Beauly Tandoori: the fault-finding behind a consumer-unit upgrade
Fitting a new consumer unit is more than replacing the box on the wall. At Beauly Tandoori, inspection and testing led us to a badly heat-damaged fused spur supplying the fan above the entrance.
What we found
On 26 October, we were replacing consumer units around the Indian restaurant in Beauly and carrying out inspection and testing alongside the work.
One ring circuit, previously operating on an MCB without RCD protection, was tripping the RCD during the upgrade. Investigation traced the issue to the fan’s fused connection unit.
The photographs show the damaged accessory: cracking in the faceplate and heat damage around the fuse-carrier area. We disconnected the damaged spur, allowing the remaining circuit to operate again. The action taken was disconnection—not a repair or replacement of the fan.
Why the testing matters
An MCB protects against overloads and short circuits. RCD protection responds to leakage-current imbalance—a different kind of fault. Neither is a detector for every possible overheating problem.
That is why inspection and testing matter alongside a board change. A circuit having worked before does not, by itself, tell us that every accessory connected to it is in good condition.
For this customer, tracing the problem meant the damaged connection could be taken out of service while restoring operation to the rest of the circuit.
Planning electrical upgrades or an inspection for a restaurant, shop or workplace around Beauly, Inverness or the Highlands? WhatsApp Caledonia on 07887 494968 with your postcode, premises type and a short outline of the work.
Technical references: IET — Which RCD Type? · BEAMA — The RCD Handbook, section 10.1.5