On Wed, 8 Oct 2008 03:30:31 -0700 (PDT), ransley wrote:

What caught fire its all metal. Google to see if those have a record
of catching fire. Replacing the element wont make it safe that is not
the cause, or what burned, you have to take it apart to find the
cause. For most it would not be worth the trouble. With a fire there
is likely hidden wiring that is fried.

Hi Ransley,

What irks me is I don't understand how this COULD have happened!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/donnaohl

I mean, it should be pretty simple, right? It's just a big resistor with
220v on one end pushing electrons through it.

Given it's such a simple circuit, I just can't comprehend how this fire can
happen. For example, there is a half-inch gap in the element as shown he
http://www.flickr.com/photos/donnaohl/2923845906/

My question, in general, is ...

Q: How can an open resistor arc to the oven metal and how can it arc even
when the switch is turned off and why didn't it blow a fuse if it really
was shorting and what possibly could have been burning when there is
nothing flammable?

How can all this possibly happen to a simple 220v resistor circuit?
It doesn't make any sense. That's why I'm asking here for answers!

Does anyone know the theoretical answer to this question?
Donna