New and Curious

[BlinxDT]

I just found this site and now very interested in building a DIY Projector...i have a really low budget but want to make one for a computer monitor. What im thinking of doing is have a dual monitor where one is a normal monitor for typing papers,checking email, web browse, and other stuff that using a big screen would be just overkill. The other monitor would be the projecter monitor where i can play games and watch movies(Do DIY projctors make good gaming screens?)... the dual monitor is so that i can just turn off the projector to have it last longer, lamp and projector in general. So is all this possible?

Would a Sharp QA1800 be suitable for my needs, its the only projector panel i could find on ebay right now...ending in 15 hrs so some quick post we be nice.

With the low budget i was thinking of a projecter design with the QA1800 but replacing the lamp with a halide. Really trying to go for the cheap path some suggestions would be appreciated.

[v1d9uy]

a cheap path would be a psone screen and a 250 watt hqi metal halide setup ... or even cheaper use a holagon shop light .... but then you will have to deal with extreme heat and a not so good color temp. the sharp 1800 is a perty good panel i have one right now and i love it i am just using it ontop of my buhl model 80 OHP with a 600watt hologan in it and a am really pleased now i may be building a enclosure later soooo i may put it up on ebay and buy a psone screen : ) but i dunno

[BlinxDT]

i dont really want to scrap quality all the together so how is the quality of the psone lcd as a projector?

I've looked around and it looks like the psone is a really good route for cheap but based on this thread...it looks kinda mediocre to me
first psone projector with pics

But other then that, the acutally case looks amazing. also based from that thread i shouldnt get a sony one...so which should i get? how about this one http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Intec-PSone-...QQcmdZViewItem

also im kinda fuzzy on this...am i able to connect it to my computer with using a psone?

[v1d9uy]

if you want a screen UP TO 60" diagnal then psone will be fine as far as iv seen anyways i havent actualy made one with a psone screen so that just my opinion from what iv seen and read here also the pics do not do them justice most of the time so you really cant jugde from that and the better qualtiy parts you use the better off you are .... so i would recomend a 250watt hqi light kit and a psone screen unless you want a screen around 120" diagnal then yer gunna need a 15" lcd or a OHP lcd panel and most of there lcds are 10.4" diagnal the ohp panel gives you the most options as far as video inputs go and with the psone screen you have to *mod* it to VGA so you can use it with the computer...if youre on a really low budget ... witch would be ? ill guess under $150 or less yer best bet really is a psone screen or a ohp panel i just picked up a dukane model 641 ohp from my local college surplus store for $5 bucks ... it even works with a good bulb in it i threw my 1800 on top and im happy ill use my old one for parts

[BlinxDT]

thx alot, i think i am gonna go with the panel route, i dont trust myself yet to do a mod on the psone...haha

btw where is a good place for ohp panels...i've been sticking to ebay so far...and its slim pickings from there.

[v1d9uy]

ya know it really is but dont get impatient and get a crappy one trust me its worth waiting and getting a good one there are a few sites that have a list of most of the OHP panels and there specs i would look on ebay find a panel you like then ask here about its specs and ill do my best to find the correct specs on it
if i were you id get at least a sharp 1800 i really like the sharp panels 1650 is ok to .. but it only does 640 x 480 and the 1800 is
800 x 600 i would recomend at least 800 x 600 and remember to check yer local college surpus store for a older OHP should get one for under $10 then a $10 bulb ... and yer ohp panel from ebay and yer set iv seen 2 sharp 1800s go for over $150 witch is high but still kinda worth it as along as it is in excellent shape.

[superdaveumo]

If you are looking to play computer games on your projector screen, I would recommend something a higher than 800x600. On a 10.4" screen 800x600 looks smooth, but when you blow it up to 100" (or even 60" or 70"), individual pixels start to get large. It's really a matter of opinion. If you have a dot pitch of .25mm on an LCD and you put it on a screen that is 100", now the dot pitch is 2.5mm.

Like I said, just a matter of opinion. Take a look at people's results and see if what they have is good enough for you.

[zaner21]

Hey, BlinxDT

[QUOTE] btw where is a good place for ohp panels...i've been sticking to ebay so far...and its slim pickings from there. [QUOTE]

I have a Sharp QA-1750 if you’re interested. It's only 640x480 (800x600 compressed) but it works well and comes with everything in the picture. I would probably recommend a higher resolution for playing video games but it’s available if you’re interested. rasmussen2179@yahoo.com

Zaner21

edit... sorry forgot pic.