SO far
Well guys I can't sleep, I put the projector away though, but I was thinking, it did come with the burn't out bulb and ballast. I just took the bulb threw it away and kept the ballast. Tell me Apo, how did you manage to keep the bulb flush against the fresnel. By homemade stands. I destroyed the ELPL10 ballast and all I have is the old 06 ballast and the raw 10 bulb. Trying to figure out a way to make the bulb stay in place against the fresnel. Well I'm jumping ahead of things, sorry. I'll wait till tommrow.
Well guys I can't sleep, I put the projector away though, but I was thinking, it did come with the burn't out bulb and ballast. I just took the bulb threw it away and kept the ballast. Tell me Apo, how did you manage to keep the bulb flush against the fresnel. By homemade stands. I destroyed the ELPL10 ballast and all I have is the old 06 ballast and the raw 10 bulb. Trying to figure out a way to make the bulb stay in place against the fresnel. Well I'm jumping ahead of things, sorry. I'll wait till tommrow.
Before I show you how to adjust the image I want you to try something. Shift the lamp inside the projector from side to side and up and down to see if that removes the line on the left side of your screen.
Basically what you are trying to do is center the beam of light that is comming out of the lamp and into the projector. You will have to open the lamp cover, adjust the lamp and close it again to start it ( I did this many many times). An easier way of doing it is to put a piece of paper or cardboard in the lamp cover switch (white button looking thing) to keep the projector going while the cover is off. Doing this will give you time to play with the lamp and wiggle it around till you have a good image, then brace it.
The way I installed my lamp was by cutting off only the end of the ELPLP10 assembly (about 3/4 to 1 inch off the end) and then holding it inplace with cardboard. Just enough to hold it inplace, kind off like shims.
As for the wires I stripped them a little and twisted them together and taped them up very well. Be very carefull when doing this as the plastic material these projectors are made from will cause shorts. Dont let the wires touch the plastic or any other part of the projector.
By what I read you completely removed the lamp from the plastic frame of the ELPLP10. If you did that I recomend you put it back together and then cut off the end.
What you have is only the lamp AKA lamp assembly, the ballast you refer to is inside the projector, ballast is what supplies the power to the lamp. So I doubt "you destroyed the ballast"
I'll work on that diagram today to show you where the alignment screws are but try what I said first. Might save you lots of trouble.
Good luck,
ap0
Basically what you are trying to do is center the beam of light that is comming out of the lamp and into the projector. You will have to open the lamp cover, adjust the lamp and close it again to start it ( I did this many many times). An easier way of doing it is to put a piece of paper or cardboard in the lamp cover switch (white button looking thing) to keep the projector going while the cover is off. Doing this will give you time to play with the lamp and wiggle it around till you have a good image, then brace it.
The way I installed my lamp was by cutting off only the end of the ELPLP10 assembly (about 3/4 to 1 inch off the end) and then holding it inplace with cardboard. Just enough to hold it inplace, kind off like shims.
As for the wires I stripped them a little and twisted them together and taped them up very well. Be very carefull when doing this as the plastic material these projectors are made from will cause shorts. Dont let the wires touch the plastic or any other part of the projector.
By what I read you completely removed the lamp from the plastic frame of the ELPLP10. If you did that I recomend you put it back together and then cut off the end.
What you have is only the lamp AKA lamp assembly, the ballast you refer to is inside the projector, ballast is what supplies the power to the lamp. So I doubt "you destroyed the ballast"
I'll work on that diagram today to show you where the alignment screws are but try what I said first. Might save you lots of trouble.
Good luck,
ap0
Going to try it
Well, did you say wiggle and adjust the lamp with the projector on? Wow, I'm a little scared to do that, the voltages put out by these lamps can kill, but I guess if I open the cover adjust the lamp shove some cardboard in there turn it on, then write down results I should be fine. But what I still need an understanding of is the bulb is the same size as the first fresnel if it's flushed against the fresnel, why would there be a need to adjust since if you hold the raw against the fresnal glass it fits perfectly. Well talk to you in a bit....
Well, did you say wiggle and adjust the lamp with the projector on? Wow, I'm a little scared to do that, the voltages put out by these lamps can kill, but I guess if I open the cover adjust the lamp shove some cardboard in there turn it on, then write down results I should be fine. But what I still need an understanding of is the bulb is the same size as the first fresnel if it's flushed against the fresnel, why would there be a need to adjust since if you hold the raw against the fresnal glass it fits perfectly. Well talk to you in a bit....
