Interior Ministry Orders Nationwide Electrical Leakage Check

[webfact]

 

TNR Staff 

 

AS FLOODING in many parts of the country has led to people being exposed to various hazards particularly electric shock as happened to some students on Friday, Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda today (Sept. 18) ordered local administrative organisations nationwide to quickly get all installations checked for electrical leakage, Naewna newspaper said.

 

Altogether five students suffered electric shock in Udon Thani on Friday with one of them having been saved by Mr. Atthachai Artudom, or Bass, 19, a vocational student who also works as a rider who himself got a shock from doing so.

 

Gen. Anupong told Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and provincial administrative organisations to coordinate with the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) or Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA)  to quickly check all installations, particularly in flooded areas, for electrical leaks. This includes electric meters and large billboards and trees near power poles.

 

Full story: https://thainewsroom.com/2022/09/18/interior-ministry-orders-nationwide-electrical-leakage-check/

 

-- © Copyright  THAI NEWSROOM 2022-09-19

 

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[AsianAtHeart]

Checking for leaks is the wrong solution.

 

The real solution is to require the installation of proper GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) breakers at EVERY public facility.  These breakers essentially cut power to the circuit if any leakage is detected, and they operate all the time.  A high-quality GFCI breaker will cut the power in under 40 milliseconds if as little as 5 milliamps of variance (leakage) in the voltage potential is detected.

 

Some electrical safety measures were discussed here a couple of years ago in THIS THREAD.

[RichardColeman]

The picture sure sums up Thai Health & Safety !

[MadMuhammad]

Checked by the same people that installed and ok’d the installations……

[SAFETY FIRST]

1 hour ago, AsianAtHeart said:

These breakers essentially cut power to the circuit if any leakage is detected

I agree but sadly the electrical wiring standards by most electricians in Thailand is very poor. 

 

These safety devices will constantly, trip, switch off power, you'd see them disabled after a short while, people getting fed up with resetting them. 

 

[Orinoco]

All just talk, no one cares.

Workmanship is abysmal for most electrical installations in Thailand.

Just shocking. 

 

 

 

 

[sammieuk1]

Good its all in a shocking state ????

[Jonathan Swift]

"various hazards particularly electric shock as happened to some students on Friday," Correct. Electric shock, not electrocution. No one died,  no electrocution. ELECTRO-EXECUTION! English grammar class dismissed. 

[Jonathan Swift]

2 hours ago, AsianAtHeart said:

Checking for leaks is the wrong solution.

 

The real solution is to require the installation of proper GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) breakers at EVERY public facility.  These breakers essentially cut power to the circuit if any leakage is detected, and they operate all the time.  A high-quality GFCI breaker will cut the power in under 40 milliseconds if as little as 5 milliamps of variance (leakage) in the voltage potential is detected.

 

Some electrical safety measures were discussed here a couple of years ago in THIS THREAD.

Change is slow here. Hope nobody dies before GFCI can be universally implemented. That technology has been in the US for many decades now

[Bangkok Barry]

27 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

"various hazards particularly electric shock as happened to some students on Friday," Correct. Electric shock, not electrocution. No one died,  no electrocution. ELECTRO-EXECUTION! English grammar class dismissed. 

There were many, many comments on this in the original thread. Seems both are right as it depends on the dictionary used and, I think, whether you use UK or American English. My own view is that I agree with you.

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, AsianAtHeart said:

The real solution is to require the installation of proper GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) breakers at EVERY public facility. 

That costs money so it isn't going to happen. Saving money trumps saving lives every time in Thailand.

[Orinoco]

19 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Saving money trumps saving lives every time in Thailand.

Just so true. 

But so sad at the same time.

[nobodysfriend]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

 to quickly check all installations, particularly in flooded areas, for electrical leaks.

Just need to find volunteers to go into the water ... preferably non- thai . Survey them , if they float = electricity on , if they make it back , everything ok ...? may be can use prisoners  ?

Sorry , bad mood this morning ...

[ChrisY1]

3 hours ago, AsianAtHeart said:

Checking for leaks is the wrong solution.

 

The real solution is to require the installation of proper GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) breakers at EVERY public facility.  These breakers essentially cut power to the circuit if any leakage is detected, and they operate all the time.  A high-quality GFCI breaker will cut the power in under 40 milliseconds if as little as 5 milliamps of variance (leakage) in the voltage potential is detected.

 

Some electrical safety measures were discussed here a couple of years ago in THIS THREAD.

I'm not too sure earth leakage circuit breakers are even understood here.....but agree 100% with you.

[Dazinoz]

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I agree but sadly the electrical wiring standards by most electricians in Thailand is very poor. 

I did my trade in electrical. Sometime back in my rental in Thailand I noticed no earth (ground) wire to my airconditioning outside unit so I ran one to make it safe, A couple months later the AC compressor died and the AC unit was replaced. After installer left I noticed a piece of earth wire laying on the ground. I opened terminal cover of outdoor unit and earth connected. Then I removed ducting cover. They had cut off the wire in the duct. Why the hell would you d that?

 

That was one of many "shonky" things they did on the job and is another story, in fact I did do a post on it some time back.

[thailand49]

What is lost,  " interior Minister Ordered " where have the local municipal been?  This is the same B.S.  Stuff with the Sattahip Fire.

Does anyone ever leave their office and be accountable or nepotism is so bad they don't want to tell family do your damn job! 

