Home Electrical Guru's, step inside

[Wheeler]

I used a lamp. I doubled checked the wiring on one of the light switches and found were I had mismatched wires. It solved the main problem of not having power to the top outlet but I still can't get room Bs dimable light to come on.

Have you tried the dimmable lamp in an outlet taht you haven't touched? No offense intended but it's possible there's something wrong with the lamp.
Also, get a meter. You can pick up a decent one at Home Depot or Lowe's for around $30. If you're going to troubleshoot you need to be able to determine polarity. An easier alternative is one of the light up plug testers for around $6.

 

[harrycalahan]

Be sure to put the smoke back if you let it out. Then call Don.

 

[mhg]

Sounds like the dimmer is bad.
It only takes a miniscule short to burn the switch out.
Very easy to do if you had one wire out of position.
Also as stated get a cheap meter to check the switch.
Mike

 

[harrycalahan]

Sounds like the dimmer is bad.
It only takes a miniscule short to burn the switch out.
Very easy to do if you had one wire out of position.
Also as stated get a cheap meter to check the switch.
Mike

Could be. I smoked a $25 Leviton dimmer last year. All I heard was a click.

 

[gh1950]

AC/DC it's all electricity.

And it's going to return to ground one way or another.

Back to OP, meters are good and profession. Test lights made from a socket with a pigtail are better (not really, but they are good and cheap.) Plus you can test a switch across the room with a light.