Yeah, it sounds a little scarry but if you have the connections taped up well then you have nothing to worry about except a little burn, if you touch the lamp. This is why I left mine in the plastic frame.
Since I left the frame on, then the frame is the one up against the fresnel. I guess you would have a little gap between the actual lamp and the fresnel. Im still working on the diagram for you. Should be done tonight (I have to draw out the pj and it's guts.
ap0
Since I left the frame on, then the frame is the one up against the fresnel. I guess you would have a little gap between the actual lamp and the fresnel. Im still working on the diagram for you. Should be done tonight (I have to draw out the pj and it's guts.
ap0
Retried it
Dude, your awesome....thanks. I put the lamp back into the housing like you said and shoved the cardboard into the sides to keep the lamp aligned with the fresnel. Boy I hope that piece of cardboard doesn't burn up, I have no extinguisher. I got a picture projected, it shows the line but if I shake the projector a little the line disappears. Tell me this is your picture dim or strong. I can see a little in moderate light but I still have to turn off all lights to have an awesome picture. And is your fan harsh and loud? thanks a million.....Pat
Dude, your awesome....thanks. I put the lamp back into the housing like you said and shoved the cardboard into the sides to keep the lamp aligned with the fresnel. Boy I hope that piece of cardboard doesn't burn up, I have no extinguisher. I got a picture projected, it shows the line but if I shake the projector a little the line disappears. Tell me this is your picture dim or strong. I can see a little in moderate light but I still have to turn off all lights to have an awesome picture. And is your fan harsh and loud? thanks a million.....Pat
I haven't had any problems with the cardboard and its been a while. As with all projectors the room must be pitch dark to get the best image but I can see mine with some light and still have a decent picture to watch.
Attached you'll see a crappy image I made to show you more or less where to go. I had a pic of the projector from the top with the cover removed that I wan'ted to use for this but I lost it. 😕
Arrow #1: Points to a screw that adjusts the horizontal. To get to this screw you have to remove a black piece of plastic tape. It'll be rectangle looking. Just stick a blade under it and pull it off. There you'll see an adjustment screw. Adjust till the line is gone (Adjust while the projector is ON ) but don't adjust to much as there is a spring clip holding two frames together. If this clip springs off then you'll have to take the whole projector appart to set it again. NO fun...
Arrow #2: Is basically the same thing but adjusts the vertical. It's on the side of the light engine. It might be under the same kind of plastic or it might not, I don't remember. It's really hard to get to the screw so use a small curved screw driver is you have one. If not there are a few screws you remove that will allow you to move the whole light engine to give you some room.
Thats basically it. Im sure it'll take care of your problem.
Good luck 🙂
ap0
Attached you'll see a crappy image I made to show you more or less where to go. I had a pic of the projector from the top with the cover removed that I wan'ted to use for this but I lost it. 😕
Arrow #1: Points to a screw that adjusts the horizontal. To get to this screw you have to remove a black piece of plastic tape. It'll be rectangle looking. Just stick a blade under it and pull it off. There you'll see an adjustment screw. Adjust till the line is gone (Adjust while the projector is ON ) but don't adjust to much as there is a spring clip holding two frames together. If this clip springs off then you'll have to take the whole projector appart to set it again. NO fun...
Arrow #2: Is basically the same thing but adjusts the vertical. It's on the side of the light engine. It might be under the same kind of plastic or it might not, I don't remember. It's really hard to get to the screw so use a small curved screw driver is you have one. If not there are a few screws you remove that will allow you to move the whole light engine to give you some room.
Thats basically it. Im sure it'll take care of your problem.
Good luck 🙂
ap0
Attachments
Well almost done
Thanks Apo, So once the cover is off I might as well get my micro vacuum cleaner and clean all the insides of the projector. There's alot of dust on the LCD panels, oil the fans, they drive me nuts, sound like an f-14 taking off.
clean the lens and everything. Resolder the lamp and seal the wire connection with heat shrink. Cardboard should be ok since you've used it for months with no problems.
