Extension Cords Hard to Find Now

[semperfiguy]

Yesterday I was shopping for one of those cheap extension cords with a 10 meter long cord, and I couldn't find one in Big-C or Amarn Electric downstairs. In the past one could find them by the truckload in either of those places. I was told to go to Big Lots Hardware on Nittayo Road down from Big-C, so today I went by and their selection was extremely limited to only the better brands which were pretty expensive. My guess is the government finally cracked down on those cheaper brands since they are so flimsy and dangerous. I can only imagine how many house fires and market fires and electrocutions it had to take before the government finally took some action. That's what scares the crap out of me when I shop at the night markets around Thailand. All the extension wires laying across the walkways are nothing but a death trap, and nobody seems to pay them any attention even when it's raining or they're laying in a puddle of water. Be careful out there guys!

[Giggle]

All part of the charm of living in a third-world paradise.

[kopkei]

why not by good cable and plugs to assemble your own extension cord? i always do this ,
never had problems with them ...

[Drunk Monkey]

why not by good cable and plugs to assemble your own extension cord? i always do this ,
never had problems with them ...

Yes .. i bought a roll of good quality rubber coated cable and some strong out door sockets and made my own to use in garden.

I was led to believe all out door sockets and those in bathrooms kitchens etc should be ran thru an RCBO breaker in the fuse box which offer greater protection in use and against the chance of water ingress.

DM

[the-monk]

I agree with you, make your own with quality components. The other day i was going to make an extension cord, i went to Global House and Thai Watsadu to find 3-prong plugs like the one shown, but i got the BO ME... Where to get them ? Thanks Have a pleasant SAFE evening.
[attachment=0]plug.jpeg[/attachment]

[RLTrader]

It seems that all the big places like Global House sell some quality cords in different lengths, but all are really 2 wire, even though they will accept 3 wire plugs. I have made some, but just not the same.

[sometimewoodworker]

why not by good cable and plugs to assemble your own extension cord? i always do this ,
never had problems with them ...

Yes .. i bought a roll of good quality rubber coated cable and some strong out door sockets and made my own to use in garden.

I was led to believe all out door sockets and those in bathrooms kitchens etc should be ran thru an RCBO breaker in the fuse box which offer greater protection in use and against the chance of water ingress.

DM

The current regulations from the PEA require the whole house to be protected by an RCBO. AFIK there has never been a requirement just for the areas you list in Thailand. That is a requirement for the USA.

However anyone who wants to be safer should retrofit their house with an RCBO as older installations often don't have one.

[glalt]

The small village shop near where I live has several different sizes of three wire cable and the grounded three prong plugs. I make mine to what ever length I want. Those cheap ones you buy with a three prong plug and receptacle that use two wire cable should be illegal.

[bluejets]

The small village shop near where I live has several different sizes of three wire cable and the grounded three prong plugs. I make mine to what ever length I want. Those cheap ones you buy with a three prong plug and receptacle that use two wire cable should be illegal.

Many items one buys these days are double insulated and no earth required.
In fact should never be earth referenced.
Hence no requirement for any earth pin.
As a quick example , plug pack for the phone charger.
Obviously the 2 core extensions should be banned. Single insulation and no earth.

[sometimewoodworker]

The small village shop near where I live has several different sizes of three wire cable and the grounded three prong plugs. I make mine to what ever length I want. Those cheap ones you buy with a three prong plug and receptacle that use two wire cable should be illegal.

Many items one buys these days are double insulated and no earth required.
In fact should never be earth referenced.
Hence no requirement for any earth pin.
As a quick example , plug pack for the phone charger.
Obviously the 2 core extensions should be banned. Single insulation and no earth.

Nothing wrong with an extension with 2 core cable, as long as there is a 2 pin plug and 2 pin socket.

I completely agree that a 2 core cable with a 3 pin plug and sockets should be banned.

[glalt]

Two of my extension cords are for a rice mill, drill press, bench grinder, power washer and an air compressor. I feel a lot better having that third ground wire.

My desktop Dell computer was shocking me. I put in a grounding stake and the computer case is wired directly to it. No more shocks.

[bluejets]

[/quote]

Nothing wrong with an extension with 2 core cable, as long as there is a 2 pin plug and 2 pin socket.


[/quote]

Well, actually there is.
As I pointed out ,only single insulation.

