Hi, still working on my first LCD projector, anyone know where IN TORONTO, Ontario, Canada (or the surrounding area) I can find a UV filter? Could a store like Home Depot have it?
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
Home Depot: YES!
Go to your local Home Depot store and buy a piece of Lexan XL. I got a piece 11" by 14" by 0.093" for $4.57 US. Lexan polycarbonate is optically clear, much stronger than glass, heat-resistant up to 800 degrees F, and absorbs >90% of the UV. The XL variety has one side coated with a UV blocker, so it absorbs even more UV. (Put the coated "outside" surface toward your lamp.) You can cut it like glass: Score it with a razor knife, support the part you want to keep on a flat clean surface, and then snap off the part you are removing. Or you can cut it like you do acrylic fresnels with a mototool abrasive cut-off disk. I think the HD guys will even cut it to order for you, but they will charge you for that.
You can use it as the bottom layer in your lower fresnel tray. It will remove UV and support your fresnel!
Go to your local Home Depot store and buy a piece of Lexan XL. I got a piece 11" by 14" by 0.093" for $4.57 US. Lexan polycarbonate is optically clear, much stronger than glass, heat-resistant up to 800 degrees F, and absorbs >90% of the UV. The XL variety has one side coated with a UV blocker, so it absorbs even more UV. (Put the coated "outside" surface toward your lamp.) You can cut it like glass: Score it with a razor knife, support the part you want to keep on a flat clean surface, and then snap off the part you are removing. Or you can cut it like you do acrylic fresnels with a mototool abrasive cut-off disk. I think the HD guys will even cut it to order for you, but they will charge you for that.
You can use it as the bottom layer in your lower fresnel tray. It will remove UV and support your fresnel!
guy
i located lexan locally but it turned out to be lexan mr10 which ia uv ressistant... now being uv ressistant i understand it good for the polycarbonate as it won't yellow fast... but is uv ressistant same as uv block.????
.. cause it could as well be letting uv pass and still be ressistant to it effect...
i located lexan locally but it turned out to be lexan mr10 which ia uv ressistant... now being uv ressistant i understand it good for the polycarbonate as it won't yellow fast... but is uv ressistant same as uv block.????
.. cause it could as well be letting uv pass and still be ressistant to it effect...
Guy Grotke,
Thank you so muich for the quick reply, I thought I would never get an answer for such a specific question. I will go down to Home Depot asap! What would be better - closer to the LCD/fresnel of to the lightsource?
Thank you so muich for the quick reply, I thought I would never get an answer for such a specific question. I will go down to Home Depot asap! What would be better - closer to the LCD/fresnel of to the lightsource?
Hi,
I tried to search for lexan at Home Depot but it gives me no results at all, it only shows a fluoresent wall fixture.... should I look for it under another name, or ask personally about it??? 😕
I tried to search for lexan at Home Depot but it gives me no results at all, it only shows a fluoresent wall fixture.... should I look for it under another name, or ask personally about it??? 😕
I think if you can get down there without much trouble or time, asking about it would be best.
I have another question... Where can I get a Cold mirror in Toronto and area? Does Home Depot carry them too?
I have another question... Where can I get a Cold mirror in Toronto and area? Does Home Depot carry them too?
UV filter at Home Depot
No, Home Depot does not carry cold mirror. They are not even particularly aware about lexan's properties, if you ask them for a UV absorbing material. They just sell it as a replacement for glass so you can make hammer-resistant windows.
In my experience, homedepot.com can be very frustrating. You should call them on the phone and ask if they have lexan or polycarbonate in precut pieces to replace glass in windows. If not, then you can also use acrylic (plexiglas) sheets, This also absorbs UV, but not as well as lexan.
I would put the lexan between the lamp and the first fresnel. For example, you could use it at the bottom of a fresnel tray with the UV coating facing the lamp.
I have seen cold mirror for a VERY high price from various optical supply places. For example, Rolyn has 100 mm by 100 mm 45 degree angle cold mirror for $272 US. Surplus shed sells a 4.75 diameter piece for $5!!!!
No, Home Depot does not carry cold mirror. They are not even particularly aware about lexan's properties, if you ask them for a UV absorbing material. They just sell it as a replacement for glass so you can make hammer-resistant windows.
In my experience, homedepot.com can be very frustrating. You should call them on the phone and ask if they have lexan or polycarbonate in precut pieces to replace glass in windows. If not, then you can also use acrylic (plexiglas) sheets, This also absorbs UV, but not as well as lexan.
I would put the lexan between the lamp and the first fresnel. For example, you could use it at the bottom of a fresnel tray with the UV coating facing the lamp.
I have seen cold mirror for a VERY high price from various optical supply places. For example, Rolyn has 100 mm by 100 mm 45 degree angle cold mirror for $272 US. Surplus shed sells a 4.75 diameter piece for $5!!!!
Got it !!!
