A contributor on a radio repair message board gave me permission to pass this on for this for posting. The GFCI recept in the first shot looks like charcoal:
-Sven

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Gosh, where was this photo when my kids were in junior high and had to make those drug awareness posters showing, "This is your brain . . . this is your brain on drugs?"

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As I discovered to my chagrin, the previous owner of this house had created an extra outlet in the garage with the aid of a length of cheap extension cord! That extra outlet happens to be the one that powers my workbench, including lights, soldering station, and a little space heater.

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This mess was hidden behind a water heater, so I never noticed where my workbench outlet wiring originated until the cord plug finally failed. I eliminated this outlet -- who needs one behind a water heater? -- and made it into a junction box.

I guess today's lesson is . . . never assume. Sheesh!

Phil Nelson