Quote:
Originally Posted by tuktukdriver  What do you look for? More than two wires leaving the unit? |
It doesn't matter how many wires you see. In Thailand, a third wire may well connect to nothing or connect to a rawl plug in concrete. This is NOT an earth.
Quote:
Originally Posted by watterinja Excellent thread.
I wonder if Thailand covers the installation & operation of these devices in some sort of building code? If not, are there suitable alternative standards that could be used? |
No. Thai Standards do not have any installation requirements regarding domestic electrical items (I've searched them high & low) & as well as that, there are no standards for domestic installations. There are standards on certain products but these standards do not relate to the installation of such products.
In a country such as Thailand, it bewilders me why people bother to buy hot water heaters when solar power is not only abundant but also incredibly cheap. I have a friend in Klaeng (between Rayong & Chantaburi) & he lazily insists upon using hot water heaters. Why? Because he thinks that he won't save much at all. I've tried explaining to him that he will pay NOTHING for hot water (& I mean HOT water...60 degrees plus), if he goes solar.
The "built-in" earth leakage breaker for these hot water units cannot be seen. What type of RCB is it? What is it's trip time? What is the trip current?
I would never trust a "built-in" RCD. On the other hand, I would spend the money & have a proper RCD unit installed just for that particular heating unit. This device needs to have the following;
a] a trip time of no more than 20mS (20 milli seconds).
b] a maximum trip current of 30 mA (30 milli amps).
These things should NOT be adjustable.
An earth wire is good but an RCD is better.
Just remember, an RCD (an earth leakage device) is NOT the ultimate protection. The ULTIMATE protection is to have your whole installation properly earthed AND use RCD's.
I'll post some pictures of things soon.