[sometimewoodworker]

Nothing wrong with an extension with 2 core cable, as long as there is a 2 pin plug and 2 pin socket.

Well, actually there is.
As I pointed out ,only single insulation.

There are very few, if any, premade extension cables that are not double insulated even the cheapest.

It is now quite difficult to find multi strand cable that is single insulated.

It is far more important to buy cables that have copper cores rather that copper coated steel or copper coated aluminium

So I stand by my statement that 2 pin and socket extensions on 2 core cable are perfectly safe and acceptable.

Certainly buying the cheapest extension you can is a poor idea as there are few regulations ensuring quality products

[fdimike]

High quality plugs like those pictured in Monk's post are available at Tool Pro Plus on the Ring Rd and Seritom electrical supply downtown on Makang Rd just north of Prajak Rd.

[BillaRickaDickay]

While we have the-monk's Plug picture to hand, I've often wondered why the flat pin Plugs have holes drilled in the pins, I've used the holes myself to piggy back another cable onto the plug when I've run short of plugs or been too lazy to fit one. There must be another sensible, safer reason for having them?

[ajsp9]

I’ve brought several from the UK and use them alongside an adapter. Works for me

[bluejets]

So I stand by my statement that 2 pin and socket extensions on 2 core cable are perfectly safe and acceptable.

Just goes to show you know nothing about electrical application.
The first thing that most would do presented with a 2 core cable/plug socket arrangement would be to cut or remove the earth pin as it won't fit the extension lead.
I've seen it happen many times when a 15A lead is presented up to a 10A socket because "that's all they have at the time".
Same applies when they present the same 3 pin extension to any 2 pin outlet, which should be banned into the bargain.

Modifying the facts to suit your particular application because it is more convenient just doesn't cut it.

[Bonanza]

I admit that I know nothing about electrical wiring. However, if you have a three pin plug with a three core wire doesn't the three hole socket in the wall actually have to have a wire leading to earth for the thing to be safe?

If the main socket isn't correctly earthed then a three wire extension is no safer than a two wire extension?

Most of the local (older) houses that I have seen don't appear to be earthed at all.

Can a proper electrician please comment.

[bluejets]

I admit that I know nothing about electrical wiring. However, if you have a three pin plug with a three core wire doesn't the three hole socket in the wall actually have to have a wire leading to earth for the thing to be safe?

If the main socket isn't correctly earthed then a three wire extension is no safer than a two wire extension?

Most of the local (older) houses that I have seen don't appear to be earthed at all.

Can a proper electrician please comment.

Exactly correct which is why I said the 2 pin outlet should go on the list of banned items.
Biggest problem is, if change ever comes, it will be in dribs and drabs.
Although not the be-all-end-all, having the safety cutout is the best interim result.
The more in an installation, the better.
Reason for the latter is circuit protection breaker types and ratings which I won't go in to here as most would simply not understand.

Your request for a "proper electrician" in Thailand though would be presented with many and varied "hand up" response as many consider whatever time "they've played electricity" as being a qualification of some kind.
Whereas they are probably the most dangerous as they simply cannot be told.
The cheap charlie scenario also tends to kick in something terribly.

And yes, fully qualified here, with many endorsements.

[sometimewoodworker]

So I stand by my statement that 2 pin and socket extensions on 2 core cable are perfectly safe and acceptable.

Just goes to show you know nothing about electrical application.

No, it just goes to show that you should read and understand before making assumptions.

The first thing that most would do presented with a 2 core cable/plug socket arrangement would be to cut or remove the earth pin as it won't fit the extension lead.

How can you cut off something that isn't there? Hint 2 pin plug, socket & cable extra bonus hint, no Earth pin to cut off.

A perfectly safe 2 pin plug, socket & cable being used for double insulated items. Not designed to be used for items that require an earth.

Safe 2 core, 2 pin plug, 2 pin socket extension

I've seen it happen many times when a 15A lead is presented up to a 10A socket because "that's all they have at the time".
Same applies when they present the same 3 pin extension to any 2 pin outlet, which should be banned into the bargain.

I've never said that any of that is sensible

Modifying the facts to suit your particular application because it is more convenient just doesn't cut it.

Cherry picking and ignoring points that are there for everyone to see does not help you claim to knowledge either.

Post number 10

I completely agree that a 2 core cable with a 3 pin plug and sockets should be banned.