In conclusion, I think the money people spend on DIY projector might exceed finding a projector on Ebay without a lamp or burn't out lamp. They go for about $200-$500. Then you just find the suitable substitute. If you look hard enough you'll find a great deal. In my case I bought the Epson 5500c with buy it now for 399.00 without lamp/free shipping which in my opinion is a damn good deal. It's small enough to put on my dresser in my room, and very sharp looking. The lamp is about $60 plus $10 s/h. Total cost of projector $470. Here's another solution, there's a company called INVENTORY SOLUTIONS and they liquidate used projectors and broken ones. I've seen them as low as $100 for an NEC MT-810 with a burn't out bulb. Guy's you can't get any better than that. Bottom line is $100 plus $100 for bulb off Ebay, total=$200 I've seen people putting in $500 to $700 for LCD's light sources, lens, and the thing turns out to be as big as a coffee table. Until they come out with smaller LCD's with higher resolution and more efficient light sources I think the DIY is not worth it. I think someone should put out more thread with salvage commercial projectors and ways to fix them and make them better. There was a guy 2 weeks ago on Ebay who was selling brand new Epson projector parts. Optical engines, mainboards, the whole nine yards, and I'm pretty sure the price is reasonable. Imagine what you can do with all those parts. Well just food for thought guys. Tell me what you think....Chiao......
Pat
Thanks Apo, So once the cover is off I might as well get my micro vacuum cleaner and clean all the insides of the projector. There's alot of dust on the LCD panels, oil the fans, they drive me nuts, sound like an f-14 taking off.
clean the lens and everything. Resolder the lamp and seal the wire connection with heat shrink. Cardboard should be ok since you've used it for months with no problems. In conclusion, I think the money people spend on DIY projector might exceed finding a projector on Ebay without a lamp or burn't out lamp. They go for about $200-$500. Then you just find the suitable substitute. If you look hard enough you'll find a great deal. In my case I bought the Epson 5500c with buy it now for 399.00 without lamp/free shipping which in my opinion is a damn good deal. It's small enough to put on my dresser in my room, and very sharp looking. The lamp is about $60 plus $10 s/h. Total cost of projector $470. Here's another solution, there's a company called INVENTORY SOLUTIONS and they liquidate used projectors and broken ones. I've seen them as low as $100 for an NEC MT-810 with a burn't out bulb. Guy's you can't get any better than that. Bottom line is $100 plus $100 for bulb off Ebay, total=$200 I've seen people putting in $500 to $700 for LCD's light sources, lens, and the thing turns out to be as big as a coffee table. Until they come out with smaller LCD's with higher resolution and more efficient light sources I think the DIY is not worth it. I think someone should put out more thread with salvage commercial projectors and ways to fix them and make them better. There was a guy 2 weeks ago on Ebay who was selling brand new Epson projector parts. Optical engines, mainboards, the whole nine yards, and I'm pretty sure the price is reasonable. Imagine what you can do with all those parts. Well just food for thought guys. Tell me what you think....Chiao......
Pat
DIY vs. O.E.M
I totally agree with you PatricQ. It cheaper and BETTER to get a pj without a working lamp then rigging a lamp onto it than it is to make your own. If you get a working pj for lets say $200 and you spend another $100.00 on a lamp and ballast (remember it doesn't have to be an O.E.M replacement) that's $300 total and you have a great pj compared to a DIY.
Not that im crappying on any DIYers, I think its great to build your own pj but does the quality match up to an O.E.M pj even an old one? Will it ever? I mean 640x480 is from early-mid 80's.
You can even gut the pj, stick it in a nice computer case, and then rig on any MH lamp you have, 200 - 300 - 400 watts..... your call.
It'll be MUCH smaller than a OHP and panel too! When I first found this forum I was all excited about building my own pj but once I saw how much work goes into it to get adverage results.... I'd rather invest on something that I know will give me an image that I won't try to improve everyday.
I clean my pj once every two months or when I see dust on the panels. I use my shop compressor (with a vapor trap) to blow air off the panels. In the next week or two im going to build a "clean box" (sealed box with an air filter to remove dust) so i can take appart my lens and clean it properly. I don't know if you've looked into the lens when its on but you can see ALOT of dust on them.
I've also bene thinking about making a hush box but to keep dust out. My epson doesnt make much noise when its on. Maybe your fan is rubbing on something?
