wrote
Murmansk wrote

My Numatic Charles wet and dry vac, which hasn't
had much use, suddenly stopped working today
and gave off a burning smell. Now when I operate
the switch it'll run for about a quarter of a second.

I've ordered another, one but I wondered what might have
caused it - I though they lasted for years, must be unlucky.

I'd find out before binning it. It may be
something as simple as a switch - probably is.

Unlikely a switch failure would produce that symptom of
running for a quarter of a second every time its switched on.

More likely something else has failed and its shutting down
auto every time its turned on because of that other failure.