relative newbie here.
I was upgrading a light fixture and at the same time installing a dimmer switch. I accidentally purchased a 3-way switch instead of the required 2-way switch and my "helper" removed the "insulating sticker" that covers the pole used for the 3-way switch and I didn't notice.
I installed it, flipped the breaker back on and went to test out the light. When I did, I could almost immediately smell a faint burning smell (really bad smell). I went back, turned off the breaker, and pulled the switch back out. The extra pole had come in contact with the box.
I took it out, replaced the "insulating sticker" and screwed the pole in so it isn't sticking out.
Some questions.
- Is what I've done safe?
- Is that insulating sticker really the protection against something bad?
- Shouldn't the breaker have tripped if a "hot" pole came in contact with the grounded box?
- My wife can still smell the foul smell – does that smell linger or do I have a bigger problem?
Help!
Best Answer
You killed it, man!
The solid-state switching devices in dimmers tend to fry when the dimmer's output is shorted. Replace the dimmer, and this time, don't peel the insulating sticker off to avoid another short. The breaker may have tripped eventually, or it may not have; the good news is that what you did is OK for now as the smell is simply lingering as odors are wont to do.