Why Did My Power Cord Act Like a Fuse?It didn't act like a fuse.
The two current carrying conductors of the PC shorted together or the hot conductor shorted to the equipment grounding conductor and caused the dedicated branch circuit breaker to trip open due to the high current overload.
Aftermarket PC? A Listed Power cord?
*Made by a reputable manufacture?
*Do you by chance have the specs for the PC?
Wire size?
Type of insulation used for the current carrying conductors?
Make up of outer jacket?
*By chance can you provide a web link picture of the PC?
When you inspected the cable, any evidence the PC had been chewed on by a pet?
Any evidence the outer jacket of the PC, around the bad area, had been physically damaged in any way?
Jmho a power Surge did not cause the PC to fail.