Hi All,
I have a bang for the buck question for you.
I have a Sharp XG-H400U LCD front projector. The specs can be found here. http://www.projectorcentral.com/Sharp_XG_Series-XG-H400U.htm It is not very bright at best and I think the bulb is getting weak as well
Yesterday I picked Sharp QA-1650 for a song. I understand from reading the posts on this forum that this is fairly suitable for a DIY OHP projector, whether just using an unmodified OHP, modifiying an OHP or going the full build your own box/light source route.
Here is my question. How can I get the highest quality projection TV bang for the buck. Since the bulbs for the XG seem to cost well north of $300, should I try to find a good OHP and go that route with the tablet, selling the XG to finance the OHP, etc. Or should I sell the QA to finance, in part, a new bulb for the XG? Or can I retrofit a newer and more powerful bulb in the XG?
As you can tell, I am becoming overwhelmed with the permutations. Any suggestions for the best on the cheap? My DIY skills are moderate to medium and I have access to some tools and a lot of test equipment, if that matters.
Thanks a bunch,
Michael
I have a bang for the buck question for you.
I have a Sharp XG-H400U LCD front projector. The specs can be found here. http://www.projectorcentral.com/Sharp_XG_Series-XG-H400U.htm It is not very bright at best and I think the bulb is getting weak as well
Yesterday I picked Sharp QA-1650 for a song. I understand from reading the posts on this forum that this is fairly suitable for a DIY OHP projector, whether just using an unmodified OHP, modifiying an OHP or going the full build your own box/light source route.
Here is my question. How can I get the highest quality projection TV bang for the buck. Since the bulbs for the XG seem to cost well north of $300, should I try to find a good OHP and go that route with the tablet, selling the XG to finance the OHP, etc. Or should I sell the QA to finance, in part, a new bulb for the XG? Or can I retrofit a newer and more powerful bulb in the XG?
As you can tell, I am becoming overwhelmed with the permutations. Any suggestions for the best on the cheap? My DIY skills are moderate to medium and I have access to some tools and a lot of test equipment, if that matters.
Thanks a bunch,
Michael
xenon auto bulbs
Hi All,
Apparently helping me solve my less than state of the art problem tripped nobody's trigger. Oh well. Another question.
I see xenon lamps for auto on ebay cheap. Some have color temp up to 9000K and output appears to be ~1000 lumens/watt. Since they come in 35-55W sizes they would seem suitable for light sources. I searched on this and the only thread I could find was over a year old and didn't seem to be addressing the bulbs now available. There was another hit but it was in the DIY projector II thread with ~2000 posts. The problem with sticky threads.
Any opinions?
Addicted to projection tv, but still broke,
Michael
Hi All,
Apparently helping me solve my less than state of the art problem tripped nobody's trigger. Oh well. Another question.
I see xenon lamps for auto on ebay cheap. Some have color temp up to 9000K and output appears to be ~1000 lumens/watt. Since they come in 35-55W sizes they would seem suitable for light sources. I searched on this and the only thread I could find was over a year old and didn't seem to be addressing the bulbs now available. There was another hit but it was in the DIY projector II thread with ~2000 posts. The problem with sticky threads.
Any opinions?
Addicted to projection tv, but still broke,
Michael
From what I've read in this forum, the 9000k light may be to high in color temp for use in this area. Most use a 4000-5000k light which mimics daylight color temp.
this link will give you the specs on your projector http://www.projectorcentral.com/Sharp_XG_Series-XG-H400U.htm
looks like the resolution is a bit low at 480x234 Pixels. and has a 150 watt metal halide lamp pushing 300 ansi lumens. good lamp but you will get more light out of a high end OHP (3m 9800) with a good triplet lens.Not half as compact as a projector but lots of light. specs for Sharp QA-1650. native resolution 640x480, color pallette16.7M, connections VGA, RCA, SVID. Zooms to 800x600
All the fingers point to the panel as having a better quality for projection. Conveniance is built into the projector but the panel has DIY written all over it.But when the light on the projector fizzles you'll want that panel back!
this link will give you the specs on your projector http://www.projectorcentral.com/Sharp_XG_Series-XG-H400U.htm
looks like the resolution is a bit low at 480x234 Pixels. and has a 150 watt metal halide lamp pushing 300 ansi lumens. good lamp but you will get more light out of a high end OHP (3m 9800) with a good triplet lens.Not half as compact as a projector but lots of light. specs for Sharp QA-1650. native resolution 640x480, color pallette16.7M, connections VGA, RCA, SVID. Zooms to 800x600
All the fingers point to the panel as having a better quality for projection. Conveniance is built into the projector but the panel has DIY written all over it.But when the light on the projector fizzles you'll want that panel back!
