Quoted 3 million THB from PEA to get 400 Amp Service onsite!

[ElephantEgo]

We are doing a project that needs at most 400 amps of electrical service infrastructure in Phuket.

 

We were quoted 30,000 THB * 70 Meters = 2.1 million THB for a cable.

 

And another approximately 1 million THB for a transformer. Of course the PEA did not itemize the quote.

 

My questions:
 

• Do these numbers sound kind of wild and if so, what are the more reasonable costs?
• Who are the alternative installers/suppliers we can contact to get this done/supplied for a reasonable rate?
• Doesn't the government electrical authority need to cover the cost of offsite wiring?
• Would it make sense to instead have an affordable 300 amp service + LPG generator for spikes + backup power?

[Crossy]

Is your "400A" single or 3-phase?

 

3-phase at 400A per phase would be about 260kW which is indeed a lot of grow-lights

 

What's the project? Have you or your contractor done a proper prospective load calculation?

 

Incoming supply overhead or underground? Is there a HV supply at the road where the transformer will be located?

 

[ChaiyaTH]

53 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Is your "400A" single or 3-phase?

 

3-phase at 400A per phase would be about 260kW which is indeed a lot of grow-lights

 

What's the project? Have you or your contractor done a proper prospective load calculation?

 

Incoming supply overhead or underground? Is there a HV supply at the road where the transformer will be located?

 

Not sure, let's say 200kW would be lights, they would do at least 25 million baht per harvest weed, for the electrical cost he wouldn't complain lol.

Edited November 3, 2022 by ChaiyaTH

[CLW]

70 meters before or after the transformer? To my knowledge every works before the transformer can only be done by PEA so you're at the mercy of their quotation. 

After transformer you can hire private contractor

[Sydebolle]

Get a second and third quote from a professional electrician company.

I had issues 15 years ago in Pattaya with a 50amps; some 3 x 10 metres wiring (16mm) and a transformer was quoted with THB 1.2 million by PEA Pattaya on a blank piece of paper; the final bill upon intervention at PEA in Cholburi was THB 235'000 for all incl. installation to the building.

I had an external professional electric company (doing installations etc. in industrial estates) to assess infrastructure and pricing = saving was THB 900'000.  

Did not leave me with friends at Pattaya's PEA office though ..... 

Edited November 3, 2022 by Sydebolle

[paulbrow]

I've just had an estimate from MEA for a bit heavier service, 26 poles required, 500kVa / 24 kV, 416/240 V transformer, 3 phase, 70 sqmm cables hv side, 185 sqmm lv side, includes all necessary tray panels and switch. Fully installed price including VAT 3.211 million THB. 120 days to install. Maybe gives you some comparison basis. Good luck. Could be apples and oranges as few details on your installation.

[ElephantEgo]

We were also quoted 40,000 THB to by a professional contractor to put together a design/quote and interface with PEA on it. Is that reasonable?

[ElephantEgo]

On 11/3/2022 at 12:34 PM, Crossy said:

Is your "400A" single or 3-phase?

 

3-phase at 400A per phase would be about 260kW which is indeed a lot of grow-lights

 

What's the project? Have you or your contractor done a proper prospective load calculation?

 

Incoming supply overhead or underground? Is there a HV supply at the road where the transformer will be located?

 

We need a total amp draw of 400 for the project. What type of transformer do we need? I've heard the price is 1 million THB for a transformer but I would love to shoppe around!!!!

[Crossy]

So 400A spread over 3-phases then, that's more like 90kW. Could you squeeze into a 100A 3-phase supply? That may be available without a transformer (depends upon local conditions) ???? 

 

You really need to get an experienced contractor in to design your system, he will likely charge.

BUT

He may also offer a refund of (part of) the charge if you use his services to do the job.

 

PEA will be able to supply a list of contractors approved to do HV work.

 

You really aren't telling us enough detail here, the nature of the load is actually very important.

 

Just where did your "400A" requirement actually come from, someone must have determined that via some sort of prospective load calculation?

 

[Photoguy21]

On 11/3/2022 at 12:34 PM, Crossy said:

Is your "400A" single or 3-phase?

