Starting a new topic on this as it is an increasing problem that isnt going to go away.
There have been three power outages this week, and very patchy internet services. One explosion was so loud that the windows rattled.
The power situation is going to get much worse - there are about five new cheap housing developments going up within a kilometer - and they'll all be sucking juice down the same crappy cables from the same inefficient transformers.
Power/electric supply problems in Suan Luang
Re: Power/electric supply problems in Suan Luang
Think great idea to start and track....
when you say "housing developments" do you mean multi-house developments, or things like someone building a house (guilty....)?
when you say "housing developments" do you mean multi-house developments, or things like someone building a house (guilty....)?
Re: Power/electric supply problems in Suan Luang
Also---How is your Solar experiment going...you can PM me if you want, but I'd be really interested....
I fear it may be something I have to integrate into the homestead as well.....
I fear it may be something I have to integrate into the homestead as well.....
Re: Power/electric supply problems in Suan Luang
Developments - which means ten or more small, cheaply built houses squeezed into a rai or two of land. They're sprouting up like mushrooms around here and there are no upgrades to the power supplies.
Met with the solar firm on Saturday, was told it was all modular and easy to expand so will be starting off with just the 'office' to keep the computers, modem, and a few fans online and better protected when it goes out. They have done a few installations in Ban Krut which has similar power problems apparently.
They did say one thing - when you're wiring the house make sure circuits/rooms are all separated onto different breakers (which ours is - Thai style electrics usually bundle it all on to one or two to save money), this makes adding solar for specific parts of the house much easier, and they won't have to add new wiring.
Will post updates here.
Met with the solar firm on Saturday, was told it was all modular and easy to expand so will be starting off with just the 'office' to keep the computers, modem, and a few fans online and better protected when it goes out. They have done a few installations in Ban Krut which has similar power problems apparently.
They did say one thing - when you're wiring the house make sure circuits/rooms are all separated onto different breakers (which ours is - Thai style electrics usually bundle it all on to one or two to save money), this makes adding solar for specific parts of the house much easier, and they won't have to add new wiring.
Will post updates here.
Re: Power/electric supply problems in Suan Luang
Another day, another outage.
They're getting shorter - but much more frequent, four in seven days now, and today its been off three times already.
They're getting shorter - but much more frequent, four in seven days now, and today its been off three times already.
Re: Power/electric supply problems in Suan Luang
what are your durations like--in terms of how long they stay off?
Just some anecdotes......
Thinking about UPS sizes for some of the Office stuff.
Good luck man!
Just some anecdotes......
Thinking about UPS sizes for some of the Office stuff.
Good luck man!
Re: Power/electric supply problems in Suan Luang
Usually around two hours per explosion, maybe less - they are getting a little quicker which they bloody should be fixing the same thing three times a week.
Either way, it is far too long for any standard $100-$150 UPS to run for as they last about 15 minutes - plus the constant beeping would drive you insane. They are essentially just surge protectors and backup devices, not designed to keep equipment running for hours. Unless they're for a server then expect to pay $$$ and have your batteries wear out quickly, in which case you would need extra batteries!
It looks like solar for the entire house will not be viable due to costs so I'm now looking at smaller kits just to keep the power on for the daily blackout.
Either way, it is far too long for any standard $100-$150 UPS to run for as they last about 15 minutes - plus the constant beeping would drive you insane. They are essentially just surge protectors and backup devices, not designed to keep equipment running for hours. Unless they're for a server then expect to pay $$$ and have your batteries wear out quickly, in which case you would need extra batteries!
It looks like solar for the entire house will not be viable due to costs so I'm now looking at smaller kits just to keep the power on for the daily blackout.
Re: Power/electric supply problems in Suan Luang
Two more outages this week - coinciding with the rain. Seems like we are going to get an early and prolonged wet season this year so those blackouts will increase in frequency.
Solar kit ordered yesterday - will be experimenting with the DIY option first since quotes for the whole house are off the chart.
Solar kit ordered yesterday - will be experimenting with the DIY option first since quotes for the whole house are off the chart.
Re: Power/electric supply problems in Suan Luang
Here in Ban Krut, the power situation is similar. We also have multiple outages per week.
And it is also from PEA Bang Saphan.
Last month I had a 3.5 KWatt solar system installed, combined with a 3.5 KWH UPS.
During a power outage, we still have lights, water, fridge, TV, fans and internet.
And our electric bill for April 2021, was about 2000 baht less than April 2020.
And it is also from PEA Bang Saphan.
Last month I had a 3.5 KWatt solar system installed, combined with a 3.5 KWH UPS.
During a power outage, we still have lights, water, fridge, TV, fans and internet.
And our electric bill for April 2021, was about 2000 baht less than April 2020.
Re: Power/electric supply problems in Suan Luang
Now that's good news...
Can you share some of what you did? where you got it? approx cost?
