Does anybody know the legality of generating your own electricity. I've been suffering a lot of power outages lately. Sometimes my computer is encoding some movie stuff which takes a long time; 10 or 12 hours. When the power goes off for more than 10 mins (the most my UPS can handle) I have to start all over again.

So I'm considering a small petrol generator.

But years ago I was told that all electricity generation could only be done by EGAT under their monopoly. I never could find a generator to buy....never saw solar panels that generated electricity to be stored in batteries...one friend had a small solar panel gadget for charging his walkman batteries at the beach confiscated by customs at the airport.

But I'm seeing more and more large generators in use as standby in shopping malls etc. So maybe the law has changed. Maybe you need to get special permission. Any help on this matter most appreciated.

BTW...my parents in UK have lived in the same house for 56 years. Not once has the power gone off except when they turn it off because of some re-wiring being done. When is this country going to wake up and start installing public utility (electricity, water, phone, ISP, etc) equipment that works and then properly maintain it so it doesn't break down all the time. The transformer to which I'm connected is so overgrown with some kind of vine its no wonder that its faulty. The local electric company come along cut off only enough of the vine to fix the transformer. In another month their back doing it all over again.

A Thai friend who has spent considerable time overseas once remarked to me that Thai repair men deliberately do a bad job at fixing things so that they will be called back to fix it again. Do a bad job to keep a job! Something sounds wrong there...but TIT...............

If you have ever been to the small islands or remote villages then generators are the norm. I would say that if you are going to get one go for at least 2KVA and get a diesel rather than a petrol genny. I have a friend here who is opening his own bar and is getting a diesel genny installed as he is sick of the power outages here on Samui. I'll get the details for you and let you have them. Cheers Dunc

A friend recently brought in a solar panel for electricity generation, only 12 volt - but no problem at customs.

I would guess that the limitation is on selling electric that you generate.

I have considered this as a domestic solution myself, one day when I get time...

You can generate power for your own use as long as your generation is prevented from feeding the PEA/MEA distribution system.

Should this be moved to DIY forum ?

Should this be moved to DIY forum ?

Has anyone currently got the power to do this without generating any resistance?