Thai Electricity

[TRIPxCORE]

USA has 110v outlets and Thailand has 220v outlets. If I want to use a few of my electrical items such as laptop, DVD etc etc, how do I go about it? Do I need to purchase a voltage converter or just a plug adapter? Does anyplace sell a surge protector that will plug into an outlet in Thailand and accepts US appliances?

[lopburi3]

1. US appliances do not have a very good life span here unless they have been made for export to 220v 50Hz countries. You can not change the Hz so some motors will run slow and transformers/compressors etc are likely to overheat and burn out much more quickly.

2. Your laptop may already allow 220-240v operation so if that is shown on the case you can just plug it in - outlets here are the same as USA except with 230v at 50Hz.

3. For items with DC motors (most likely DVD) there should be no problem if you use a transformer to convert 230 to 115v which are available at most any department or hardware store. But you are aware PAL is the Color TV system used here rather than the NTSC used in the USA?

4. In recent years Thailand prices have become very competitive with world prices for anything other than the newest or top line items so you might be better off selling what you have and buying new here (if not the newest/greatest).

[TRIPxCORE]

THanks for the info Lopburi. I understand the jist of what you're saying. I have seen voltage converters sold for the very reasons I stated and you said they could burn out. I dont see why that would happen but I guess it could. Basically though, there are a few items I refuse to leave behind such as my laptop and some music equipment and I need an all-purpose solution to using these in LOS.

[lopburi3]

I have seen voltage converters sold for the very reasons I stated and you said they could burn out.

I was talking about the small transformers/motors in your equipment burning out because they are designed for 60Hz current. The down converting transformers you buy here to supply 120v should work fine as they are designed for 50Hz power, although they are likely to be over rated.

FYI: items sold in the USA use the very cheapest components available as a general rule (price is everything) so there is not much excess capacity built in.

[Guest IT Manager]

I have just Had huge argument over the issue of 50/60 Hz.

Here is the thing. A 60 Hz motor will run a tiny bit slower but will use more power ergo it will get hotter. If you want to work it out the formula relates to E x I x cos Phi, where cos Phi is the power factor.

To convert you need a balanced rotating load and gen set. You can use a motor to do it. IMHO it is cheaper to get the motors rewound to produce what is needed in Kw output. Motors are the only issue. Laptop isn't as most have a power supply which adapts itself. If not there is a guy in CM will make one to order for about 1,000 baht.

Frequency is an issue only in rotating loads. Not capacitive or pure inductive (transformers).

There. And thats 30 year old knowledge from a former life.

[Jeepz]

Interesting points there, ITm. I figured buying a converter would handle most of my problems, but now I see it may not. Most of what I might want to bring to Thailand would be kitchen gear that I'm overly fond of. I originally envisioned a surge strip plugged into converter for my "states" made equipment, but will have to rethink that one.

Currently a Delonghi rotary fryer (heating element and small elect motor), a malted milk shake mixer (not a blender), and a Cuisinart mini-processor, and a KitchenAid stand mixer are on my bring along list.

I figure I can buy a regular food processor, hand mixer, and so forth over there. And the battery operated stuff should be fine.

I may try and bring my computer along, but a new power supply should handle any problems there. Video stuff I'll just get as I need it. I am sort of tempted by the new plasma flat screens. Who isn't. Prices are supposed to be dropping on those starting next year according to the touts here in the states.

Jeepz

[Guest IT Manager]

New power supply if the one you have isn't switchable, cost around 300 baht.

For the overly fond stuff, you can get all of it at Siam Electronic in CM at least. Not sure about brands but certainly the objects.

A guy walked into our house last week with a scad of kitchen stuff like that. About 900 baht most of it and lower quality but it obviously works.

Ended up with a desk fan. Included cassette player, AM FM radio, lamp for reading, clock, hair dryer, personal massager and a floral arrangement in an attractive bright pink.

Hid that lot in my wifes cabinet. Can't wait to see when she finds it. Oh, and yes, it was all in the one machine. Ugly as sin, but where else in the world could you buy such crap.

[lopburi3]

I have just Had huge argument over the issue of 50/60 Hz.

This is really not aimed at continuing that argument but.

The motor-generator set would of course work but it is not an option for most peoples home.

I would consider almost a 17% drop in speed more than "a tiny bit slower". And can say from experience that some kitchen type appliances will not work well at the lower speeds. Gave up on air popcorn machines many years ago.

AC transformers are more than a simple inductive device as there are eddy currents involved and transformers designed only for 60Hz will skimp on the amount or iron in the core. Most of the world gets transformers that will operate fine on both 50/60Hz but this is often not the case on US sold products where the market is so huge even the smallest savings becomes a major factor.

[Pink Mist]

I just want to add my 2 cents worth more for interest if any body is.

I worked in New Zealand in a "iron sand" mining site quite a few years back.

We used to load an Italian made ship (110v 60hz) moored 1 kilometre offshore.

We would pump "iron sand" slurry from shore via a pipe to a hawser where the ship was moored, the onboard decant pumps would decant the slurry so we could load more product.

Any way the ship arrives one trip from Japan with pumps not working and Korean crew say our problem, you fix ( this was pretty normal allways something F#$@d)

We couldn't fix pumps in time to make the tides so we borrowed a huge, massive Flyght pump from a dam site near by to do the job.

Do you think we had problems with that at first, the current it drew was way to much, in the end we had to manufacture packers to move the rotor out of stator a bit and make it less efficient, it did the job in the end but what a P.I.A.

Also frequency does make a difference because the inductive reactance is directly proportional to frequency (2 pie F l) so the ampere turns in a transformer would be affected. Lopburi points out correctly the type/quality of steel makes a difference, it determines the hysteresis curve therefore inductance and would also affect the output if the device was operating just before the Knee.

That got the cobwebs shaken again.

bronco

[manfromoz]

Why hasn't anyone asked what the devices are rated at?

All argumenets here have been very relevant to what is and is not possible and probable and I have seen some formulae which I have not looked at for some years.

However, as far as computers/DVD's etc go, most now come with inbuilt convertors. My laptop will handle 100V-240VAC and 50-60Hz, as will my DVD player.

So to my point, no-one has asked what the specs are on the machines in question. First place to start is have a look at the name plate details and you may find that most of what you want to bring will cope. If not don't waste time and money on buying convertors, step up transformers or any other makeshift device. Leave the appliances at home with your past life (or put them in storage for future use if you return). You really will be creating far too many problems for yourself trying to adapt the local power to your imported products.

Apart from anything else, the quality of the voltage is not guaranteed and 10% (at least) fluctuation on something already running at the high end of its range will probbaly burn out the electrical components anyway and you will forced to buy something new to replace it.