Retractable Block heater extension cords...
 

Just saw this, and thought others might be interested...

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ProductDisplay/s-10101/p-8424/c-10101

Thanks for the link, it got me thinking about something on my "to do" list.
One of the things on my list to get before I drive back to Texas this winter is a long extension cord for the block heater. I wish I had one a few years ago when I tried starting the '79 NA 300TD (that was before I put a turbo engine in it) in 15 degree weather one morning in West Texas. I really ran the starter hard trying to get it to keep running, and blew hydro oil out one of the rear shocks when the seals let go :o
At the motel I was staying I saw people ran cords out of their rooms to their vehicles, mostly diesel pick ups BTW. I guess the management at some motels allows that so I am looking for something not too obtrusive yet at least 50 and maybe even 100 ft long. I don't want one of the heavy duty cords that is approved for contractors with bright yellow coloring. A two conductor green cord made for use with outdoor christmas lights is the best thing I have found. I wonder if the lack of a ground wire is too risky?

That JC Whitney retractible cord is kind of pricy but if I lived back East I would probably invest in one and install it permanently under the lower cowling or somewhere.

Hey, I like that...........................just what everyone with a diesel in the great white north needs. You never misplace your extension cord or drive off without it.

*bump* that thing is cool

no ground on a 3 prong plug plugging into a 2 prong non grounded female = eletrical code violation :)

its not TOO dangerous since the hot and neutral are isolated from the casing on the heater..

They make green extention cords for christmas time use with grounds :)
Besides those take the beating better than a 2 wire cord (usually crappy) will :)

blue cord better in extreme cold
 

I live in Minnesota and can tell you that you don't want anything other than a cold-rated blue cord for this purpose. The other cords become very stiff and will snap or shatter (not a good think) in extreme cold. The blue ones cost a little more but are certainly worth it. Make sure you buy one that is of a heavy enough gauge that can supply the amps you need.

Thats interesting.......never heard of cold rated cords before.......I have noticed they do get stiff in the cold weather. Maybe its that I am far enough south that I have never seen them.

I'll go look for a blue cold rated cord, but $100+ for 18 ft.?
I'm sure I can find a much longer cold rated cord. I've never had a problem losing the cord or damaging the car.

I'll second what deeph8 stated, get a blue winter rated cord. Whatever you do don't get a cord made by "Commercial Electric" and sold at Home Despot. They are crap, hard as rock and impossible to coil up in cold weather. My personal favorite is the "Yellowjacket" brand. Good quality and flexible in the cold. Lowes has them. They also come with an LED on the plug end to let you know they are live. I don't know how many amps a block heater pulls but get enough cord to handle it. Also for storage try www.cordpro.com They work well for shorter cords. RT

The stock block heater should pull about 2.85 amps, which isn't too bad. A 14 gauge would be fine, don't bother with a stiffer, more expensive 12 gauge, unless you are planning on using it for other things too. Oh, and you want that ground, trust me.

If you are as anal as me, you'll buy a GFCI outlet for 5$ and wire it up in the outlet that you are plugging the cord into, especially if its an internal outlet. An extension cord run from an indoor location to an outdoor location should always be on a GFCI outlet, for code reasons (I think, I'm not an electrician, I just play one on TV). GFCIs are cheap insurance, and better than a circuit breaker.

Cold rated cords don't have to be super expensive, just shop around a bit.

peace,
sam