Selenium rectifiers in Zenith radios

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by wa2ise

Maybe your house used Federal Pacific Electric stab-lok breakers, electricians call them "No-Trip". http://www.ismypanelsafe.com/fpe.aspx. Quality breakers should kick out immediately when a dead short happens.

There is no overcurrent device, even fuses, which is still the best overcurrent protection, there is. As long as the current rating of the overcurrent protection is not exceeded, it'll never open the circuit.
That's where, the new arc-fault circuit breakers, come into play! They're supposed to open, when it senses a arcing condition is present, as referred to, with the failure of the high current cord on the heating appliance.
That also could be traced to, back stabbed or loose receptacles, poor wire-nut connections, etc.
There has been problems, regarding oversensitive AFCI breakers, but that problems seems to be addressed.