Help! I've blown up my printer.

[N_GaugeModeller]

It was probably the cable in the mains lead that went bang, which was why changing the fuse made no difference.

I have some "Kettle Leads" that have such thin conductive wires that I doubt they could supply an amp let alone 13. Good old China and their high quality products on eBay

[Bealman]

Yes, I bought a mains powered signal generator from China, and there have been multiple reports of full mains voltage on the signal outputs! 

[Fardap]

It was probably the cable in the mains lead that went bang, which was why changing the fuse made no difference.

I have some "Kettle Leads" that have such thin conductive wires that I doubt they could supply an amp let alone 13. Good old China and their high quality products on eBay

Would also explain the lack of that lovely component burnt/blown smell that would surely have been reported initially.

[Adam1701D]

I know what to look for next time. Never realised the whole cable could blow out like that after changing the fuse about a dozen times.

[Fardap]

At least it was pretty much the cheapest option for failure though!

Cables do age and as mentioned some are better than others, never a good idea to go cheap where mains is concerned (not that I think you did) - but also kinks, bends and trapped cables can break down internally

[ntpntpntp]

I must admit I've never encountered a kettle lead failure.  All the ones I have for PC gear and guitar amplifiers etc. are thick and strong. 

[Malc]

I must have installed many hundreds of IEC leads and only had 2 or 3 failures. When I investigated by cutting into the moulded ends, it was the crimping on the socket that had failed.