I went to Home Depot, very doubtful, I stood at the window aisle, and I asked the first person there if they carry a material called lexan... and he pointed me right into it.... sweet!!! I was going through the specs, and seems to be a great thing... it takes up to 800 F and blocks UV... and not too expensive (sweeeeeet) 😎
BTW, which side should be the one facing the lamp? The one that has the green sticker?
Now I'm wondering, could I use this as a heat stopper? I'm thinking about using between 50w-250w dichroic... that would make my projector smaller.... would I still need a cold mirror?
I went to Home Depot, very doubtful, I stood at the window aisle, and I asked the first person there if they carry a material called lexan... and he pointed me right into it.... sweet!!! I was going through the specs, and seems to be a great thing... it takes up to 800 F and blocks UV... and not too expensive (sweeeeeet) 😎
BTW, which side should be the one facing the lamp? The one that has the green sticker?
Now I'm wondering, could I use this as a heat stopper? I'm thinking about using between 50w-250w dichroic... that would make my projector smaller.... would I still need a cold mirror?
lexan
The side with the white material with red printed instructions, should face the lamp. Not the green side.
You can use it to isolate an area containing hot air from another area in your projector, since it will take 800 F. But I don't think it reflects or absorbs IR at all.
With a dichroic reflector lamp, the heat will not be reflected, but the light coming directly from the lamp without reflection will contain a full dose of IR. If you are thinking you can avoid heat by using a halogen lamp, you are mistaken: They are less efficient than MH, so they actually put out more of their energy as heat.
All of the lamps with dichroic reflectors that I have seen are parabolic. So they send out a wide near-parallel beam 2 to 5 inches wide. To use this in a projector, you will have to find a negative lens with the right focal length to spread the light into the cone accepted by your lower fresnel.
The side with the white material with red printed instructions, should face the lamp. Not the green side.
You can use it to isolate an area containing hot air from another area in your projector, since it will take 800 F. But I don't think it reflects or absorbs IR at all.
With a dichroic reflector lamp, the heat will not be reflected, but the light coming directly from the lamp without reflection will contain a full dose of IR. If you are thinking you can avoid heat by using a halogen lamp, you are mistaken: They are less efficient than MH, so they actually put out more of their energy as heat.
All of the lamps with dichroic reflectors that I have seen are parabolic. So they send out a wide near-parallel beam 2 to 5 inches wide. To use this in a projector, you will have to find a negative lens with the right focal length to spread the light into the cone accepted by your lower fresnel.
Hi,
I know halogen are less efficient than MH, but I don't have $200 for a HQI set, and MH are a lot bigger than halogen. And I've seen some projector use this, so I thought I'd give it a try. Besides, I don't want to fry this 2.5'' lcd with a MH,,, with anything after all !! I wanna have the lcd for years to come (if possible), and I know that UV and Ir are real problems that MUST be avoided... so do you think with the lexan and the cold mirror I'll be good to go? would a heat glass/mirror work for this mini setup??
Thanks for your help. You da man !!!
And thank you too ancorp ! I wish I knew as much as you did at your age... 😉 cheers !
I know halogen are less efficient than MH, but I don't have $200 for a HQI set, and MH are a lot bigger than halogen. And I've seen some projector use this, so I thought I'd give it a try. Besides, I don't want to fry this 2.5'' lcd with a MH,,, with anything after all !! I wanna have the lcd for years to come (if possible), and I know that UV and Ir are real problems that MUST be avoided... so do you think with the lexan and the cold mirror I'll be good to go? would a heat glass/mirror work for this mini setup??
Thanks for your help. You da man !!!
And thank you too ancorp ! I wish I knew as much as you did at your age... 😉 cheers !
Tetutigre, thanks for the kind words, lol
I too em planning to use lexan and a cold mirror with a 2.5 (or 2.6?) inch lcd, and I will use a 500 watt halogen work light (8.99 CAD at canadian tire, 3.99 CAD for 2 replacement bulbs!)
Damn its hot!!!
Im going to use one or two computer fams along with the lexan and cold mirror (if I get one that is)🙂
Good luck!
I too em planning to use lexan and a cold mirror with a 2.5 (or 2.6?) inch lcd, and I will use a 500 watt halogen work light (8.99 CAD at canadian tire, 3.99 CAD for 2 replacement bulbs!)
Damn its hot!!!
Im going to use one or two computer fams along with the lexan and cold mirror (if I get one that is)🙂
Good luck!
Yeah, you WILL need those fans with that light.... I was doing some testing with a cracked LCD and a 50w dichroic, and I started getting a black spot on the LCD within a minute or less... later I put a fan on top of the LCD blowing air towards it and it held on longer...
Now imagine 500w !!! Yikes!
Good luck to you !!! Keep me posted !!
And BTW, I've been using my lenticular screen more, and am starting to really love it !! 😉
Now imagine 500w !!!
Yikes!Good luck to you !!! Keep me posted !!
