fan what happens if their little batteries with only 11V or even less are short-circuited. Don't try it at home!

[Kwasaki]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

People can die from touching 240V.

People don't die from touching 12V. But to get the same power (U*I=P) low voltage needs a lot more current. And more current requires bigger wires. If the wires are not big enough then they get warm, hot, and accidents happen.

I don't recommend that you do it but ask any hobby RC fan what happens if their little batteries with only 11V or even less are short-circuited. Don't try it at home!

That's the idea and job of circuit breakers to stop people dying and I've never had any bother other than the plastic boxes that join cables together breaking up and causing a short,  other places that are twisted together there is no problem with a ton of tape wrapped around. 

A car battery shorted out can explode from memory. 

[OneMoreFarang]

25 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

That's the idea and job of circuit breakers to stop people dying and I've never had any bother other than the plastic boxes that join cables together breaking up and causing a short,  other places that are twisted together there is no problem with a ton of tape wrapped around. 

A car battery shorted out can explode from memory. 

Circuit breakers break a circuit if too much current flows. Currents over 0.1A can be lethal. A circuit breaker won't stop that.

Electrical Safety: The Fatal Current

Another issue is the shock. If people i.e. step on a ladder to change a 220V lightbulb and they don't switch off the breaker first they might touch 220V and fall from the ladder. Maybe it's not deadly but to be avoided. That will never happen with 12V or 24V.

[Kwasaki]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Circuit breakers break a circuit if too much current flows. Currents over 0.1A can be lethal. A circuit breaker won't stop that.

Electrical Safety: The Fatal Current

Another issue is the shock. If people i.e. step on a ladder to change a 220V lightbulb and they don't switch off the breaker first they might touch 220V and fall from the ladder. Maybe it's not deadly but to be avoided. That will never happen with 12V or 24V.

I agree with all your safety points and respect what you say,  make no mistake the first thing I did was earth the 2 showers units in my house when I retired Thailand even if my wife had been there while they were putting in the showers, she would not know they had no earthing. 

As for cut out boxes and putting the right value trip switches and earthing certain appliances I  believe I have done alright, people here can go on about twisted wires is not a good thing but I in 16 years have had no problems. 

The protection is there as good as it's ganna get. 

[OneMoreFarang]

22 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

As for cut out boxes and putting the right value trip switches and earthing certain appliances I  believe I have done alright, people here can go on about twisted wires is not a good thing but I in 16 years have had no problems. 

Let's say it like this: Personally I wouldn't do that because it just feels wrong. But if there is nothing pulling on those wires and no vibrations then likely they will stay together forever.

[Kwasaki]

47 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Let's say it like this: Personally I wouldn't do that because it just feels wrong. But if there is nothing pulling on those wires and no vibrations then likely they will stay together forever.

Yeah as I said Thai electrics style in my house being built in the Boonie's North in 2002.

Only works which were carried out later in place's using connection boxes have been a problem so I guess just poor quality boxes. 

I have coped with problems being a former industrial builder but must say some of the stuff I see, I go with the American saying if it ain't broke don't touch it. ????????

[NanLaew]

21 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

Disagree a 12 volt wiring can still cause a motorcycle fire. 

I need to check the statistics on fatalities due to electrical fires in motorbikes.

 

21 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

240 system I have never had trouble with trip switches work fine. 

Then I guess there's always the Thai electrical code.

Hopeless...

[NanLaew]

16 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

...make no mistake the first thing I did was earth the 2 showers units in my house when I retired Thailand...

I hope you made sure the Thai sparky used lashings of sticky tape to hold that earth wire onto the ground spike.

Clueless...

Edited March 14, 2021 by NanLaew

[Kwasaki]

1 minute ago, NanLaew said:

I hope you made sure the Thai sparky used lashings of sticky tape to hold that earth wire onto the ground spike.

Where I live there was no need of electric earthing in the Thai boonies in 2001, you didn't need that, 555 the electrician was highly trained in installing a Chang main switch with a fuse.

When I came Thailand to help my wife finish the house, I was not aware of the way the house would be wired so rather than rewire I compromised by putting in an extra main electric panel separating wires to trip switch values, and adding a 'T' cut box.

I earthed the 2 showers and washing machine and a study wall socket, left the rest as it was.

Some switches and sockets I've replaced over the years other than that everything has been OK. 

[lopburi3]

3 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Where I live there was no need of electric earthing in the Thai boonies in 2001, you didn't need that, 555 the electrician was highly trained in installing a Chang main switch with a fuse.

