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[Rob <becida AT comcast.net>]

All this talk of water and power reminded me of a place in Michigan. They 
have a dam and store water on the cliffs above Lake Michigan, when power is 
needed (high use expensive times) they open the valve and water goes down 
the hill and makes the power. Close the valve when the electric 'extra' 
need is over.

I was thinking about James's water power calculations and his comments on 
voltage drop and such.
If you had the height to give the water enough head you could pipe it to 
where you needed the power. Open the valve and let the water go thru a 
convergent duct, the pressure could (I'm sure) be rigged to turn an 
automotive alternator. From there thru an inverter and you should have the 
power to run your planer. When you are done close the valve. Think of those 
diy generators powered with a small IC engine.
The water could be taken from a stream or a tank that was filled with a ram 
pump.



Rob

becida AT comcast.net
Western Washington State, USA