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  1. #1
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    Where to buy earth stakes

    I know the subject of earthing has been done to death in this forum.
    The one thing I haven't found though is where to actually buy earth stakes.
    I have seen 1.8 meter ones in home pro but would prefer longer as I have about 2 meters of fill. Any one know where to get a nice long one from / what they are called in Thai so I can ask around.

    Also location wise I know moist is good so would the back of the bathroom where the shower run off is be good or would that be to wet. I have to rely on a multimeter checks as the electricians around here are crap so I would rather over engineer the earth.

    And last question any one got a table for the amparage the Thai cable can support seen lots for AWG but none for the Thai metric sq mm system that the cables are rated in.

  2. #2
    Member Thedogsbollix's Avatar
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    Jat-u-Jat has then in section 56.

    Go on Friday before the the weekend crowds.


    Thebollixs.

  3. #3
    Harbinger of Doom

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    They're called กราวด์หรอด (grao-rort) which is a Thai version of 'ground rod'. I remember seeing some in Thai Watsadu but no idea what size they were. Here's someone selling them online ÊØÇÔ·Âì¡ÒÃä¿¿éÒ : ¡ÃÒÇ´ìËÃÍ´ ª¹Ô´ËØéÁ áÅÐ ª¹Ô´ªØº [Powered by Weloveshopping.com] They seem to be selling wholesale and retail.

  4. #4
    Thailand Expat Slick's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by outdoorbloke
    I have seen 1.8 meter ones in home pro but would prefer longer as I have about 2 meters of fill. Any one know where to get a nice long one from / what they are called in Thai so I can ask around.
    Dunno what they are called in Thai but when I have this issue I just google an image on my phone and show the people. That usually takes care of it. And 1.8 is fine thats pretty long. Unless your fill dirt is floating away from the original dirt I got mine from home pro or something.

    Quote Originally Posted by outdoorbloke
    And last question any one got a table for the amparage the Thai cable can support seen lots for AWG but none for the Thai metric sq mm system that the cables are rated in.
    Surf around here. Should answer the basics.

    This is the Pathumthani

    Summary of Circuit Breaker and Cable Sizes

    The following shows the cables sizes for the appropriate circuit breaker;

    1.5 mm2 cable - 15 amp maximum circuit breaker.
    2.5 mm2 cable - 20 amp maximum circuit breaker.
    4 mm2 cable - 25 amp maximum circuit breaker.
    6 mm2 cable - 32 amp maximum circuit breaker.
    10 mm2 cable - 40 amp maximum circuit breaker.
    And in a wet area is ok. I drove mine sorta right by the concrete rings used for the septic system. No problems.

  5. #5
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by outdoorbloke
    any one got a table for the amparage the Thai cable can support seen lots for AWG but none for the Thai metric sq mm system that the cables are rated in.
    This may be of use.

    Wire Gauge Converter - AWG versus square mm

    Quote Originally Posted by outdoorbloke
    Any one know where to get a nice long one from / what they are called in Thai so I can ask around.
    Global House if one near you. I got a 2 meter there but years back.

  6. #6
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    Yes Global House sells Ground Rods, I was there the other day. Placement in a damp area is best. It does rain here half the year so really no worries on most placement spots.

  7. #7
    Thailand Expat VocalNeal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by outdoorbloke
    I have about 2 meters of fill.
    Do you mean 2m of soil fill or 2m of rubble . If 2m of soil fill then I wouldn't worry.

    To get below 2m of rubble you can always dig a 300mm or deeper hole then install a rod down to the bottom of the hole. Secure the ground wire and fill in the hole.

    Or you could install more than one rod , more than 6ft apart, to create a network.

    Quote Originally Posted by outdoorbloke
    Also location wise I know moist is good so would the back of the bathroom where the shower run off is be good or would that be too wet.
    Perfect. It doesn't have to be soaking, just damp to be ideal. So to one side of the puddle!
    Better to think inside the pub, than outside the box?
    I apologize if any offence was caused. unless it was intended.
    You people, you think I know feck nothing; I tell you: I know feck all
    Those who cannot change their mind, cannot change anything.

  8. #8
    I'm in Jail

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    I was considering going vegan after watching that poor girl cry over her chicken.

    Thought earth steaks just might be the ticket that grounds me on it then.

  9. #9
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    Well to answer my own question found 10ft earth stakes in Thai watsadu for 370 baht

  10. #10
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by outdoorbloke
    Well to answer my own question found 10ft earth stakes in Thai watsadu for 370 baht
    Well done. 3 meters should do it.

  11. #11
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    also any one got some opinions on the schneider electric stuff it's the more expensive of the options and a we'll known brand. Is it worth the money or is there a Thai brand that is just as good

  12. #12
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    Any metal that doesn't rust and is rod shaped will work.

