Best Posts in Thread: Our life in their hands (Electrically speaking)

The electrical code here sort of follows the US/Canada codes more or less. Some exceptions seem to be breaking the hot and neutral with a double pole breaker.

One oddity is they use TW #12 AWG wire size/stranded good for 20 amps on all receptacles and feed it from a 20 amp breaker. Most receptacles are made to accept a #14 AWG solid conductor wire, good for 15 amps.
The problem there is the lager wire will not make a good connection if the receptacle has a push in type connection. GET SCREW TYPE CONNECTIONS and that problem is minimized.

GFI (ground fault interupter) or ELB (earth leakage breakers) should be used is the CR and kitchen areas. I don't think (?) this is part of the local code but is still advisable.

If you will have an electric oven, clothes dryer of water heater you should ask the electrician to review the installation once you have the devices and their rating is known.

Not all skilled trades are what they should be. One time I had to go to a friends place to show his Sparky how to wire a 3 way light switch.
Dear Shawn don't be offended by the name Sparky, sometimes it appropriate.

 

Jack,

I have 24 breakers in use, not including the main breaker. I split the circuits per US code with mostly 10 and 16 amp breakers. If you are worried I would recommend checking the amperage (clamp on ammeter) at each breaker when things are most in use. I went overboard on circuits and receptacles, but I know there will never be an issue in the future.

Shawn

 

I just finished our house in Siquijor and did the wiring myself which is completely grounded. I was told before we built that using a ground would involve more money for permits and for the electrician......say what? He wasn't supplying the wire or the plugs or anything else that would cost money that was in the info we received from the power company. Also found out there is a "barangay electrician and also a barangay plumber."

The baraygay plumber worked for us as a carpenter, good talented guy. When I found out he was "barangay plumber" I instructed him to do some plumbing....he told me he only did water meter connections and fixing leaks in plastic pipes. LOL I did the plumbing also.

Building this house in Siquijor where EVERYTHING including sand and stone must be shipped in was a nightmare....if I build again it won't be here and it will definitely be different.

 

Hi everybody,

We just fired our electrician for a very similar situation as above.

1) Following Shawn's advice and some searching, part of the arrangement was the use of GFCI receptacles everywhere (not just Kitchen, Bath, Laundry) with grounding available at every power outlet. Beyond the obvious safety aspects, UPS and AVR require grounding to work correctly / safely / accurate. Also purchased a grounding rod from Polaris instead of connecting to the rebar (as I saw somewhere). Shock / Horror - he installed 2 prong outlets everywhere (including the above rooms). He was major annoyed when he had to change them all - without pay.

2) Now we are at the stage of installing the grounding rod. He wants more money again. Asked him how he was going to ground everything - he just looked at me with that blank look on his face. Told him it was part of the deal originally - EVERYTHING GROUNDED.

3) Without pulling GFCI receptacle apart I mentioned I will have a GFCI tester coming next week and I intend to test every outlet. Not happy again - he wasn't.
Now I wonder why --- actually I know why.

They must really think we are all nothing but stupid foreigners.

So anyways - we now require the services of an electrician who is capable and is honest in his dealings with us.
There are still a few things to be completed (network cables, speaker cables, grounding, some outlets) but most has been completed (lights, fans, aircon, CCTV).

So should anyone be able to assist / advise / etc - please contact us here or send private message.

Thanks

 

It only takes a minute to figure things out and how to make it happen here, electrical is electrical; if you can't show the guys how to make it work then WOW...Sparky, nope not going to happen.

Shawn

 

You can get THHN stranded wire at Polaris, a bit more expensive than THW so you need to ask for THHN or they will assume you want THW; also the only place I found that carried green wire. The short lived electrician I had (fired pretty quickly after I got back) was adamant that the "inspectors" would demand #12 wire for all receptacle circuits...even if I was using 10 and 16 amp breakers (European DIN type panel). I ran #12 to the first receptacle and then changed to #14, every receptacle was pig tailed due to the type of universal receptacles (with USB chargers) that I ordered from China, so not the standard US style receptacle. BTW, I never had a single inspection by anyone on any part of the construction, did have someone stop by to ask the wife if we had paid for our building permit...not sure what that was about as they could just check their paperwork at the office.

GFCI receptacles are required by the Philippine electric code (a Google search and you can easily find their code in PDF for free download). I am not familiar with the Canadian code, but have heard it is very similar to the NEC. The Philippine electric code is almost the same as the NEC, to include chapter layout. It does require GFCI in bathrooms and kitchens, 20 amp branch circuits for kitchen appliances, etc. No one really follows it from what I have seen. As a seasoned electrician I changed breaker sizes as it is 240 VAC here and I had a pretty good idea on what we would actually be pulling per circuit.

I have yet to see a GFCI receptacle other than the high end hotels in Manila and have never seen one for sale, even in Manila. I went with GFCI breakers for the kitchen, bathrooms, exterior receptacles and the second floor.

Using 2-pole breakers where you are opening the neutral is against the NEC and makes no sense here other than they prefer not to use the neutral bus (or ground, but that is another thing that freaks me out). Like I said I used a European, DIN style panel because I like them, plastic construction and compact design. I have seen some DIN style panels with single pole breakers the last time I was at Polaris, so maybe someone is getting a clue.

I hate the term "sparky" and have never heard of another US electrician that would call themselves that, prefer to be called a wall or ceiling rat if it came down to having to accept a nickname. If I heard a local "electrician" called sparky I would not bat an eye as I have not came across one yet that would be qualified past carrying my tool bag. Not to sound harsh as I assume there are some good ones out there or the commercial buildings would not be going up, I just have not met one yet.

Sorry for the long post but can get long winded talking electrical or construction.

Shawn