Martini's Build Pre-Alpha...

[King_Martini]

Hi all!

First time poster, n00bler and all that shhhtuff...

First of all, thanks to everyone who has posted and provided such a great resource. You have all taken this particular DIY subject and turned it into a viable and cost efficient end result. It is however rather scattered.

My goal is to build a projection setup with only a RCA video in.
I want to project approx. 50" wide at 17' away from the wall/screen with moderate to nil light in room. So in essence the Divx movie of projectors, good for general viewing without the care if some detail is lost. Minimal ghosting at fast action scenes is OK.

Initial materials listed below. PRICE GOAL: $200 or less.

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LCD
=======================
PS one (without VGA Mod) or liliput, 4"-5"
with brightness and contrast adjustment a plus.

** from a non-ebay source**

Actually, totally open to input here. I'll be happy with a VHS quality projected image.

I reiterate, not looking for HDTV here, just VHS quality... Need a low cost, mid-level LCD with RCA preferably built-in however I can do mid-level soldering and a visit to RAT-SHACK if needed.


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LIGHT SOURCE
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Halogen 12v 50W dichroic lamp with
8000lm and 3500k color temp

Light temp a little low but I close enough for me.

I realize that MH Is the recommended/successful way to go here BUT... I don't want to feel like i need to replace a $$$ MH bulb because I know in the back of my mind it is at half life. I want to avoid using a ballast and am found of "buying a few bulbs" from home depot hence the quartz halogen decision.

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LENS SET
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• FUJINON COPY LENS, 240MM FL
PRICE: $11.00

• FRESNEL
(x2) Bausch & Lomb
Magna Page Magnifier, 8-1/4"x10-3/4", Clear Acrylic
PRICE: $7.00 ($14)

Cut down. One in front of Lcd, one in back...

• 60mm condenser


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HEAT DISSAPATION
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(x2) Ultra Silent 80mm Stealth Fan
Fan Size: 80 x 80 x 25mm
Bearing Type: Double Ball Bearing System
Air Flow: 27 CFM
Speed: 2050 RPM
Noise Level: 21 dBA
Rated Voltage: 12V DC
PRICE: $10.00 ($20 Total)

One for Lamp and one for LCD...

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ADDITIONS
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• An integrated fuse system
• Quick access to bulb for easy change
• TV tuner will be provided thru VCR
• Any need for Macrovision decoder since I
will be running from DVD player to RCA video in?

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BASIC BUILDS
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Kicking around a direct build:

Light condenser Fesnel/LCD/Fresnel Fujinon
<@ ----- > () ----------- > |[]| --------------> :::[)


But I am leaning toward an idea I had for a tower build:

_
__[_]__ <-- OHP head objective shoots forward
| | |
| === | <-- Fresnel/LCD/Fresnel
| | |
| _|_ | <-- Condenser
| | |
| @ | <-- Light source
| |
++++++++ (Base/floor)

*** Wooden VHS Cassette Storage tower will make a VERY attractive MODable housing

I am thinking the tower build will have many benefits:

One - it is already rasied to a projection level (3' 5")
Two - The VHS storage towers have a peg system to lower and raise components.
Three - wood, sleek, sexy...

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Well thats about it for now, brain hurts after a few days of searching the posts. Hope I get some kind advice instead of getting hammered back into the betamax age (thats like B.C. right?)

Thanks again for your help and time!


(PS, A hunch tells my the DIY projector community has driven up the price of the PSone screens... anyone selling one somewhat cheap?)

[bulldog5046]

Halogen 12v 50W dichroic lamp with
8000lm and 3500k color temp

i think you'll find thats 8000cd not lm... also i use halogen alot and i've smashed the reflector off my bulb and used my own reflector made from alu foil and it works a hell of alot better and thats with a 10.4" lcd and projecting to 90".

Cheers,
Ryan Edge

P.s. Ace please get back to me

[King_Martini]

Thanks for the corrections and I'll take your advice and use a nice reflector!

[King_Martini]

Sorry to double post...

How many feet are you projecting from and whats your halo bulb specs?

ciao

[bulldog5046]

Originally posted by King_Martini
Sorry to double post...

How many feet are you projecting from and whats your halo bulb specs?

ciao

its around 9ft with my varifocal 310 - 360mm triplet.. the bulb with its original reflector was 4750cd but i have no idea what it would be now.

Cheers,
Ryan Edge

[Guy Grotke]

Buy a low end projection panel on ebay. You can get a 640 by 480 type with RCA input and 1.4 million colors, pretty cheap. Then all you really need is an old overhead projector. You can leave it alone, change to a longer living bulb, or gut it to build a DIY projector with the optics. This should look pretty good and be <$200.

If you do build your own projector, don't forget to protect the LCD from IR & UV. Buy a piece of UV-coated lexan at a home materials store. Make your own water-filled IR absorber. Both very cheap.

One (also cheap) suggestion if you use a dim light: Buy or DIY build a small spherical reflector to put behind the lamp. This effectively doubles the light output.

You might also want to try a simple DCX (ie. magnifying glass) lens to see if you really need a triplet. The chromatic aberration may not be noticable. These tend to be around 330 mm fl and $5 from surplusShack (or WalMart!).

[King_Martini]

No OHP setup for me. I am in no rush to get this done and I want to make it nice. My wife would shoot me if we had an OHP sitting in or living room :P

Going to use a Pyle 4" TFT/LCD for my setup.

HEading to Ikea today to look at small recessed light fixtures and such...


Post pics later...

[King_Martini]

Tasty deal: www.surplusshed.com

4.75 cold mirror
FUJINON COPY LENS, 240MM FL

PLASTIC DUST COVER / FAN GUARD FOR 90mm 12VDC FANS

and shipping.

Total: $23.02

Remaining budget: $177

[dengez]

im sorry but a 4" lcd will get you garbage quality...nowhere near even vcr quality...and the crappy page magnifier doesn't help much either...if i were u i'd get a projection panel and ohp and put them in a box so that the ohp isn't visible if ur wife would get mad...it would be WAY better and cheaper...jus mah 2 cents...


dengez

[bodgy]

I think you'd be stupid to go with a psone screen, like has been said the quality will be lacking, probably to the point where you wont want to watch it very often.

The only advantage of the screen is its size. A proper projection panel will run you less $$ and it will work properly, wont lose contrast because its getting too hot etc, and will create world peace amonst all nations.

I reckon you should go with dengez and guy grotke