diy projector

[b0ardpunk]

I am interested in building my own lcd projector using a replacement laptop screen. I was wondering how i could hook up the screen to my desktop's video card in order to get it to function. Does anyone have any idea how to do this?

[alangeering]

2things:

1. Yes, I know how to do it. But it's not as simple as you think it might be.

2. I strongly advise against going for the DIY route. Even if you get it to work the quality will not be great, it will be unreliable and possibly unsafe. In the end you will buy a LCD projector... so save yourself the hassle and buy a proper projector now.



You need a special LCD driver card. These can be purchased but usually cost over ?90 (normal price is around $200).
The LCD panel will cost you at least ?50. The OHP ?50, and probably another ?100 in assorted electronics/houseings etc. (I'm basing all this on 2nd hand parts). For ?400 to ?600, you're building a massive heavy, unsafe projector that has poor performance.
?100 more will get you a cheap (but new) or good (but 2nd hand) LCD projector that will be safe.

If you came to the theatre with an OHP based projector I would not let you use it. I have a responsability of care to the patrons (i.e. nothing unsafe will be allowed in the theatre) and a responsability, towards the patrons, to maintain quality.

If you can tell me that you have a very large ammount of experience in electronics, and you have a good place to work, and you have all the necessary equipment to check its electrical safety, and you've read all the safety rules on design of CE devices, then I might be able to recomend you play around with building a projector.

PM me if you really want more information on DIY efforts with large LCD panels.

Alan G

[visualove]

I'm with Alan on this. I'm an engineer and wouldn't attempt it (unless I had free use of a lens fabrication facility You have a very hot lamp, which, by the way, occasionally explodes. The bigger the panel, the bigger the lenses needed. There is a lot that goes into a projector if you search my previous posts.

You may be aware of froogle.com - the google kids have a search engine for products for sale online, ordered by price.
Froogle 'refurbished "video projector"' - you might be surprised what you find. The newspapers here are advertising new SGA 1200 lumen projectors for $850US. I have found ebay to be over priced, because there is so much demand.

As well, you could look at a projector coop to share the costs, or rent your projector to people you know to offset the cost.

[AndresC4]

here in argentina the rent of a projector is abouth 70uss por day ( and only 3 hours use )

if i have a own video projector i will have more demand of work
as "vj" , here is too much exensive

the cheapest video projector is Sony VPL CS7
SVGA (800*600)
1800 ANSI lumens
2.7kg (6.00lbs.)
2500 hour lamp life (typical)
1500uss

and the cheapsest lcd monitor is Samsung 510N LCD 15''
and is 300uss + lamp + lenss you don?t have more than 500uss

1500 against 500

it?s a litle diference

[alangeering]

1. but how much is your life worth?

2. $500 + build time, + wasted time when it breaks + tears when you finally give up and throw it away.

3. real projectors have mounting holes, and cradles. They can be safly hung. Your creation following this route would be a nightmare to hand anywhere.

4. As a child in Argentina I dropped a sock under my bed. When I went to pick it up the bed gave me an electirc shock. Not believing it I tried again, and was shocked again. It turned out the wires to a lamp had worn and the bed was now electrified. Most of the house electrics were connected by wrapping wires together and wrapping with tape.
Not all Argentina is like this, but many people still put others at risk because they want to save some money.

5. I love Argentina, so don't think I hate it!
I can understand why people want to do things cheaply. Wages are low and imported electronics cost lots. My family over there has no money.

[visualove]

Andres - you have answered your own question - find a business partner to buy a projector and then rent it out. Rent by day, VJ by night, you can recover the cost in 20 days. Best wishes for your VJ career, keep us posted on events in Argentina.

[akira_k]

Originally posted by AndresC4
here in argentina the rent of a projector is abouth 70uss por day ( and only 3 hours use )

This is wrong, actually. I rent mine for less and that gives me all night access to them. And I'm talking about TOP NOTCH equipment installed and taken care of by the very best professionals.

if i have a own video projector i will have more demand of work
as "vj" , here is too much exensive

I don't think having your own projector would increase your workflow. Though it could make your total cost a bit cheaper to the client, you have to take into accoutn how much it takes and costs to maintain int in tip-top shape.

To me renting them has always been the solution, I don't even rent them myself, I point my client to the A/V hire company I work with and tell them I work with their equipment. If they want to chose something else it's their choice and eventual problem if something goes wrong, I recommended others. This has happened many times.

Don't buy a projector, I say.

Originally posted by alangeering Not all Argentina is like this, but many people still put others at risk because they want to save some money.[/i]

The things I could say... this is absolutely true and I have developed a certain resistance to electric shocks already :P

visualove: if you are interested in events over here, you could of check our past progress on the A/V AVIT-related microevents. We're planning them for this year but the situation is quite difficult with the recent club-fire craze...

[AndresC4]

"if i have a own video projector i will have more demand of work
as "vj" , here is too much exensive"

I mean in Big events, the cost of hiring a royector is small
but i?m not ready to work in such so big parys.

Nowarday i?m tring to get small partys performances
if they have to hire a proyector for 230$ ( pesos )
i cant pretend to get much mony for my work because
they cannot destinate 400$ for a litle screen with crazy draws ( the think that way )

so if I have my own proyector i would have more demand

akira_k remembers, bsas is too much diferent from rosario


i?m in a midle - hi economy posicion,
and don?t think i like spendig time for earn a couple of dolars
i love creating things , and i love electronics.

maybe thats why i like diy projects.
look a this webpage that i made when i was 15
and tellme,,, what was the reason to spend money and lote
of time building a waterblock to OC the CPU 200mzh more?
with that money i culd sell my old cpu and buy another too mucho faster than the fist overcloked ???

becuse i like to look at my project and say : I DID IT

[akira_k]

Originally posted by AndresC4
I mean in Big events, the cost of hiring a royector is small
but i?m not ready to work in such so big parys.

Nowarday i?m tring to get small partys performances
if they have to hire a proyector for 230$ ( pesos )
i cant pretend to get much mony for my work because
they cannot destinate 400$ for a litle screen with crazy draws ( the think that way )

1) "little parties" here, if they want a projector, know that they will have to shell out the cash for it.

2) Hiring a projector in BA costs between 150 and 200 pesos. When we go to Rosario, we hire the gear here and let the guys travel to rosario to install it. It's cheaper and much better, these guys are PRO.

3) If the party is little there is no need for two screens. Cut on the budget.

4) In most cases you can't expect much money if you are starting up, we already know this. It all depends on the party, how good your work is and how you promote/market yourself. Probably the way they think is correct because no one has changed they mindset, either marketing themselves properly, or showing them really good work.


If you ar in a middle-hi class economic position, I don't se any reasoning indiscussing this, save your cash and purchase a projector.

[jaqx]

Renting is the way forwards. Actually there is one Projector Rental company in Bs As where most vj's rent from. The secret is to develop a fluid commercial reltionship with them. That might bring you more work or projector rental for less money.