 

[sead]

This guy is a smart one. He's giving himself a job that will last until his pension 

[lopburi3]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Change is slow here. Hope nobody dies before GFCI can be universally implemented. That technology has been in the US for many decades now

Actually Thailand was and is well aware of such - have been using here in Bangkok since 1977 locally made units long before they became common in USA (and then only for single circuit bathrooms/pools).  They are not law here but many people have bought and use.  Safe-t-cut was the original local maker and still in business.  Getting grounds installed should also be a higher priority but as said change can be slow.

[jacko45k]

4 hours ago, AsianAtHeart said:

Checking for leaks is the wrong solution.

Yes, many of them are detectable when under a foot or so of water and likely not during the dry season. Stray wire removal may be a start.....

[AlQaholic]

4 hours ago, AsianAtHeart said:

Checking for leaks is the wrong solution.

 

The real solution is to require the installation of proper GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) breakers at EVERY public facility.  These breakers essentially cut power to the circuit if any leakage is detected, and they operate all the time.  A high-quality GFCI breaker will cut the power in under 40 milliseconds if as little as 5 milliamps of variance (leakage) in the voltage potential is detected.

 

Some electrical safety measures were discussed here a couple of years ago in THIS THREAD.

Unfortunately, In most homes and public facilities nowadays, there are frequency converters integrated in many electrical appliances, such as air conditioners, refrigerator, water heaters, LED lighting. These have a deliberate small leakage current towards earth, which renders GFCI useless. You could of course put these appliances on separate power system, but that renders the whole idea about GCFI pointless.

[lopburi3]

1 minute ago, AlQaholic said:

Unfortunately, In most homes and public facilities nowadays, there are frequency converters integrated in many electrical appliances, such as air conditioners, refrigerator, water heaters, LED lighting. These have a deliberate small leakage current towards earth, which renders GFCI useless. You could of course put these appliances on separate power system, but that renders the whole idea about GCFI pointless.

I have used RCD for more than 45 years here in Bangkok in home with 5 refrigerators/6 air conditioners/6 water heaters/LED lighting and in the handful of times there was an issue got it fixed.  Yes it can be a PIA to find issue at times but as said they have been years apart.  RCD works well.

[Xonax]

I guess that there would be many more electrocutions, if all hanging wires were burried under ground.

[jacko45k]

19 minutes ago, Xonax said:

I guess that there would be many more electrocutions, if all hanging wires were burried under ground.

Most of the  wires you see are communication wires. The act of burying them is ongoing, along with the power cables.... I have high hopes that being underground there will be fewer electrocutions of people wading through flood waters. The connections are made above ground, hopefully high above ground.... those new boxes on the pavements of Walking ST and Klang are examples. 

Something new for the drunk pick-up driver to plough into.

[IamNoone88]

I have been so long that every time I see a flood I am instantly alert to the risk of being potentially electrocuted. With millions of potential leakage points around the country this will not yield a fix but some effort is better than none.

[TonyPaul]

A picture says a thousand words as the saying goes. Within the photo is the person in close enough range to rush in an help, but choosing to take a photo or video instead!

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Change is slow here. Hope nobody dies before GFCI can be universally implemented. That technology has been in the US for many decades now

Along with high prices.

GDP per capita based on PPP is more than 3 times in the US than it is in Thailand.

One day the penny may drop that you cannot have western standards at Thai prices.

Maybe they should implement air passenger duty at the same level as Heathrow to help pay for the upgrades.

[foreverlomsak]

5 hours ago, AsianAtHeart said:

Checking for leaks is the wrong solution.

 

The real solution is to require the installation of proper GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) breakers at EVERY public facility.  These breakers essentially cut power to the circuit if any leakage is detected, and they operate all the time.  A high-quality GFCI breaker will cut the power in under 40 milliseconds if as little as 5 milliamps of variance (leakage) in the voltage potential is detected.

 

Some electrical safety measures were discussed here a couple of years ago in THIS THREAD.

Probably wouldn't work around our Soi as our electrical supply varies all the time every day from lights that dim and fans that go slow to complete shut down for maybe 1-2 seconds. Forget full blackouts (or is that no longer an acceptable phrase in the current woke era)

[rumeaug]

"Quickly"....Ow but what's the rush really ????

[carlyai]

1 hour ago, AlQaholic said:

Unfortunately, In most homes and public facilities nowadays, there are frequency converters integrated in many electrical appliances, such as air conditioners, refrigerator, water heaters, LED lighting. These have a deliberate small leakage current towards earth, which renders GFCI useless. You could of course put these appliances on separate power system, but that renders the whole idea about GCFI pointless.

What is a power 'frequency converter' and why do they put them in aircons, refrigerators etc.?

Do you mean an inverter?

[AsianAtHeart]

27 minutes ago, foreverlomsak said:

Probably wouldn't work around our Soi as our electrical supply varies all the time every day from lights that dim and fans that go slow to complete shut down for maybe 1-2 seconds. Forget full blackouts (or is that no longer an acceptable phrase in the current woke era)

The GFCI breaker has nothing to do with power fluctuations.  It has everything to do with checking that the same amount of power outgoing on the hot wire is returning through the neutral line and/or to the panel.  If outgoing power does not match returning power--there's a leak somewhere, right?  That might mean someone is getting shocked and the electricity, instead of returning to the electric panel, was grounded out; hence the "ground-fault" in its name.