Thread: German expat dies from electrocution while installing a fan

A German man has died from electrocution while he was installing a fan at his home in Nongprue today.


Captain Pinyaluck Sinworawiwat of the Nongprue Police was notified of the incident at a house in a housing estate in Nongprue at 2:00 P.M. this afternoon (January 29th).

Police, emergency responders and The Pattaya News arrived at the scene to find the body of a 68-year-old German man (The Pattaya News is withholding his name pending family and embassy notification.).


His body was found in the ceiling with wires around his legs. A ladder and various tools were found nearby. His body was pulled down from the ceiling by rescue staff.

His girlfriend, Ms. Jitta Chalard, 35, told Nongprue police, “I had warned him not to go up in the celling to install a fan inside a bathroom and wanted to call a handyman. He was insistent, however, that he could do it himself and save money.”

“He had already cut off the electric at the safety breaker box. While he was connecting wires, there were some sparks before he was electrocuted.” Jitta concluded.


A full autopsy is being conducted to determine the exact cause of death and the incident remains under investigation, Nongprue police added.

German expat dies from electrocution while installing a fan in the Pattaya area - The Pattaya News

^ RIP, he probably saved 200Bt

Jitta said she didn't realise he was still holding the wire when she turned the junction box back on.

Originally Posted by misskit

“He had already cut off the electric at the safety breaker box.

Interesting.

Originally Posted by misskit

“He had already cut off the electric at the safety breaker box. While he was connecting wires, there were some sparks before he was electrocuted.” Jitta concluded.

Rule number one: Always check the wires are dead/not live before touching them.

He could have bought a cheap electrical tester for 20 baht that could have prevented his death.

I wonder if he had an account at TD. Rip

Originally Posted by misskit

the body of a 68-year-old German

Originally Posted by misskit

His girlfriend, Ms. Jitta Chalard, 35

Gutten effort mein freund

The female copper in the picture has already posted that on her Facetube with the caption "Another silly farang".

Originally Posted by misskit (German expat dies from electrocution while installing a fan)

the body of a 68-year-old German

Originally Posted by misskit (German expat dies from electrocution while installing a fan)

His girlfriend, Ms. Jitta Chalard, 35

Looks like a setup. Asks her hubby to fix the electrical. Waits till hubby has hot wire in hand. Graceless Fawn take notes.

Originally Posted by Neverna

Rule number one: Always check the wires are dead/not live before touching them.

He could have bought a cheap electrical tester for 20 baht that could have prevented his death.

the problem is that if there were live circuits in the roof and he had only isolated the circuit he was working on - the insulation - TPS , thermo plastic sheath - can get brittle with old age

so him crawling about in the roof could well have exposed live wires

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

The female copper in the picture has already posted that on her Facetube with the caption "Another silly farang".

Of course she fukking did!

I had to jack-hammer a section of a wall out yesterday to fit a door.

As I had to contend with a few power points I had an electrician come in to disconnect the electric wires actually removing them from the wall internal piping.

Better safe then sorry.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Better safe then sorry.

Indeed mste, and you have a history for home accidents.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

I had to jack-hammer a section of a wall out yesterday to fit a door.

As I had to contend with a few power points I had an electrician come in to disconnect the electric wires actually removing them from the wall internal piping.

Better safe then sorry.

You would think thus yellows insulators you have on your feet, hands and head would had been enough security LOL

^

My "do-it yourself" record is not good.

On my way downstairs now to remove some more walls.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

^

My "do-it yourself" record is not good.

On my way downstairs now to remove some more walls.

Brick laying , angle grinding , jack hammering. Do you do handyman work on the side ?

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

^

My "do-it yourself" record is not good.

On my way downstairs now to remove some more walls.

I see where your problem is. You should have cut a couple of eye holes in your head bucket. LOL

Originally Posted by Backspin

Do you do handyman work on the side ?

No he sells pies.

Originally Posted by David48atTD

That 'pen' New showed

You prolly meant Nev since it is you who is New

Originally Posted by David48atTD

If the "safety breaker box" is the translation for an ELCB or circuit breaker for the 'Power' circuit, he turned the wrong circuit as 'usually' the fans are connected through the lighting circuit.

Daaaaaavveeee ... stop

of course your lighting and fans will be on the ELCB - the only things that may not be is if you have had the wiring done so fridges and freezers are on their own special circuit to stop them tripping and defrosting if it happened when you were away

any metal parts on an electrical device should be earthed - no ifs or buts

ELCBs are to protect people - earth wires are to conduct fault currents and trip circuit breakers to protect wiring and devices

Originally Posted by David48atTD

That 'pen' New showed is the basic standard for a 220/240 volt system.

those pens are banned on industrial sites because if the internals fail , then you could well end up conducting to ground more current than is required to light up some silly indicator

This old kraut probably thought the wiring was the same in Thailand as it is in the fatherland.

Originally Posted by baldrick

any metal parts on an electrical device should be earthed - no ifs or buts

if it is a class 1 device but not needed if it is a double-insulated class 2 device

yes , I understand double insulated , and the mark - but those are plug in and not connected via fixed wiring

even plug in devices if they have any external metal should have a 3 pin plug - I do not think I have seen any of those claim to be double insulated

Originally Posted by baldrick

even plug in devices if they have any external metal should have a 3 pin plug - I do not think I have seen any of those claim to be double insulated

most kitchen appliances have the double square mark, my Philips sandwich grill does and have a 2 pin plug.
Not to speak about all the home hifi appliances..

There is not much use in having a 3 pin plug if it fits into a 2 pin jack, that is one of many reasons why civilized countries requires that anything "home" should be class 2

Originally Posted by baldrick

Daaaaaavveeee ... stop

of course your lighting and fans will be on the ELCB

Different stokes for different folks ... or countries.

RCD Safety Switches are required by law to be fitted at the origin of the power and lighting circuits which will be at the main meter box or distribution board for the residence. They can be identified by the test button on the front of the device.
Since 2000 it has been compulsory for all new homes to have a minimum of two RCD Safety Switches fitted to protect the power and lighting circuits as part of the electrical installation. However, homes built before 2000 were not required to have two RCDs fitted and from 1992 to 1999 only one RCD was fitted, which will not ensure complete protection for your family. One RCD is likely to protect only the power circuits and leaves the lighting circuits unprotected.

RCD Electrical Safety Switches, what you need to know - Power Integration

We don't have a RCD/ELCB fitted to our lighting circuit, nor does our neighbour (we share the same box), nor does my rental property.

There was a Law introduced that residential dwellings without a RCD/ELCB fitted to the power circuit had to be fitted retrospectively ... but no law in relation to fitting one to the lighting circuit.

Heck, the Thai Farm House doesn't have any a RCD/ELCB fitted.