Hi, I suppose you are all aware of the build your own 12 Foot DIY Projector recently reviewed on Toms Hardware:
http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20041201/index.html
I got my 15" LCD Screen from ebay for $170 in fine working condition.
Next I need the Overhead Projector (OHP). Most of the ones for sale at the moment have only 250W bulbs and around 2000 Lumens.
According to the site and other sources you will need at least about 350W and about 3000 Lumens. I am just wondering if anyone has had any experience with this and am also wondering if you can simply replace the current bulbs in an OHP to increase the Wattage.
Any help or comment would be great.
Thanks.
http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20041201/index.html
I got my 15" LCD Screen from ebay for $170 in fine working condition.
Next I need the Overhead Projector (OHP). Most of the ones for sale at the moment have only 250W bulbs and around 2000 Lumens.
According to the site and other sources you will need at least about 350W and about 3000 Lumens. I am just wondering if anyone has had any experience with this and am also wondering if you can simply replace the current bulbs in an OHP to increase the Wattage.
Any help or comment would be great.
Thanks.
I don't know why they even posted all that **** on toms, my guess is just for additional hits - its the way they've done things for years. At least they have added suitable lcd lists now - probably all research done here and other similar diy boards. Anyways, you may want to see if you can even disassemble the lcd without having short wires preventing you from using it in a diy projector. If there are wiring problems, they'd either need to be extended (not "hard" per say, but can be tricky) or you'd need to purchase a different lcd.
Most people who use stock overhead projectors are dissatisfied with the brightness and either throw a 20,000+ lumen bulb in there or make a new enclosure with (still) a 20k+ lumen metal halide. Once you stick a lcd over an overhead, you automatically lose at least 90% of the light output (exact figure is unknown and it also depends on the lcd). I wouldn't be surprised if a 2k lumen overhead with an added lcd would be less bright than the infamous tv/fresnel idea.
Most overheads use halogen bulbs which have an incredibly low color temperature meaning they'll make the entire image appear yellow (and it proves it when looking at your 250w/2k lumen 350w/3k lumen specs). You'd be best off basing your overhead choice on 1) lens type. Try to get an overhead with a triplet lens, don't settle for less than a doublet. 2) stage size. Make sure the stage can light the entire lcd (and I'm sure a larger stage will have an accompanying lens that can project the entire thing). You can't just change the bulbs in an overhead without changing to a different ballast...need a 400w halogen ballast for a 400w halogen bulb, you need a 150w metal halide ballast for a 150w metal halide bulb, etc.
Just do some searches here, there's plenty of information and research. Making a "decent" projector is a lot more difficult than Tom's article shows. Making a poor one that'll leave you disappointed is quite a bit easier. Typically, you won't spend less than $200 on lighting and optics for a good projector, if not more. A lot of the stuff, you get what you pay for, but there are exceptions *cough* ancorp's lens *cough* ahem. 😀
Most people who use stock overhead projectors are dissatisfied with the brightness and either throw a 20,000+ lumen bulb in there or make a new enclosure with (still) a 20k+ lumen metal halide. Once you stick a lcd over an overhead, you automatically lose at least 90% of the light output (exact figure is unknown and it also depends on the lcd). I wouldn't be surprised if a 2k lumen overhead with an added lcd would be less bright than the infamous tv/fresnel idea.
Most overheads use halogen bulbs which have an incredibly low color temperature meaning they'll make the entire image appear yellow (and it proves it when looking at your 250w/2k lumen 350w/3k lumen specs). You'd be best off basing your overhead choice on 1) lens type. Try to get an overhead with a triplet lens, don't settle for less than a doublet. 2) stage size. Make sure the stage can light the entire lcd (and I'm sure a larger stage will have an accompanying lens that can project the entire thing). You can't just change the bulbs in an overhead without changing to a different ballast...need a 400w halogen ballast for a 400w halogen bulb, you need a 150w metal halide ballast for a 150w metal halide bulb, etc.
Just do some searches here, there's plenty of information and research. Making a "decent" projector is a lot more difficult than Tom's article shows. Making a poor one that'll leave you disappointed is quite a bit easier. Typically, you won't spend less than $200 on lighting and optics for a good projector, if not more. A lot of the stuff, you get what you pay for, but there are exceptions *cough* ancorp's lens *cough* ahem. 😀
Don't be too harsh on them, they've certainly opened alot of peoples eyes to this interesting hobby. I saw it, started researching and eventually decided to plan a full blown custom setup.
I realise you can get protective over these sorts of things, I certainly was when cowboy companies latched onto the PC watercooling scene (something I've been part of for years), trying to make a cheap buck. It's almost insulting to know you can go down to PC world and hand over the money for a cheapass all in one watercooled loop without any of the hard work 🙄 - The quality is also pathetic and misleading.
What the popularity did do though was eventually open alot of doors for the enthusiasts, with lots of sincere companies supplying good parts and helping the scene. It's not all negative 🙂
I realise you can get protective over these sorts of things, I certainly was when cowboy companies latched onto the PC watercooling scene (something I've been part of for years), trying to make a cheap buck. It's almost insulting to know you can go down to PC world and hand over the money for a cheapass all in one watercooled loop without any of the hard work 🙄 - The quality is also pathetic and misleading.