 

3-phase at 400A per phase would be about 260kW which is indeed a lot of grow-lights

 

What's the project? Have you or your contractor done a proper prospective load calculation?

 

Incoming supply overhead or underground? Is there a HV supply at the road where the transformer will be located?

 

Would assume it is 3 phase. Bit much for a single phase supply

[Crossy]

Just now, Photoguy21 said:

Would assume it is 3 phase. Bit much for a single phase supply

 

Yeah, it now seems that it's 400A total (maybe)!

 

Our OP is really being a bit light on his detail, it would be really handy to know what the nature of the load is, maybe we can apply diversity and get the requirement down and save him some $$$.

 

Is it a big cannabis grow, BTC mining, a resort?

[Rimmer]

A few years back when we built the house I paid B700,000 for a 50 KVA three phase transformer and 6  poles.

[Saanim]

The power input should be calculated not in Amps but in kW, separately for lights/heaters and for motors. This will be supplied by 3-phase source, while the Amps for motors will be increased by dividing by power factor ca. 0.7.  As per the character of the consumers the sum of the installed power demands will hardly be always needed. An estimation of the worst case what can run together in a given time will reduce the figures substantially.

 

 

[Crossy]

17 minutes ago, Saanim said:

The power input should be calculated not in Amps but in kW, separately for lights/heaters and for motors. This will be supplied by 3-phase source, while the Amps for motors will be increased by dividing by power factor ca. 0.7.  As per the character of the consumers the sum of the installed power demands will hardly be always needed. An estimation of the worst case what can run together in a given time will reduce the figures substantially.

 

Yup.

 

Our OP is really feeding us so little information that it's impossible to even determine if he's waaay over estimating his load.

[ElephantEgo]

Hi guys, thanks for your advice. We calculated load by amps and would like to be able to run up to 400 amps at once minus a cushion for safety as needed. There is no motors unless you consider aircons as. Yes 300A without a new transformer + 100A line might be the solution to avoid the transformer. Still we would need to run some thick cables up the road, which can add up to a substantial cost I believe. We do have qualified engineers helping us with this but it's great to hear your ideas. I was unaware that PEA can supply that list of qualified contractors.

[ElephantEgo]

On 11/3/2022 at 12:34 PM, Crossy said:

 

Incoming supply overhead or underground? Is there a HV supply at the road where the transformer will be located?

Yes it seems there is the HV available. Incoming supply is along conduits on fences.

[Crossy]

OK so your required supply is a TOTAL of 400A @ 220V (it will be a 3-phase supply about 130A per phase) about 90kVA.

 

I would say 3 million is well over the top.

 

70m x 4 of 130A cable - say 95mm² aluminium or 70mm² copper talk to SK Unversal ([email protected]) for pricing.  

 

Do you have an itemised quote for exactly what PEA are going to provide?

 

 

[bluejets]

Op definetely needs a professionally designed system here as it is clearly way over the head of the Op and most of the weekend experts putting in their 2 bobs worth here.

As already pointed out, a stab in the dark requirement for 400A is a dead give away, as is the zero knowledge of 3 phase requirement.

Clearly PEA would never allow such a single phase imbalance on their system.

One would also expect an application for supply to the PEA of those numbers.

Edited November 15, 2022 by bluejets

[ElephantEgo]

We have experts working on it @bluejets but thanks for your valuable observation.

On 11/13/2022 at 1:06 PM, Crossy said:

 

 

Do you have an itemised quote for exactly what PEA are going to provide?

I think soon we will have, I'll let you know. Thanks

[ElephantEgo]

Here it is guys! Your thoughts???

Edited November 19, 2022 by JakeR

[Crossy]

12 hours ago, JakeR said:

Here it is guys! Your thoughts???

 

Sorry, but if that landed on my desk at work it would go straight back with a "Cat-A" (Rejected) classification.

 

It contains no useful information (even the actual detail of the supply to be provided is nonsense). Are there drawings / plans to go with it which might justify the absence of quantities on the BOM? (Quantities should still be detailed but some people are lazy)

 

At least one item appears twice!

 

It was of course, produced to placate the farang who "think too mutt".

 

Teacher's comment - 3/10 Must try harder.