  13. #13
    Thailand Expat Slick's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by outdoorbloke
    schneider electric
    This is what I used for the breaker panel/consumer unit. My last one had (if I recall correctly) 16 knock outs + RCBO + Main. Was the larger one I could find. Had a built in buss bar for earthing.

    Used their outlets & switches & dimmers as well.

    The Thai brand consumer units are OK I guess, but I would use the schneider electric brand switches & outlets.

  14. #14
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by outdoorbloke
    any one got some opinions on the schneider electric stuff
    Don't know much about schneider. All my switches and sockets Panasonic. 13 years with no probs.

  15. #15
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    I was thinking of getting the Schneider Electric Panel as well. Looks like one of the better quality units here.

  16. #16
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    Gents, in other parts of the world, ground (or earth) rods normally come in 1.8m lengths, and preferably solid copper. But they are threaded at both ends, and you buy a coupling to screw the lengths together .. and you buy a screw on pointy piece, and a screw on piece that you whack with a sledgehammer .. when you knock the rod in to ground level, unscrew the whacking piece, screw the next length on with a coupler, screw on the whacking piece. and carry on. The general idea is the the resistance to earth of the rod is equal to or less than 1 ohm. If you get into the water table, even better. If the resistance of a single rod is more than 1 ohm, knock in a second one about 2 metres away, and join them together with some 10 to 16 sq mm wire. Jubilee clips will work to fix the wire and rod together at a push. That gets you a good solid earth connection for the RCBO to work with. A UK company called furse have a catalogue online for all this earthing (grounding) stuff so you can see how it goes together.

    Oh, and for God's sake, please make sure that all the electrical equipment is properly earthed (grounded).

    European Schneider is good equipment, I would hope that the Thai Schneider is similar.

    Stay safe.

    My reference ... I'm an electrical engineer on an oil refinery in the sandpit.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by outdoorbloke View Post
    Well to answer my own question found 10ft earth stakes in Thai watsadu for 370 baht
    Good job Buddy; 10 feet should get you to permanently moist earth for a good return. Driving the rod in a damp area is even better

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by SandMike View Post

    Oh, and for God's sake, please make sure that all the electrical equipment is properly earthed (grounded).
    Showers in Asia -with water heaters- scare me to death; however, the closest I've come to being electrocuted was in Guatemala. One of those water heaters/shower nozzle combinations...

  19. #19
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    Ended up going with a 2.2 meter one from the local shop as I didn't have a big enough car to get the 3 meter one home from watsadu.

  20. #20
    Thailand Expat Slick's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by outdoorbloke
    Ended up going with a 2.2 meter one from the local shop as I didn't have a big enough car to get the 3 meter one home from watsadu.
    lol it should be fine, but after installation, you can do like SandMike says and check the resistance with an Ohm meter/DVOM if you are really concerned about it.

    I had just one regular sized one for the whole house driven by the septic tank and it was just fine. Wired into the consumer unit's earth bar, I used that one earth stake to earth everything and used a single main RCBO.

    Promise you thats gonna be better & safer than 99% of most home installations here.

    I debated driving one for each hot shower and giving them all their own, but decided its overkill & kinda pointless.

  21. #21
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    Also multiple earths can be dangerous potential difference and all that jazz. You are only allowed one earth in Australian standards. Which consumer unit did you go with

  22. #22
    Thailand Expat Slick's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by outdoorbloke
    Which consumer unit did you go with
    Dont remember the model number and that house is sold but it was the biggest square d consumer box I could find. I want to say it had something like 16 or 20 knockouts and was bare. Just the box and buss bars & stuff in it. Then I bought all the MCB's, Main Breaker, RCBO etc.. Pieces separately, but at the same shop. All square d brand.

    The 'fully loaded' ones didnt have the right breakers & amount of circuits + spare knockouts so I went that route. Its been about 3 years now, so they might have more options available.

  23. #23
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    Yeah I went the square d as well pea told me I have to have an RCB not sure if they will let me have each circuit as an rcbo like I want or if I have to have a main rcbo which I don't really want

  24. #24
    Thailand Expat Slick's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by outdoorbloke
    Yeah I went the square d as well pea told me I have to have an RCB not sure if they will let me have each circuit as an rcbo like I want or if I have to have a main rcbo which I don't really want
    I don't normally recommend ThaiVisa Forum for anything but trolling, but their electrical forum has a mod there named Crossy and he's pretty legit, along with 2-3 other posters in there. For real technical/PEA Specific questions I recommend him in the Electrical Forum. If you create a thread, he will answer. They are pretty helpful up in there. Im pretty sure he made this site too:

    The Thailand Wiring Page

    And it answers most everything as well.

  25. #25
    Thailand Expat lom's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by VocalNeal
    To get below 2m of rubble you can always dig a 300mm or deeper hole then install a rod down to the bottom of the hole. Secure the ground wire and fill in the hole.
    The joint between wire and rod will corrode if down in the ground.
    The joint should always be above ground level so it can be inspected (every 2 year minimum) and should be protected by vulcanizing tape.

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