UPS just dropped off my ELPLP06. The lamp looks exactly the same as the ELPLP10 except its a little bigger. I'll try it tonight and see what the difference in light output is.
ap0
I totally agree with you PatricQ. It cheaper and BETTER to get a pj without a working lamp then rigging a lamp onto it than it is to make your own. If you get a working pj for lets say $200 and you spend another $100.00 on a lamp and ballast (remember it doesn't have to be an O.E.M replacement) that's $300 total and you have a great pj compared to a DIY.
Not that im crappying on any DIYers, I think its great to build your own pj but does the quality match up to an O.E.M pj even an old one? Will it ever? I mean 640x480 is from early-mid 80's.
You can even gut the pj, stick it in a nice computer case, and then rig on any MH lamp you have, 200 - 300 - 400 watts..... your call.
It'll be MUCH smaller than a OHP and panel too! When I first found this forum I was all excited about building my own pj but once I saw how much work goes into it to get adverage results.... I'd rather invest on something that I know will give me an image that I won't try to improve everyday.
I clean my pj once every two months or when I see dust on the panels. I use my shop compressor (with a vapor trap) to blow air off the panels. In the next week or two im going to build a "clean box" (sealed box with an air filter to remove dust) so i can take appart my lens and clean it properly. I don't know if you've looked into the lens when its on but you can see ALOT of dust on them.
I've also bene thinking about making a hush box but to keep dust out. My epson doesnt make much noise when its on. Maybe your fan is rubbing on something?
UPS just dropped off my ELPLP06. The lamp looks exactly the same as the ELPLP10 except its a little bigger. I'll try it tonight and see what the difference in light output is.
ap0
Difference between ELP06 and ELP10
Great Apo, I hope the 10 is brighter it has to be it's rated at 1000 lumens. But let me know, thanks......
Great Apo, I hope the 10 is brighter it has to be it's rated at 1000 lumens. But let me know, thanks......
Access to LCD's
Apo, the lcd seems to be smudged and very dusty. How do I access them to get a good clean?
Apo, the lcd seems to be smudged and very dusty. How do I access them to get a good clean?
Unplug the pj then remove the cover. Remove the first pc board you see on top, the one that the ribbon cable connects too. Then remove the black filter cover you see. There you have some access to clean the lcds.
A better way 🙂 (takes more time but you'll get 99% better results) is to remove the light engine from the projector. Then you can remove the lens assembly where the lcds are attached too. The lens, prizm, lcds (3) and bottom fan is one unit.
You'll see some reddish golddish screws. They'll have a bigger head than the rest of them. Remove'em and set asside. Then unplug all the wires, should be six plugs including the ribbon on the top right. When you clean the lcds make sure not to scratch them. Use a 100% cotton material or go to a camera shop and buy a piece of lens cleaner.
You can also try to clean the lcds with some kind of q-tip but I think that would be to coarse and ruin the lcds. 😕
ap0
A better way 🙂 (takes more time but you'll get 99% better results) is to remove the light engine from the projector. Then you can remove the lens assembly where the lcds are attached too. The lens, prizm, lcds (3) and bottom fan is one unit.
You'll see some reddish golddish screws. They'll have a bigger head than the rest of them. Remove'em and set asside. Then unplug all the wires, should be six plugs including the ribbon on the top right. When you clean the lcds make sure not to scratch them. Use a 100% cotton material or go to a camera shop and buy a piece of lens cleaner.
You can also try to clean the lcds with some kind of q-tip but I think that would be to coarse and ruin the lcds. 😕
ap0
Complete overhaul and restoration
Well I guess this projector has never been cleaned, it has green blobs and dots all over the screen so I'm going to take this projector all apart and clean every little detail. Should devote a couple of hours...So Apo how was that ELP06 bulbs, was the brightness the same as ELP10?
Pat
Well I guess this projector has never been cleaned, it has green blobs and dots all over the screen so I'm going to take this projector all apart and clean every little detail. Should devote a couple of hours...So Apo how was that ELP06 bulbs, was the brightness the same as ELP10?
Pat
I think theres a slight difference. In my opinion the ELPLP06 is just a tad brighter. Although I feel I had more (better) contrast with the ELPLP10. Go figure....
ap0
ap0
trying something new
I'm going to try and put some silverized teflon tape between the ELP10 and the first fresnel lens. just wrap all around That should block in some more light and should give me some more lumeys. Let you know of the results tonight.
Pat
I'm going to try and put some silverized teflon tape between the ELP10 and the first fresnel lens. just wrap all around That should block in some more light and should give me some more lumeys. Let you know of the results tonight.