What the popularity did do though was eventually open alot of doors for the enthusiasts, with lots of sincere companies supplying good parts and helping the scene. It's not all negative 🙂
Quin said:
oh, I just think they should give credit where credit's due (and linking to the many DIY sites perhaps, specifically the ones they've used?) Over the years, they've done it time and time again - taking other peoples' work and claiming it as their own. If they'd cite their findings, I'd be all for their article. I really doubt they throught up the ideas themselves.
I welcome the scene growing, doesn't bug me one bit, but even then, Tom's isn't giving an accurate representation on how to make a projector that people will enjoy. Stock overheads (minus the ones above 4k lumens) just don't have what it takes to give a good picture, and even moreso, they usually come with horrible lenses. If they write up a proper article (citing their courses) or how-to, it'd be great. Until then, I'm sticking with my opinion on the article.
offtopic: I also watercooled years ago but had to stop when my pump started making too much noise (for some reason, it was getting scratched up inside and the solution was perfectly clear) and haven't replaced it since. Kits and most standalone parts have nothing on DIY (minus some waterblocks) performance wise. The same thing can hold true for any market, be it projectors, watercooling, cars, etc
edit:
just noticed the "****" in my post above, it wasn't cussing, I don't do that (nor do I know why it censored it). Guess it looks more harsh than I meant it to be
Hi Seeker,
That's a fair point, references are a must
Credit should certainly go to those crazy enough to try it first!
Quin
That's a fair point, references are a must
Credit should certainly go to those crazy enough to try it first!Quin
heh the only reason i joined this forum and began learning how to make this stuff was due to seeing the review at tomshardware, then telling my friend who led me here to this haven. 🙂
As is a problem with a nearly every forum on the net everyone gets off topic.
Tomshardware is just giving people ideas and not selling anything but an idea, and they aren't even selling it. If anything they are getting people to avoid dodgy rip off people selling terrible DIY instructions.
As mentioned above it gets people interested in this interesting and rewarding hobby and I say the more people the merrier. Which I am sure you would all agree.
In regards to my original post, Tomshardware use a 400W and 3500 Lumens which produces great results which no one can argue with. Check the video on the site. The room has to be dark but when I want to use my projector I want to be in dark room anyway.
I do not have the 'know how' for constructing a kit with jigsaws and sourcing all the parts or ordering them from overseas. So Toms guide seems like the best option for me and a lot of others.
I got my LCD screen out of its casing and it works fine all I need is a light source and the simplist way to get this is an overhead projector.
Once I can get an overhead projector with enough brightness I will post some pics of my results for everyone to check out.
Anyone else tried this method?
Tomshardware is just giving people ideas and not selling anything but an idea, and they aren't even selling it. If anything they are getting people to avoid dodgy rip off people selling terrible DIY instructions.
As mentioned above it gets people interested in this interesting and rewarding hobby and I say the more people the merrier. Which I am sure you would all agree.
In regards to my original post, Tomshardware use a 400W and 3500 Lumens which produces great results which no one can argue with. Check the video on the site. The room has to be dark but when I want to use my projector I want to be in dark room anyway.
I do not have the 'know how' for constructing a kit with jigsaws and sourcing all the parts or ordering them from overseas. So Toms guide seems like the best option for me and a lot of others.
I got my LCD screen out of its casing and it works fine all I need is a light source and the simplist way to get this is an overhead projector.
Once I can get an overhead projector with enough brightness I will post some pics of my results for everyone to check out.
Anyone else tried this method?
anyone who read the toms hardware guide and is interested in going the route they did (as well as many others) if your having a hard time finding a decent over head and have a little cash to spend check this one out
http://www.thenerds.net/productpage.asp?un=196974&s=1
this is the one ive been using with my projector and dissasembled lcd and it works great, looks very close to the infocus x1 if not just as good
http://www.thenerds.net/productpage.asp?un=196974&s=1
this is the one ive been using with my projector and dissasembled lcd and it works great, looks very close to the infocus x1 if not just as good
im very interested in going this route, but i need some help....if i was to buy an old laptop w/ good sized lcd screen, would i be able to take the screen out and use it for the panel? also, my school i noticed has some old projectors that aren't in use, they aren't the brightest, so would they be any good to use?
Hi farmboy,
As far as I understand it, you'd need an extra controller board to use the laptop displays standalone - Or you just keep the rest of the laptop attached and play everything through that.
As for the OHPs, try and find out some spec's for them. You may find yourself content with a lower powered bulb and doublet lens, either way its a good place to start if you can get the OHPs dirt cheap 😉
As far as I understand it, you'd need an extra controller board to use the laptop displays standalone - Or you just keep the rest of the laptop attached and play everything through that.
As for the OHPs, try and find out some spec's for them. You may find yourself content with a lower powered bulb and doublet lens, either way its a good place to start if you can get the OHPs dirt cheap 😉
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