I'm very interested...it sounds like that is just about enough to keep things going during the
inevitable problems.....
PROMISING!
PM me or share here---appreciate any further insights
Can you share some of what you did? where you got it? approx cost?
I'm very interested...it sounds like that is just about enough to keep things going during the
inevitable problems.....
PROMISING!
PM me or share here---appreciate any further insights
Re: Power/electric supply problems in Suan Luang
Yes, please can you share some more details, company that installed it, costs, etc?
Our bill this month was 50% higher than last month - they seem to just pull the numbers out of a hat.
Our bill this month was 50% higher than last month - they seem to just pull the numbers out of a hat.
Re: Power/electric supply problems in Suan Luang
I have purchased my system from Solar Shop Hua Hin. ( www.solarshop-huahin.com )
The manager is Canadian, which makes negotiations more easy, at least for me.
The price for my configuration was approx 255 K.baht.
The manager is Canadian, which makes negotiations more easy, at least for me.
The price for my configuration was approx 255 K.baht.
Re: Power/electric supply problems in Suan Luang
Thanks, we also had a quote from them but it was considerably higher than that and beyond our budget at the time (which is closer to your figure).
Can you let us know some specs such as what your average bill (usage) was before, what size inverter, size and number of panels, and batteries. Do you run fully on solar now (off grid) or is it only for backup when the power goes out?
Can you let us know some specs such as what your average bill (usage) was before, what size inverter, size and number of panels, and batteries. Do you run fully on solar now (off grid) or is it only for backup when the power goes out?
Re: Power/electric supply problems in Suan Luang
I will not mention how much I was willing to spend a couple of months ago, when I stood in the shower covered with soap, when the lights went out and the water stopped.
I have an on-grid system, only some critical groups have been taken off-grid and are now behind the UPS, which has a capacity of 3.5 KWh. This should allow us to survive a power outage of about 5 hours.
Besides that, I have a solar system with 8 panels of 440 watts to save electricity and to help save the planet.
We are not putting electricity back to the grid, because it makes the meter run backwards, which is not allowed by the PEA.
The big consumers of electricity are devices that heat or cool.
So we try to spend most of the the electricity during the day.
- We are cooking electrical.
- The hot water boiler keeps hot water for more than 24 hours and is switched off during the dark.
- We use the airco during the day to cool the whole house.
- Only in the bedroom, we use airco in the night during these hot months..
Our most expensive months for electricity are April an May.
Last year April, the bill was over 4000 baht, this year just over 2000 baht,
If it were the same amount of days, I do not know. Also here the meter reading is not done on the same day of the month.
Our first experiences with the system are positive.
The first half of April, was quite sunny, but I still have to see how it behaves in the coming months, when it is more cloudy.
I have an on-grid system, only some critical groups have been taken off-grid and are now behind the UPS, which has a capacity of 3.5 KWh. This should allow us to survive a power outage of about 5 hours.
Besides that, I have a solar system with 8 panels of 440 watts to save electricity and to help save the planet.
We are not putting electricity back to the grid, because it makes the meter run backwards, which is not allowed by the PEA.
The big consumers of electricity are devices that heat or cool.
So we try to spend most of the the electricity during the day.
- We are cooking electrical.
- The hot water boiler keeps hot water for more than 24 hours and is switched off during the dark.
- We use the airco during the day to cool the whole house.
- Only in the bedroom, we use airco in the night during these hot months..
Our most expensive months for electricity are April an May.
Last year April, the bill was over 4000 baht, this year just over 2000 baht,
If it were the same amount of days, I do not know. Also here the meter reading is not done on the same day of the month.
Our first experiences with the system are positive.
The first half of April, was quite sunny, but I still have to see how it behaves in the coming months, when it is more cloudy.
Re: Power/electric supply problems in Suan Luang
Great info, thanks. Our home setup sounds similar but doesn't have a water pump running as it is gravity fed, and it only uses the a/c in the bedroom at night during the hot season. Bills fluctuate wildly from about 1,800 up to 3,000. I don't think the PEA wants people generating their own or feeding power back, it damages their profit margin and monopoly!
I've just looked at our solar quote again and the major difference is the batteries which are the most expensive part of the system as I was enquiring about off-grid.
My kit should be arriving this week. Initially, I only want to keep the 'office' powered during the outages as its damn annoying having to stop what you're doing and shut down the computers and internet for an hour or so every few days. The small setup should keep that powered and I'll expand it gradually to cover other appliances, its essentially just a big science experiment at the moment!
I've just looked at our solar quote again and the major difference is the batteries which are the most expensive part of the system as I was enquiring about off-grid.
My kit should be arriving this week. Initially, I only want to keep the 'office' powered during the outages as its damn annoying having to stop what you're doing and shut down the computers and internet for an hour or so every few days. The small setup should keep that powered and I'll expand it gradually to cover other appliances, its essentially just a big science experiment at the moment!