3M
Hi Sparkmaker,
Thanks for the info about the 9800. A quick web search seems to indicate that it may be out of my price range though. Also, the bulb lasts for 25 hours on high setting and costs $40? That is a lot of consumable expense. Have people retrofitted these OHP to a longer life bulb? A question, how does 6000 lumens output translate into ANSI lumen at the screen? Is there a method for calculating this, or has anyone measured the ANSI value?
I definitely like the idea of greater brightness and higher resolution available from the tablet, so I am strongly leaning in that direction. I know it isn't close to state of the art in res or contrast, but I think it would be a step up from the projector I am using now. Any other suggestions of OHPs?
Thanks,
Michael
Hi Sparkmaker,
Thanks for the info about the 9800. A quick web search seems to indicate that it may be out of my price range though. Also, the bulb lasts for 25 hours on high setting and costs $40? That is a lot of consumable expense. Have people retrofitted these OHP to a longer life bulb? A question, how does 6000 lumens output translate into ANSI lumen at the screen? Is there a method for calculating this, or has anyone measured the ANSI value?
I definitely like the idea of greater brightness and higher resolution available from the tablet, so I am strongly leaning in that direction. I know it isn't close to state of the art in res or contrast, but I think it would be a step up from the projector I am using now. Any other suggestions of OHPs?
Thanks,
Michael
3m ohp
hi audiobot,
the 3m 9800 uses an EVD lamp, they shoulodn't cost any
where near $40 bucks. you can get then for about $6 that last
up to 50 hrs. there is also a 300hr version of this bulb that
costs around $12. just thought you would like to know. those
are nice ohp's also. all the best tony.
hi audiobot,
the 3m 9800 uses an EVD lamp, they shoulodn't cost any
where near $40 bucks. you can get then for about $6 that last
up to 50 hrs. there is also a 300hr version of this bulb that
costs around $12. just thought you would like to know. those
are nice ohp's also. all the best tony.
Hmm id be more inclined to find the oldest and cheapest ohp you can find, rebuild it with a new triplet lens, a new frensel and a reflector/ condenser, then id retrofit it out with a 250w hqi lamp and your problems are solved as for light issues, the 250w hqi bulb lasts for 12000hrs and are about $35 to buy.
Trev
Trev
ok
Tony,
How's the huntin' and fishin'. Oh, maybe you're a different Tony Dean. I found the bulbs for around the price you suggested was available. I didn't find anything but 50hr rated though.
Ace,
Your killing me here. What exactly do you keep out of the ratty old OHP? Change fresnel, triplet, lamp. I have to admit I am intrigued by the 250W HQI lamps though. I couldn't find one for $35 but I suppose that just means I am looking in the wrong places. What color temp and CRI are you suggesting? Most of what I found was for 10000K reef lamps. Also, what model ballast would you suggest with these? I imagine I have read the answers previously while casting about on this forum, but my memory is damnably short. Do these powerful lamps work well with LCDs that have only a 100:1 contrast ratio? Seems like the blacks might get awfully unblack. It would be nice to build for the future if possible, as in when the prices of the HDTV resolution screens comes down, or more money lines my pockets than is there currently.
Thanks,
Michael
Tony,
How's the huntin' and fishin'. Oh, maybe you're a different Tony Dean. I found the bulbs for around the price you suggested was available. I didn't find anything but 50hr rated though.
Ace,
Your killing me here. What exactly do you keep out of the ratty old OHP? Change fresnel, triplet, lamp. I have to admit I am intrigued by the 250W HQI lamps though. I couldn't find one for $35 but I suppose that just means I am looking in the wrong places. What color temp and CRI are you suggesting? Most of what I found was for 10000K reef lamps. Also, what model ballast would you suggest with these? I imagine I have read the answers previously while casting about on this forum, but my memory is damnably short. Do these powerful lamps work well with LCDs that have only a 100:1 contrast ratio? Seems like the blacks might get awfully unblack. It would be nice to build for the future if possible, as in when the prices of the HDTV resolution screens comes down, or more money lines my pockets than is there currently.
Thanks,
Michael
heya buddy, well if you keep the ohp's frame then u got somthing to work from lol j/k. ok ill get serious now, try to find a dukane 4003, (i think thats the model), they are easy to retrofit with a metal halide, im sure they also have all of the right optics aswell from memory, like a triplet lens, these can be had cheap on ebay.