And BTW, I've been using my lenticular screen more, and am starting to really love it !! 😉
500 Watt!
I think 500 Watts is a bit too much. If a 50 Watt halogen bulb overheated an LCD, then a 500 Watt halogen bulb with a 90% efficient cold mirror would also overheat the LCD. Halogen bulbs really do put out a lot of heat. A lot of it is long wave-length IR that you could stop with a piece of low-E glass. Maybe with that and some careful attention to the air flow you can keep enough heat away from the LCD. Make sure the air flow travels from the LCD compartment toward the lamp compartment, so you are not sending forced-air heat to your LCD!
By all means, get a cold mirror. I have one from surplusshed.com ($5 US) and it works great in all my tests.
I think 500 Watts is a bit too much. If a 50 Watt halogen bulb overheated an LCD, then a 500 Watt halogen bulb with a 90% efficient cold mirror would also overheat the LCD. Halogen bulbs really do put out a lot of heat. A lot of it is long wave-length IR that you could stop with a piece of low-E glass. Maybe with that and some careful attention to the air flow you can keep enough heat away from the LCD. Make sure the air flow travels from the LCD compartment toward the lamp compartment, so you are not sending forced-air heat to your LCD!
By all means, get a cold mirror. I have one from surplusshed.com ($5 US) and it works great in all my tests.
hmm... great another glass...
where can I get a low-e glass in Toronto? Home depot too...?
I hope...
where can I get a low-e glass in Toronto? Home depot too...?
I hope...
low E glass
Home depot certainly sells complete windows with low Emissivity glass. I don't know if they sell individual glass panes made from low E glass. You could ask them. The windows consist of glass with a special long wave IR blocking filter, with an argon-filled space between double or triple glazing. They keep the heat in your house during the winter, so I am sure they would have them in Canada.
If Home Depot doesn't sell it by the piece, then you should call a few glass shops. They should be able to cut any size you want and grind the edges for you so it is easy to handle. Glass is very cheap. But maybe you should just try using a cold mirror to see if that is enough. Maybe you won't need any more heat control filtering.
Home depot certainly sells complete windows with low Emissivity glass. I don't know if they sell individual glass panes made from low E glass. You could ask them. The windows consist of glass with a special long wave IR blocking filter, with an argon-filled space between double or triple glazing. They keep the heat in your house during the winter, so I am sure they would have them in Canada.
If Home Depot doesn't sell it by the piece, then you should call a few glass shops. They should be able to cut any size you want and grind the edges for you so it is easy to handle. Glass is very cheap. But maybe you should just try using a cold mirror to see if that is enough. Maybe you won't need any more heat control filtering.
hmmm is hqi so costly??? i got phillips (mhn-td) (uv block)150 w for eqivalent of around 30 usd replacement is around 10 usd ....strange!!!
this thing with a 60 mm dia and 60mm fl condenser along with a spherical gives out so much light that it fades out my psone screen set to least brightness...and heat is very very less i am using two comp fans...the white coloured light is a very good thing search around a bit and and definatly go for it if it fits your budget ....or i will send it to ya bud 🙂
btw guy grotke is lexan mr10 as eff cause the guy who sell it has zero knowledge about the specs and since it is cut to pieces its really hard to make out anything written on the stickers too.
this thing with a 60 mm dia and 60mm fl condenser along with a spherical gives out so much light that it fades out my psone screen set to least brightness...and heat is very very less i am using two comp fans...the white coloured light is a very good thing search around a bit and and definatly go for it if it fits your budget ....or i will send it to ya bud 🙂
btw guy grotke is lexan mr10 as eff cause the guy who sell it has zero knowledge about the specs and since it is cut to pieces its really hard to make out anything written on the stickers too.
lexan mr10 UV absorbtion
I don't know. I looked at some papers at:
http://www.geplastics.com/resins/techsolution/technifacts.html
but I did not see anything showing the absorbtion of UV for different varieties of Lexan. I did read one paper about UV surface degradation of lexan, which suggests that it does absorb a lot of the UV (otherwise it would not just occur at the surface). The Lexan XL has a special surface coating on one side that will make it more resistant to this UV degradation. I think without this coating it will still absorb as much UV, but it may become yellow over time. So you could just inspect it evry month or so to see if you need to replace it.
By the way, I tried cutting some of the 0.093" Lexan sheet using glass cutting technique: It was too flexible. Then I tried a fine metal cutting blade in a jigsaw. That worked perfectly. I got a very smooth edge with no cracks.
I don't know. I looked at some papers at:
http://www.geplastics.com/resins/techsolution/technifacts.html
but I did not see anything showing the absorbtion of UV for different varieties of Lexan. I did read one paper about UV surface degradation of lexan, which suggests that it does absorb a lot of the UV (otherwise it would not just occur at the surface). The Lexan XL has a special surface coating on one side that will make it more resistant to this UV degradation. I think without this coating it will still absorb as much UV, but it may become yellow over time. So you could just inspect it evry month or so to see if you need to replace it.
By the way, I tried cutting some of the 0.093" Lexan sheet using glass cutting technique: It was too flexible. Then I tried a fine metal cutting blade in a jigsaw. That worked perfectly. I got a very smooth edge with no cracks.
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