Thread: Marty's New Home in the sticks

Originally Posted by terry57

Just for your info, the power point he began the run from contained an Earth.

There you are; Somchai was looking out for you after all.........unless the wire was not actually connected to anything.... We had a rented house some years ago. It had a nice big copper stake in the ground, but they had never connected any ground wire to it... maybe they thought the copper stake was enough......

Many people say SomChai the Electrician is a retard but I don't actually believe this.

Having a look at the massive building projects that are done all over Thailand including Issan its only a matter of sourcing Somchai the Electrician who is actually qualified.

It can't be that hard. I'd start at the head office of the Electrical company in my town.

I certainly would not be using Leks second cousin removed by marriage or dangs brother in Law.

Thanks for all the info guys, I will get it all checked out before electrocuting myself!

Originally Posted by terry57

its only a matter of sourcing Somchai the Electrician who is actually qualified.

Common sense innit.... There are plenty of pretty decent electricians around; although the more out in the sticks you get, the harder they might be to find.

We had a very good electrical contractor, which was evident right from day one, when they showed up in a nice pickup truck with tools...even had a couple of meters, and all kinds of different colored wire and serious looking electrical stuff......

The litmus test is to show your electrician a GFCI/RCD wiring diagram and gauge the reaction.... A blank stare is not a good sign., whereas instant recognition and a positive nod is very promising.

Originally Posted by terry57

Originally Posted by heavyT13

cheaper then ripping apart your ceiling later to replace wiring or worse electrical fire.

Punters who know nothing regards wiring a house correctly can be excused that cheep and cheerful is good enough. They can plead ignorance but unfortunately ignorance can kill when we are talking electricity.

Hence why in the real world it takes a 4- 5 year apprenticeship to learn the trade.

But at the same time when their house burns down or their wife has been electrocuted because of an incorrectly system I'd just say,

" Well you did want cheep and cheerful EH "
The uneducated Thais have a saying.

" Thai electricity is different, not need other wire "

You misunderstood mate...was referring to the accommodation probably not having all the electrical nice to have appliances you indicated.
Kudos for being in the trade and all that....unfortunately bits paper do not always equate to a professional job..upgraded a few of my own houses over the years ...some of the trade practices of the original work were pretty slapdash. ( possibly done by the apprentice while the boss was off having a cuppa?)

some good downloadable bedtime reading here:Best Practice Guides - Electrical Safety First

We've got a couple of fluffy dogs , will they do?

Originally Posted by FatOne

Well, they are doing the electricals as we speak, so hopefully all will be well.

We live in hope, die in frystration...

FatOne - "fluffy" dogs x 2? That is a tuff one! After deliberation - 2 OK. 1 - NO! Why - ask the BKK "Fireman" - there ain't nuffin he don't know.

Few new pics in of progress, they are doing a nice job in the carport and verandah area

Same thing, different angle

Progress in the kitchen, in the foreground is the bench that will be a breakfast bar and sooner or later we will get someone to build in cupboards underneath.

And lastly the standard pic on every forum of the guys plastering getting ready to paint. At least there has been progress, the initial quote of 6 months last February is looking to blow out just a teensy bit! Not that it bothers me, gives me some time to save, and I won't be over there until next February anyway!

Thanks BB

Nuthin- no pics from SIL, wonder hat's happening if anything!

Originally Posted by FatOne

Nuthin- no pics from SIL, wonder hat's happening if anything!

FO - don't wonder; don't worry - be happy. If you cannot achieve this, then be sad!
Worse case scenario? SIL & b/f have made a take-over (invasion). At least, it is still in the family. Just think, they are happy! You - jai dee guy.

At last! Some more pivcs, mind you nuthin much happening, a bit of undercoat

A bit of a mess around the hall doorway where we got them to widen it.

A shot of the ceiling, maybe to show they are doing something

A pic looking into the back laundry area, showing they have built a bench with cupboard

Had a bit of fun yesterday, came home to pick up Kung and take her to work, and she was all of a dither, her SIL had told her that we needed to pay the builder b99k for the extension to the garage. ( remember we made the garage 2m longer than the plan, as we figured it wouldn't fit a decent sized car) She reckoned if he was charging b99k for that, then how much would he charge for all the other extras we were getting??? I worked out that we were paying about b8k per sq mtr for the whole house, so how could he charge b99k for an extra 12 sq mtrs??? Considering that 8k included plumbing, wiring etc. Anyway when she came home from work at about 9.30pm she rang the builder ( only 6.30pm in LOS) and he explained that wasn't just for the garage, it also included lots of other extras he had done, like the extra .5m overhang of the roof all around the house, the outside taps, the heightened kitchen cabinets etc etc. OK no probs, but wish the SIL would get it right. So we decided last night that we wouldn't have the money to do everything we wanted straight away, we could pay the 99k but she told him she wanted the house finished in a month. So we will just get normal glass sliding windows, and worry about flyscreens and stuff later. With some decent heavy curtains they should block out a fair bit of heat and noise, the cost difference for "safety glass" as double glazing is known in LOS was about 3 times the price. We are working strictly to a budget, just making payments as they are due, and when Kung goes to LOS at the end of next month we will lose her second stream of income.

Originally Posted by FatOne

A bit of a mess around the hall doorway where we got them to widen it.

"Bit of a mess?" I thought you had been reading my thread. I don't know what you would call all that stuff in and out of my house . . . "disaster" maybe? Your house looks neat as a pin by comparison.

Originally Posted by FatOne

So we will just get normal glass sliding windows, and worry about flyscreens and stuff later. With some decent heavy curtains they should block out a fair bit of heat and noise, the cost difference for "safety glass" as double glazing is known in LOS was about 3 times the price.

Probably a smart decision there. I was very surprised at the difference in price too. I'm going with curtains (next year, when I can afford them) as well. Hang in there!

Thanks Terps, it mostly comes down to money!

^

Yeah, I know THAT feeling...

Steve