Now for the metal halide lighting, it costs abit to set up, but its well worth it, the lcd runs much cooler as metal halide is alot cooler then halogen, the metal halide produce way more light per watt, (so save power), most have a cri of 90 in the hqi-ts series, a uv filter built in, colour temps are much whiter then halogen, (typical of 4200k, but you can get in the hqi-ts range, 5100k and im sure a 6000k), and they last much longer. I used to use halogen, but after using metal halide, there is no way id go back, even if you paid me.
Here is a link to where you can buy them from.
www.diylabs.org
Hope it helped
Trev🙂
Now for the metal halide lighting, it costs abit to set up, but its well worth it, the lcd runs much cooler as metal halide is alot cooler then halogen, the metal halide produce way more light per watt, (so save power), most have a cri of 90 in the hqi-ts series, a uv filter built in, colour temps are much whiter then halogen, (typical of 4200k, but you can get in the hqi-ts range, 5100k and im sure a 6000k), and they last much longer. I used to use halogen, but after using metal halide, there is no way id go back, even if you paid me.
Here is a link to where you can buy them from.
www.diylabs.org
Hope it helped
Trev🙂
OH i forgot to mention, just incase you didnt know it, you only need to buy the ballast the 1 time, this is what runs the lamp, (abit like a psu for the lamp), so when the lamp dies wich is typical of 10000hrs then you only need to change the lamp.
The bulbs on that site are 4200k, try to find a lighting outlet that sells the hqi-tsd and that will have the 90cri, 5100k colour and a longer lifespan of 12000hrs, also has the uv filter, the one in diylabs doesnt from what ive been told.
Also, both lamps will run off of that same ballast in the diylabs site i just gave ya.
Nope the black does go abit lighter, but with a low contrast lcd the only thing u are realy missing is the shades and some detail like in skin tones such as wrinkles ect, the black and white from my kewlege is the same on a high contrast lcd, just the you miss whats above.
Trev
The bulbs on that site are 4200k, try to find a lighting outlet that sells the hqi-tsd and that will have the 90cri, 5100k colour and a longer lifespan of 12000hrs, also has the uv filter, the one in diylabs doesnt from what ive been told.
Also, both lamps will run off of that same ballast in the diylabs site i just gave ya.
Nope the black does go abit lighter, but with a low contrast lcd the only thing u are realy missing is the shades and some detail like in skin tones such as wrinkles ect, the black and white from my kewlege is the same on a high contrast lcd, just the you miss whats above.
Trev
dukane etc
I went to the Dukane site to see if I could figure out if model number you suggested was right and got sucked into their projector page. Wow, one had 6000ANSI lumen output. Used these bulbs, http://www1.ushio.co.jp/catalog/2400e/2400_01.html
Ever tried this type?
I know, it's off my topic which is how do I do this on the cheap. What about the 10000K lamps? Too white? Too expensive? Not enough output? Will check into sources for the hqi-ts. Also, what about dichroic reflectors? I have a variety of surplus halogens that might be able to donate a reflector, would this be of any use? I assume the dichroic feature lets the heat (IR) and UV pass through while it reflects the visible.
Thanks,
Michael
I went to the Dukane site to see if I could figure out if model number you suggested was right and got sucked into their projector page. Wow, one had 6000ANSI lumen output. Used these bulbs, http://www1.ushio.co.jp/catalog/2400e/2400_01.html
Ever tried this type?
I know, it's off my topic which is how do I do this on the cheap. What about the 10000K lamps? Too white? Too expensive? Not enough output? Will check into sources for the hqi-ts. Also, what about dichroic reflectors? I have a variety of surplus halogens that might be able to donate a reflector, would this be of any use? I assume the dichroic feature lets the heat (IR) and UV pass through while it reflects the visible.
Thanks,
Michael
Yeah they are about $300 a bulb buddy, not cheap lol, i wont be spending that on a bulb that lasts upto 4k hrs, its weard also, cos those bulbs use parabolic reflectors, most of that type of what ive seen are eliptical.
Yeah the 10000k lamps are too blue from memory, you need to stick in the 5-6000k range or your colours will be messed.
Hmmm regarding the reflectors, that all depends if u can fit one in it or not, if u cant find a reflector, i can supply one for ya that will fit that bulb, its not parabolic though its a spherical type, basically whats used in all ohps.
As for the dichoric reflector's, yeah they are the way to go to reduce the heat and uv, the hqi i wouldnt worry about uv so much as they have a uv block built into them already, the ir or heat we can get away with by cooling the lcd with fans.
Trev
temp
Ok, I'll look for something in the 5-6kK range. Is the cri more important than the temp?