Pat
Oh, Lord have mercy!!
I think I messed up. Let me tell you. I took the whole thing apart, gave everything a good cleaning, I mean everything. Put it vback together, put the cover on and then turned it on. The lamp fired up for a split second then the temperature lamp came on flashing and the two fans in the back kicked in. I don't know what I did. I checked all the wiring and I put everything back like how it should. Do you think the lamp is shorting. Please help....
Pat
I think I messed up. Let me tell you. I took the whole thing apart, gave everything a good cleaning, I mean everything. Put it vback together, put the cover on and then turned it on. The lamp fired up for a split second then the temperature lamp came on flashing and the two fans in the back kicked in. I don't know what I did. I checked all the wiring and I put everything back like how it should. Do you think the lamp is shorting. Please help....
Pat
Fixed it, thank god!!
Very trivial problem. You know when you take the bottom fan out and there is this metal plate with three fins which attaches to the bottom plate of the LCD block? Well those fin are so easily bent that they will block the movement of the fan which caused my problem. After LCD cleaning the picture is crystal clear. WOW I'm so amaze at myself. Oh and thanks for all the advice, and I hope people reading this will do the same......CHaio
Very trivial problem. You know when you take the bottom fan out and there is this metal plate with three fins which attaches to the bottom plate of the LCD block? Well those fin are so easily bent that they will block the movement of the fan which caused my problem. After LCD cleaning the picture is crystal clear. WOW I'm so amaze at myself. Oh and thanks for all the advice, and I hope people reading this will do the same......CHaio
PatrickQ,
That same thing happened to me but with the wires (inside) from the lamp. There were stopping the rear fans from spinning and would give me the red lamp LED and temp lamp LED. I freaked!! But once I checked everything and moved the wires then everything was fine. Good safety feature.
Im glad everything worked out for you. It is a good projector and puts out a great image.
Enjoy!
Ap0
That same thing happened to me but with the wires (inside) from the lamp. There were stopping the rear fans from spinning and would give me the red lamp LED and temp lamp LED. I freaked!! But once I checked everything and moved the wires then everything was fine. Good safety feature.
Im glad everything worked out for you. It is a good projector and puts out a great image.
Enjoy!
Ap0
Cover Flex wire rework for Epson 5500c
Well, you know that flex wire the one between the cover and the whole unit the one with the power buttons and the whole spew. Well after many times of taking the cover on an off I think it took it's toll. Now it's working intermitently, and only works when I open the cover and wiggle the cable. It has a minute crack in one of the prints. I guess I'm going to have to get a remote. I probably go to digikey and find a replacement flexcable to rewire. This is fun...joy
Pat
Well, you know that flex wire the one between the cover and the whole unit the one with the power buttons and the whole spew. Well after many times of taking the cover on an off I think it took it's toll. Now it's working intermitently, and only works when I open the cover and wiggle the cable. It has a minute crack in one of the prints. I guess I'm going to have to get a remote. I probably go to digikey and find a replacement flexcable to rewire. This is fun...joy
Pat
that sucks... i took the cover off mine many many times without any problems. i was carefull as not to brake that wire since they are really fragile.
ap0
ap0
Obtained Service manual for 5500c
Hey guys, I just downloaded a copy of the Epson 5500c service manual and let me tell you it's a piece of crap. It tells you not to mess with the optical engine not to disassemble take screws out nothing. Just simply remove and replace with a whole new unit which is a $1500 replacement. They say if you take the bottom 3 screws on the bottom of the prism it could cause the image to distort and colors to jumble. Don't know if it's true since I've reassembled and disassembled it 5 times now. Was hoping for direction to fine tune the optics and how to clean, but all they say is to replace. Well if you guys want a copy I can email it to you.....chaio....Pat
Hey guys, I just downloaded a copy of the Epson 5500c service manual and let me tell you it's a piece of crap. It tells you not to mess with the optical engine not to disassemble take screws out nothing. Just simply remove and replace with a whole new unit which is a $1500 replacement. They say if you take the bottom 3 screws on the bottom of the prism it could cause the image to distort and colors to jumble. Don't know if it's true since I've reassembled and disassembled it 5 times now. Was hoping for direction to fine tune the optics and how to clean, but all they say is to replace. Well if you guys want a copy I can email it to you.....chaio....Pat
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