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Re:Xerox 914 by comprambler on Friday September 30, 2022 @08:05PM (#33042323)
As I understand it, the xerographic assemblies in copiers are charged to comically high voltages. The early power supplies were likely of inefficient design and magic smoked/fire a lot.
Re:Xerox 914 by Animats on Friday September 30, 2022 @09:11PM (#33042781)
No, the high voltage was at very low current, just used to put an electrostatic charge on the selenium drum. Fires came from the fuser, where the toner is fused to the paper with heat. Paper jams could cause scorched paper and potentially a fire. Thermal fuses, switching from radiant heat to a hot roller, and lower melting point toner fixed that in laser printers.[1]

[1] https://www.wired.com/2015/03/whats-inside-printer-toner/