When I came Thailand to help my wife finish the house, I was not aware of the way the house would be wired so rather than rewire I compromised by putting in an extra main electric panel separating wires to trip switch values, and adding a 'T' cut box.

I earthed the 2 showers and washing machine and a study wall socket, left the rest as it was.

Some switches and sockets I've replaced over the years other than that everything has been OK. 

"T" cut box meaning Safe-t-cut (RCD)?  Indeed that can be a life saver with or without ground system and is probably why it is used so often here (since the late 70's).  

[Kwasaki]

2 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

"T" cut box meaning Safe-t-cut (RCD)?  Indeed that can be a life saver with or without ground system and is probably why it is used so often here (since the late 70's).  

Yeah the New Sukhothai  electric shop ordered me one as they didn't stock them because nobody bought them. ????

According to Crossy my 20 year old T cut is not good as the you can now I forget why but it's better than nowt. 

[lopburi3]

3 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Yeah the New Sukhothai  electric shop ordered me one as they didn't stock them because nobody bought them. ????

According to Crossy my 20 year old T cut is not good as the you can now I forget why but it's better than nowt. 

Did not not trip in a self test perhaps?  Or perhaps just was a warning not to use the bypass mode?  My main Safe-t-cut was made in 1978 and still working fine (but admit have not tested the trip current other than knowing I am still alive after last encounter with a reel up extension cord - and will not have another such cord - took off zip cord insulation as entered housing).

[Kwasaki]

25 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Did not not trip in a self test perhaps?  Or perhaps just was a warning not to use the bypass mode?  My main Safe-t-cut was made in 1978 and still working fine (but admit have not tested the trip current other than knowing I am still alive after last encounter with a reel up extension cord - and will not have another such cord - took off zip cord insulation as entered housing).

My T cut is a Ground fault circuit interrupter It goes off when testing. I think it's mainly for a lightening strike.

I think my trip switches do most of the work internally the time I remember something shorting out. 

I check my shower trips as well from time to time. 

[recom273]

I play around with LED quite a bit - I would avoid those 5050 analogue strips from lazada, take a look at addressable strips from BTF-Lighting on aliexpress. You will get a better effect once it’s all finished.

They have some pretty reliable power supplies too. If you want the most regarded power supply, look for meanwell supplies.

Take a look at WLED control software too.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, recom273 said:

I play around with LED quite a bit - I would avoid those 5050 analogue strips from lazada, take a look at addressable strips from BTF-Lighting on aliexpress. You will get a better effect once it’s all finished.

They have some pretty reliable power supplies too. If you want the most regarded power supply, look for meanwell supplies.

Take a look at WLED control software too.

Thanks

I did some Arduino programming with 5050 and other LED stripes with individually addressable LEDs. The do what I want the to do.

I think for the ceiling it's good enough if the (cut to length) strip has only one color at the time. I can have many of those strips and then I can have different colors and intensity in different areas.

[bankruatsteve]

5 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

Where I live there was no need of electric earthing in the Thai boonies in 2001, you didn't need that, 555 the electrician was highly trained in installing a Chang main switch with a fuse.

Yah.  But actually, many "boonie" houses are on wood stilts and wood construction.  These are insulated from ground and earthing would be superfluous.  

[Kwasaki]

1 hour ago, bankruatsteve said:

Yah.  But actually, many "boonie" houses are on wood stilts and wood construction.  These are insulated from ground and earthing would be superfluous.  

Yeah your right the steel frame of my house has 2 m of steel going into the ground it reads great on earthing side of things. 

Dunno if that's good or not but I have e had no problems. 

[OneMoreFarang]

11 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Yeah your right the steel frame of my house has 2 m of steel going into the ground it reads great on earthing side of things. 

Dunno if that's good or not but I have e had no problems. 

You will find out soon enough if you were sitting on that steel or dry would while you touched that electric wire. ???? 

[Kwasaki]

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

You will find out soon enough if you were sitting on that steel or dry would while you touched that electric wire. ???? 

If your a lecky please explain.

[OneMoreFarang]

15 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

4 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

You will find out soon enough if you were sitting on that steel or dry would while you touched that electric wire. ???? 

If your a lecky please explain.

It seems the spell checker (or my fingers) did something they shouldn't do. I wanted to write: You will find out soon enough if you were sitting on that steel or dry wood while you touched that electric wire.

I think that makes it clear.