Possible to use Schneider 2 pole RCBO as main breaker ?

[Sean87s]

Just got a new Schneider box and circuit breakers for it. I skipped the regular main circuit breaker and got a "63a RCBO 2-pole main breaker" instead. Is it possible to use this as main incoming breaker ? I know it says so on the box but just want to be sure.

Cheers !

[bankruatsteve]

Sure. Some like to put an isolator between the mains and the CU, but either way that can be (and usually is) the main breaker.

[Crossy]

Yup, +1 on steve's comment, no issues

Note, if this is a new connection PEA / MEA may want to see a 50A breaker on a 15/45 meter (although many are fused at 63A) in which case steve's 'isolator' would have to be a 50A 2-pole MCB in a little DIN box.

[Sean87s]

Thanks for reply and heads up. The first time we got a meter they just sent some local guy to set it up on the concrete pole outside and since we didnt have any buildings on our land he just put the feed to a Chang blade breaker and some outlets stuck to a wooden board and left it in the dirt with no shelter for it. And this was in the rainy season.

this time im having the house electrician pull the lines under the dirt in our new house.

[Crossy]

You almost certainly have a construction supply, (almost) no rules apply, but it's 8 Baht a unit.

You need a tabien baan and a proper address to get a permanent supply. Subject to an inspection by PEA (which is where you may come unstuck with the 63A incomer).

[Sean87s]

Sonthats why my electric bill is ridiculously high ? Can i see on the monthly bill how much i pay ? They said they where going to change the meter once the construction was complete but that never happened and its been lile 5 years now. With 1 aircon running and 2 fridges 1 freezer and a water pump and 1 water heater and a couple of lights and a couple of computers i get a monthly bill of 6-7000 bht sometimes more.

I mention this all the time but no one listens to me ?

Its all set on my wifes new tabien baan here.

[Crossy]

Just divide the total bill by the number of units to get a ball-park per-unit cost, if much over 4 Baht a unit you're on a construction supply.

[Sean87s]

Its all in thai, where do i find the units on the bill ?? Talking with wifey and mother in law doesnt help at all.

[Crossy]

http://tielandtothailand.com/how-to-pay-thai-electric-bill/

[bankruatsteve]

Sounds like you need to go to the PEA (or wherever you pay your electric bill and get things sorted out.) If you're waiting for your builder to do it - well, that's probably why it never happened.

BTW: The Chang knife blade would make a good isolater. Ugly but effective.

[Sean87s]

Okey we divided the number of units with the total amount of bath and got around 4.4 bht so everything is fine. What they did was, they never changed the actual meter but they changed the numberplate on it.

Thanks for the help guys.

[bankruatsteve]

Well..... if you are paying 6-7K per month for what you described, something isn't right. Should be less than 1/2 that amount.

[Crossy]

Your bill does still seem high, perhaps look a the temperature setting of your aircon, if you like it Arctic then your bill will skyrocket.

Our bill is usually 4-5,000 but we have a standing load of about 800 Watts for fish pumps, two freezers and a small server.

Alone that's 2,500 Baht per month before our night-time aircon and SWIMBO firing up her 5HP of garden watering oomph

[Sean87s]

Yeah the aircon is on 24/7 on the coldest setting. We never shut it off. Im gonna compare the bill with the bill from the new meter.

[Crossy]

Yeah the aircon is on 24/7 on the coldest setting. We never shut it off. Im gonna compare the bill with the bill from the new meter.

With it set to 'coldest' it's likely that the compressor never shuts off. Assuming a 15,000 BTU aircon, that's going to use about 1.5kW @ 24 x 30 = 1,100 units = 4,500 Baht on the aircon alone.

Turn it up a few degrees, you'll not notice the difference until the bill comes.

We have no aircon except in the bedroom and that's set to 28C, natural cross-ventilation, shade and fans do it for us.

[Sean87s]

Yeah you are right. The compressor never stops. I might try what you said for a couple of months. However it will take some time to acclimate