It is very common for people who want to have electricity at a location, where there isn't any, to use an extension cord to get it there. We all have extension cords. Extension cords are very handy. We have them for the electric lawn mower, the Christmas lights, the weed whacker, and to run power tools in the kid's tree house (and to later provide permanent power to the tree-house television).
We run them to the block-heater on the old Mercedes Diesel----so the dang thing will start when it is 10 degrees outside.
They only become a problem when we decide to make them permanent----like under the asphalt driveway.
How about when we run the cord up the downspouts, around the house through the gutter, and down another downspout to the artificial frog spurting water into the pond? (In this case the pond was being fed by the downspout extension.) Another example is to permanently install the cord to supply power to the overhead garage door opener or around the inside of the garage to the refrigerator (duct-taped to the floor at the doorway of course).
Extension cords are designed to be in "free-air."
In other words, when we bury them in dirt, paint them to the baseboard, or run them under carpets, they can no longer cool themselves as they are designed to do. In effect they become "undersized for the circuit they are installed on. Did you ever notice that most of these cords are smaller gauge wire than the circuit they are installed on? The only reason you can get away with this is that they are in "free air," and are allowed to be a smaller gauge. When we restrict this air flow we get overheating. Overheating leads to melting. Melting leads to the neutral wires and hot wires coming in contact with each other----"bad electrical juju." Very unpleasant odors, and even flames are common when this happens.
Here is a recent picture of an improper use of an extension cord. I would like to think this would NOT look OK to anyone.
Charles Buell
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)
all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Click on the Rose 
to check out: AHA!---A Forum of Landmark Proportions---your Group
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)
all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
My WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures and some selected POEMS & STORIES.
You probably have the more professional approach. I use a flasklight. Maybe that's why I'm broke ?
Clark
Orlando, Fl.
c.blome@hotmail.com
Howcome it isn't duct taped to the wall? That would be classier! It is amazing the places I see extension cords!
Wow.... beside the obvious problem of running the cord through the window, the other OBVIOUS problem appears to me is that the window must not have a very good seal if it can accomodate an extension cord that size in its current location.
Sean Allen
Charles, you always amaze me with the problems you find! Do you mind if I link to you in my newsletter this week? This post on the extention cords is priceless!
The only thing that would make this any better, would be if it was on an aluminum framed window instead of the vinyl one. LOL
Clark, flashlight GOOD---will that get the Mercedes going?
Courtney, yes, the duct tape missing would be an additional defect:)
Sean, all you have to do is "SLAM" it hard enough!
Lizette, link away
Kevin, you are so right---and then add aluminum siding connected to aluminum gutters connected to the inspectors aluminum ladder. Very exciting!
Looks fine to me (kidding).
Where's uncle fester when you need him.
While were on the subject of electricity... I recently read in a book that Ben Franklin was unsure of how his lightening rod experiments (you know the kite, key, add electricity presto!)were going to work out so he had his son try it out first without any spectators once it was found to have worked he then made the demonstration himself in front of spectators.
Klee, tying it to the dog or cat would have been a better approach than to the kid:)
OMG! How many times have I seen that one. I don't understand why people fool around with one of the things that will kill them...
Charlie - How did you know I just called an electrician to install a new outlet for my washer? I reconfigured the lay-out of my laundry room 2 years ago and have been using an extension cord ever since....I had good intentions, just slow to act. The electrician's estimate sits on my counter - he was out last week. So, now you've reminded me to take the next step and schedule it!
Charles,
You obviously haven't seen the new window frame heater. When that baby shorts the window, and everything around it will be roasting.
Great post and great reminder to everyone. I seem to call this out the most often in Garages. Thanks for sharing.
Michael, job security takes many forms.
Carol, better go call the electrician----well probably too late today if you haven't done it already:)
James, I just LOVE those-----do you think they will get all trendy and then go out of fasion?
Joseph, yup----tons of extension cords in garages---right up there with the 47 plug strips plugged into each other under the computer.