Make your own LCD projector?

[Tritoch84]

http://www.audiovisualizers.com/madlab/lcd_proj.htm

Is this really as easy as it sounds? Has anyone tried it? I was going to buy a new TV and make a MAME cabinet for my new project, but I really wanted a Dyanmo CP with a Projector. I don't have enough money for a projector (decent low-end ones start out at 899, like the X1/X2, anyone know of any others that are cheap?) so, with enough elbow grease and study, could I make one of these for the cost of a TV maybe? I don't want to waste money on a bunch of parts and it not work! It sounds easy enough...

EDIT: Wrong link! This is looking like a great idea for my uses!

http://www.louisville.edu/~wchall01/diyprojector/howto.htm

[Tritoch84]

So, the cheapest way to do this is to buy a Overhead Projector and a LCD Panel.

Problem is, I can't find a LCD panel ANYWHERE.

[Hurray Banana]

Do you think it would be possible to hack a panel from a knackered laptop.

I have one that works but the backlight is totally fried.

[Oddfeld]

Tom's Hardware did a nice guide to doing this, which can be read here.

There's a guide to some salvagable TFT panels they've tested (basically by dismantling some TFT monitors) here.

[Hurray Banana]

Thanks Oddfeld,

I checked the links out. I might have a go at this as I may be able to borrow a ohp to test it with. I let you know how I get on and post some pictures of my progress.

[Hoagie_one]

i just has the opportunity to get an old overhead projector on craigslist the other day too.....darn

[ChadTower]

Get an opaque projector and a $30 PS1 LCD screen.  Problem solved.  Hell, I have an opaque projector sitting in my basement.

[disaac]

Another great priced projector is the Sanyo Z1/Z2 a little more than the Infocus X1/X2's, but a great buy for someone than sees rainbows on the X1's.  I can personally vouch for the image quality.   I bought one.

[Tritoch84]

Get an opaque projector and a $30 PS1 LCD screen.  Problem solved.  Hell, I have an opaque projector sitting in my basement.

I need VGA and S-Vid inputs.

From what I remember, you can use laptop screens, it's just a pain.

Anyone know where I can get these things (LCD Panels) besides ebay?

[Lilwolf]

EBay is probably the place...

But a long time ago... I saw a rightup on how to convert an old dead notebook LCD into a DVI for this.  So in the end, you plug them into your DVI video card (can get them cheap).

btw, you CAN buy these pretty cheap on ebay for ready made ones... if you don't need the lumens (<300 really easy... but <600 and you can get ones that are so bright you can watch them in the daytime)..

So before you spend too much time... consider if you could just buy one cheaper.

I like finding an old overhead projector... garage sale for 10 bucks if you find one... Then a $30 ps1...  That sounds like a perfect use of 40 bucks to me

[Tritoch84]

All of these ideas are great, but it seems the only way do get VGA and S-Vid input is to go the LCD projection panel route.

I thought a simple VGA lcd panel would work fine, but that guys guide makes it seem like crap. Well, he looks like a gearhead, so I'm going to ignore it. I've seen VGA projection that looks amazing. And the way he had to jerry rig that whole setup didn't seem to stable, or sturdy.

*sigh*

*Goes back to ebay to look at 11 crappy LCD panels*

[Tritoch84]

Thought I would update this thread,...

I found on Ebay, a nView Spectra C for 70 bucks (a pretty good deal).

I called this citys school board, and asked if they had any overhead projectors they would like to get rid of. She said "Well, come up here, I'll give you the key, get what you like, and I'll figure up a price for it."

So most of it is garbage, so many dead printers and tvs and OHP's. Then I found one that said "works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't". I took it into her office, plugged it in, and it worked! I was wondering why this one haden't been stripped of it's parts to fix other OHP's, and then found out why when I got it home.

It's a DYS bulb type, not a typical one. I was worried that it wouldn't have enough lumens to see a clear picture,  (4000 is the recomended) and then after some research, I find out that this thing is like the Muscle Car of OHP's, 17,000 lumens....

for $10.

I might need to get better cooling for it, but for now it works great. I'm getting awesome picture from my VGA out to a blackout cloth in my living room. Now all I need is to build a Stand up CP! The projection will be my monitor!

Just in case anyone was interested.

The whole projection setup cost me 80 bucks. Not bad!

[IG-88]

Can you post some pics of your set-up?

[Tritoch84]

I would, but I don't own a digital camara.

My parents do, though. So next time I'm down there (two days from now) I'll see if I can get some decent pics up!

[jbox]

NOTE: Don't forget the printer principle - aka always make sure you know what replacement *BULBS* are going to cost before you bid on the OHP. Out here in the backwaters of civilization some of those suckers can break $60 without a sweat...

[Tritoch84]

DYS bulbs cost around 10 bucks for an average price.

The more common ones are around that cheap or lower.

[IG-88]

Thought I would update this thread,...

I found on Ebay, a nView Spectra C for 70 bucks (a pretty good deal).

I called this citys school board, and asked if they had any overhead projectors they would like to get rid of. She said "Well, come up here, I'll give you the key, get what you like, and I'll figure up a price for it."

So most of it is garbage, so many dead printers and tvs and OHP's. Then I found one that said "works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't". I took it into her office, plugged it in, and it worked! I was wondering why this one haden't been stripped of it's parts to fix other OHP's, and then found out why when I got it home.

It's a DYS bulb type, not a typical one. I was worried that it wouldn't have enough lumens to see a clear picture,

[quadmasta]

http://www.lumenlab.com best $20 you'll ever spend.  There's probably more information there than you could read in a month.

There's a guy using a SGI monitor running 720p at 16' wide.  That's impressive.  Replacement bulbs are <$30

[Tritoch84]

"Stand up CP".... an arcade control panel.....

Now, of course, a simple "buy LCD panel, put on top of OHP" setup isn't going to be AMAZING.

Depending on the panel you get, and the OHP, and what light setup you plan to use, or if you deside to make your own box for the LCD and use lenses, there are TONS of things that can improve the image.

To me, the image is just fine! It could be improved though. As for movies, they look fine on it, and would look even better with a different lighting setup (metal halide), and I need to fix the light leakage on the OHP, the model I have leaks ALOT of light.  The light isn't distracting, to me anyway, and the noise of the OHP and panel don't matter that much, you can hear it if you listen for it, but if you have the volume up like it's supposed to be when you watch an awesome movie, you hardly notice. Imagine getting ticked off everytime your AC went on in your house if you were watching a movie, and it makes ten times less noise then that.