Why Do Sellers Usually Include A Photo Of The Fusebox

[Nereus]

I know Nereus is an expert in electricity

No, I am not an “expert” in anything. I did serve a 5 year apprenticeship in the electrical industry, followed by several years of post trade night school studies in marine engineering. I still hold an “A Grade” West Australian electrical workers licence, but no longer hold a “Contractors” licence. I have worked extensively on American systems and equipment, from 12 Volt automotive systems up to 4160 Volt AC systems, generators, distribution and control systems, big industrial variable speed drives with SCR controls, etc., but not house wiring per se.

if the Australian standard of building (wiring not in conduits and small breaker panels) is true and similar to Thai typical Thai construction, then as far as I'm concerned the building trade Australia is a second world.

That’s the sort of statement I would expect from a couple of other egotistical forum members, not from you that always has something sensible to contribute. Where did I say that Australia does not use small breaker panels?

All of that is on a single "consumer unit" with maybe 10 breakers, and is single phase, with a 30/100 amp supply. That's how it was built before I bought the house. It should never have been done like that, but is a perfect example of what goes on here. In Australia the supply authority would not connect such an installation.

In all the U.S. homes I owned (a few) built since 1980, a breaker box similar to the photos I posted was present, and all (modern) homes are required as far as I know to have all wiring (mine all did, even the ones built in the '60s) run inside conduit of some sort.

Please take a look at this link. I am not saying that ALL houses in the US use this method, as I simply don’t know, but according to what I read it is common practice.

http://homerenovations.about.com/od/ele ... omexnm.htm

The difference is that in Australia electricians (and plumbers ?) have to pass exams and be licenced and registered before they can seek employment. If they don't follow the laid down regulations and cut corners they risk losing their job.

And it goes much further than that. Not only the electrician has to be licensed, a separate licence as a contractor has to be obtained, which also includes provision of $1 Million Dollars of public risk insurance in case you stuff up.

The SAA Wiring rules are extensive and enforced across the entire country to the same standard. NZ also uses the same set of rules. ALL new installations have to be inspected, tested and approved before the supply authority will connect the power. The contractor is required to show calculations to prove that a proper load calculation, amongst other requirements, was carried out.

This is in contrast to the NEC (National Electrical Code) in the US that provides a set of GUIDELINES, not rules, which are open to both abuse and interpretation by local authority jurisdiction. Maybe not completely a bad thing, but there are no uniform regulations, and it therefore follows that there is no uniform standard. (do not confuse the NEC with UL listings, which is an entirely different standard)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Electrical_Code

Without being a smart arse, or putting shite on anyone, consider this: The US has a system where the “active” or ‘live” conductor is referred to as the “HOT” conductor. I was taught that in any electrical system if a conductor is “hot”, then it is probably overloaded or otherwise faulty!

They then go on, in most cases, to designate the colour (color) of this conductor as BLACK, the universal, world wide, colour for DEAD! Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
I have worked with multi-cored US cables where ALL the conductors were coloured black, with microscopic writing on them claiming, red, white, blue, etc.

Like the cost of living thread, it all depends on your expectations, and I gather that people from my country expect a little better quality construction (and life in general) than people from others according to what the experts here have to say.

In the context of this thread “expectations” have nothing to do with it. The comments being made concern the lack of rules, and basic safety regulations, in connection with electricity in particular. Construction methods is something else entirely.

I am not against the use of conduit for house wiring, but if anyone believes that insisting on its use is going to magically overcome all the other shortcomings encountered in Thai electrical systems, then they are sadly mistaken.

One simple example: please enlighten me how to connect a simple light fixture, such as a “down light” so that ALL the wiring is protected by conduit. If all the wiring is not enclosed, then perhaps you had better put a sign on it (in Thai), asking the rats to refrain from chewing on that exposed section. Ever had a look where there IS conduit and Somchai has not bothered to put the cover on a junction box, or has lost one of the screws and the lid is laying wide open? Makes an ideal place for a nest for some enterprising rat!

In commercial systems, very often overseen by a foreign contractor I might add, metal conduit with the addition of flexible sections run into metal junction boxes that are part of the fixture or appliance, are used. But this requirement has more to do with fire regulations, than keeping the rats out.

Sorry to go on so long, and sorry to Big Boy as your thread seems to have been highjacked.

[hhfarang]

Sorry Nereus, but I thought you were implying here

HHF photos are commercial type 3 phase "load centres", most unlikely to be found in a house

that what I have in my home is only used in commercial applications, and from my neighbors homes, homes I've owned in the U.S., and now Pete's home near Pattaya, that seems not to be the case. I was also just saying that imho (I'm certainly no expert) wiring should be in conduit wherever possible (I understand the problem with termination at downlights), but a chewed break near the end like that is much easier to find and repair than a chewed break somewhere in the middle of a line running to many appliances or outlets.

Also, meant no offense towards building standards in your country, but when you said the above it just made me wonder. I've never seen any home without a load center panel similar to the ones I pictured since the 50"s in the U.S though admittedly there may be some just not in anything I've owned or my family or friends (in cases where I saw the panel, usually very evident in the garage wall). I just think, and have learned this the hard way many times here, that a little overkill in construction may be better in the long run that cutting corners.

And I wasn't being facetious calling you an expert... certainly, from prior posts on here I do consider you an expert in electricity. All I know about it is that it hurts as it goes through your body.

At any rate, no offense was meant in previous posts and my apologies if they were taken that way. I just like to help to keep people from making construction or property purchase mistakes here that they will regret later.

[Nereus]

At any rate, no offense was meant in previous posts and my apologies if they were taken that way. I just like to help to keep people from making construction or property purchase mistakes here that they will regret later.

You do not need to apologise for anything, HHF. I did not take offense at your comments, was just rather surprised at the way you put them. I know where you are coming from, and believe me, after being associated with this country for over 20 years, you very rarely post anything that is not 100% correct. (just watch out for those "hot" wires).

[Coldmike]

Electric codes in the US vary city by city. Nereus is right that Romex cable is allowed in many cities for whole house wiring. Some, Chicago included, still require metal conduit and the main reason that I've been told is not safety, but job security for union electricians that are skilled in running conduit (Romex is MUCH easier to install than conduit). Most commercial situations still require metal conduit with allowable flexible runs to light fixtures, mainly as a fire safety requirement. Nails into walls usually glance off conduit, but can penetrate romex easily.

Mice and rats will find tiny openings to nest in or feast on wire insulation, and PROPERLY laid conduit or Romex should equally deter the situation I encountered with the pest entering the circuit box. Mine was more a case of lazy installation with unacceptable openings into the box.

In the US we have inspectors for hire that can check everything including circuit breakers before you buy a house, but I'm not aware of any such service in Thailand. It would be useful if it could be trusted.