I wouldn't complain about $300 for a lamp that gave me 6000ANSI on screen and lasted 4k hours (if I could afford it anyway), but I complain loudly about a $400 lamp that gives me 400ANSI lumens and lasts 1k hours (what my Sharp uses).
Do you make the reflectors? I would think that all of the heat load that can be moved to less constricted areas of the projector the better. The second most annoying feature of the Sharp is the fan noise and it vies for most annoying during the quiet scenes.
Will have to consider the Dukane vs the 3M vs full blown diy. So many ideas to think about.
Thanks,
Michael
Ok, I'll look for something in the 5-6kK range. Is the cri more important than the temp?
I wouldn't complain about $300 for a lamp that gave me 6000ANSI on screen and lasted 4k hours (if I could afford it anyway), but I complain loudly about a $400 lamp that gives me 400ANSI lumens and lasts 1k hours (what my Sharp uses).
Do you make the reflectors? I would think that all of the heat load that can be moved to less constricted areas of the projector the better. The second most annoying feature of the Sharp is the fan noise and it vies for most annoying during the quiet scenes.
Will have to consider the Dukane vs the 3M vs full blown diy. So many ideas to think about.
Thanks,
Michael
evd lamp
hi audiobot,
nope, not the dean with the fishing show. the long life evd
lamb is an osram 64665, 300 hrs and 12,200 lumens.
try the bulbconnection or others.
ace is right, you might as well use the cheaper dukanes
or 3m ohp if your just going to gut the lamp assembly out.
any good ohp with triplet lens would work fine. it is a shame
that the hqi bulb is a little large to just swap in place of the
evd using the existing reflector/condenser.
if you build a cabinet from scratch, fresnels and triplets that are new
are almost cheaper, it costs about $30 just to ship an ohp
from ebay. tony
hi audiobot,
nope, not the dean with the fishing show. the long life evd
lamb is an osram 64665, 300 hrs and 12,200 lumens.
try the bulbconnection or others.
ace is right, you might as well use the cheaper dukanes
or 3m ohp if your just going to gut the lamp assembly out.
any good ohp with triplet lens would work fine. it is a shame
that the hqi bulb is a little large to just swap in place of the
evd using the existing reflector/condenser.
if you build a cabinet from scratch, fresnels and triplets that are new
are almost cheaper, it costs about $30 just to ship an ohp
from ebay. tony
interesting background
Hi all,
I'm sure a lot of you have seen this before, but I thought I would post the link to this Sylvania engineering bulletin. It gives a lot of info on HID use and setup.
http://www.sylvania.com/business/photo/pdfs/ENGR_BLTN7.pdf
Michael
Hi all,
I'm sure a lot of you have seen this before, but I thought I would post the link to this Sylvania engineering bulletin. It gives a lot of info on HID use and setup.
http://www.sylvania.com/business/photo/pdfs/ENGR_BLTN7.pdf
Michael
ace plans?
Ace,
I've been trying to search thru some of your posts to see what your current thinking/project is and I saw mention you might have plans available? Also that you may sell parts? Do you have a website?
Thanks,
Michael
Ace,
I've been trying to search thru some of your posts to see what your current thinking/project is and I saw mention you might have plans available? Also that you may sell parts? Do you have a website?
Thanks,
Michael
Heya buddy the plans will be out very soon, the parts are available though im out of reflectors for now and mirror, i do have a site but its down due my server being a poop server so ill get the site back up asap and send u a link.
Trev
Trev
thanks and
Ace,
Could you point to any recent threads that outline your current state o' the art?
Thanks,
Michael
Ace,
Could you point to any recent threads that outline your current state o' the art?
Thanks,
Michael
Have a look in here buddy, this is my latest project, although i have new things going on aswell, im not posting the new up for a while.
Trev
Trev
some things to ask
Hi,
Ace, were you pointing to something in that last post? Or just saying search the forum?
I ran across a plano-convex lens today that I am posting a picture for. It is a Latica 240 and was used in a Durst photo enlarger. Any utility in a DIY design? As you can see from the photo it is rectangular and the ruler is 1 ft long. Can I test it in any way to see if it would be useful?
Will also post a couple more pics with questions.
Thanks,
Michael
Hi,
Ace, were you pointing to something in that last post? Or just saying search the forum?
I ran across a plano-convex lens today that I am posting a picture for. It is a Latica 240 and was used in a Durst photo enlarger. Any utility in a DIY design? As you can see from the photo it is rectangular and the ruler is 1 ft long. Can I test it in any way to see if it would be useful?
Will also post a couple more pics with questions.
Thanks,
Michael
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