Hi guys,

For the last few weeks, I've been reading up and studying the various components and parts needed to build a projector. My hope is to start and finish it by the end of the summer when I go back to college. I'm renting a house, and I'm hoping the basement is as big as I remember seeing it. Hopefully I can get a pretty sweet setup going for when I move in. I think my main attractions are going to be Movies, and also my roommates have an Xbox 360, so we're definetally going to hook that up. I'm on a not so tight, but tight at the same time budget. I don't mind if my box doesn't look so great right now, since I'm probably going to get a haas box in the future, but today I'm going to head over to Home depot and look for some wood to get a handle getting the basic box built. I'm totally unexperienced at woodworking, so it's not going to look pretty, and my dad has limited power tools.

I haven't decided on a monitor yet, but I am pretty set on a 17 incher since they have better specs than the 15 inch ones for a cheaper price. I was looking at that LG lcd with the 1400:1 CR, but it looks kinda too good to be true. My ideal price for a monitor would be $150 - 200. Also, I would like to be able to project 720p. I've seen the WUXGA LCDs, but that's just a little too expensive.

I've been looking around to get a cheaper lighting system than the one here, but I haven't had that much luck. I'm thinking that I would rather have the pulse start and an electronic ballast. Is the LL kit a pulse start? I've heard that the Core and Coil ballasts are a lot heavier, and they look less appealing than the LL one. Plus it would be nice to get the reflector, and not have to worry about making my own.

I've decided that I'm going to get the standard triplet to keep the cost down, and who knows, maybe I'll upgrade later when I save up some more money, although that would require building a new box, but that wouldn't be so bad.

So all I need is:

17" LCD Monitor ............$151 Samsung 730B
Lighting Kit ................... $65 M59 Core and Coil Ballast and Bulb Kit (I hope this one works) The bulb is MH400/U
Lens Kit ........................$250 LL Pro Lens Kit (I hope I don't drop it)
Wiring Kit ......................$25 LL Wiring Kit
Reflector .......................$25 LL Pro Reflector (ah, why the heck not :-P, I just hope it fits my bulb)
Enclosure/Box ...............I went out and bought 2 pieces of 2x4' MDF
I should draw up some plans.

Without the Enclosure, the cost is $516. I was hoping to budget it, but I guess that is pretty good since it is a 17" PJ


Well, I'm going to go draw up some plans. I'll post them in a bit and hopefully I'll get some feedback

Thanks,

Andymeows

LL ballasts are nice, but i had one and it died fast due to heat and other issues, if you get a the ugle one and put it in the box no one sees it or hears it, and it will start the bulb faster, the first time, and so the only down is the added weight

now remember youll need a tv box for the xbox

if you look around you can get a balast shipped for 50 ish and a bulb for 30-50ish

also your fforgetting fans! to cool the beast and black paint for the inside

a note on the ballast, i recently moved mine outside the box ans i can hear it, before inside my case was dead silence

Im a RA at my school and I tell you what dorm rooms are pefect for projecting!, so im happy living on campus

also if you look around there is a debate that contrast rates are mostly bs, and they are mainly set by the backlight brightness not the lcd so i would be sure to go by user rating on a moniter modle, and make sure its strippable!

hmm, could I use PC fans? I've boughten those before and they weren't too expensive. I found what I think would be a decent ballast and bulb for 65.

What do you think about this ballast and bulb set for only $65.

http://cgi.ebay.com/400-Watt-Metal-Halide-...4QQcmdZViewItem

I'm really thinking about getting it.

Andy,

Check out the X2GEN 17"monitor at PCMall. It's only $115 after rebate and it has no FFC issues. It is the monitor I used in my build and I'm happy with it. Check out the end of my PLOG for screenies. It has a 1280 x 1024 resolution, 750:1 contrast ratio, 350 cd/m2 brightness and 8 ms response time (great for your 360 games).

Wow, this looks like a great monitor, although It doesn't look like it has a DVI input. I was thinking about using a reciever and getting a HDMI to DVI cable for HD stuff. Does it have a DVI hopefully?

Also another thing, I bought that Ballast and bulb kit. Unfortunately, it's core and coil, and probe start, but $65 for a ballast and a bulb is way too good of a deal. Let's just hope that my bulb doesn't burn out for a while.

Another thing to remember, if you are using a 17" monitor, and the standard triplet, it (standard trip) was designed with a 15" monitor in mind. So, you will most likely have to use powerstrip to shrink the vertical size of your monitors image. This set up can be done, but it does have limitations. Without powerstrip most reports are of dim corners.
Check the PLOG section further and look for Supraguys conversion from a 15" set up to 17". He mapped it out nicely and showed the plus and minus factor.
Good luck.
Bluto

nope, no DVI on the X2gen monitor.. if it had one, I would have already bought it.. sweet specs at such a good price

Thanks for the help guys, I updated my first post, as I have ordered:

A M59 Core and Coil Ballast with a MH400/U bulb for $65
2 fresnels with Focal points of 220 and 330 for $35
A Trip Lens with a Focal point of 327 from DIYPC for $35
A DIYPC reflector since it was only $3
Two 2x4 Pieces of MDF



I am also thinking of downgrading to a 15" LCD, since I already got the standard lens, and people seem to be having trouble with powerstrip.

Otherwise there is the N6 which I've seen being sold for cheap. This will allow you to do widescreen with your inputs at 1280x720. Check ChristmasGT's Plog as that is what he uses in some of his widescreen 360 games. I'm going with a similar path but all of my content will be widescreen. If you can find it for around $100 like Christmas and I did, it's definitely a great option.

So the N6 is used to convert the component video to VGA if I'm right. I was thinking of maybe just getting a reciever so that I could plug in all my inputs, and hook up speakers to the reciever and use that as lie a switcher between computer, tv, and game systems. would that maybe work the same?

I also don't understand why the 17" monitor wouldn't work with the standard lens? I ordered my fresnels from DIYPC. They are supposed to be 15.5x15.5 inches I hope. That would allow me to cut them down to the size of the 17 inch screen, and match up the 330mm fresnel to the 327mm lens. Is there a reason this wouldn't work?

Okay, My order from DIYPC was cancelled since my paypalwasn't verified. Now I am considering getting the Pro Lens Kit from LL and the Samsung 730B Since there are no FFC Issues and stuff. Then there won't be any problems with trying to get the 17 inch screen in the 15 inch setup.

Thats possibly the best piece of luck you could have had this week,,,

Much better to get the PRO lens and fressies at LL,,, been heaps of good results from those who have preceeded you thus far..

Ok, it's settled then, I'm going to bite the bullet and get the pro lens kit. I was wondering if the wiring kit is useful too, although it is kinda spendy for $25. are there alternative places for these? e.g. radio shack?

Sorry I haven't made this much of a plog yet, but once I get started, it'll be great, I promise. Also what kinda wood is the best to use? I picked up some MDF already, but I'm thinking of returning it and getting better wood. I haven't seen nearly anybody use it in their plogs.

doubt you could get the parts cheaper from radio shack.. they arn't exactly a discount supplier

the wiring kit is very useful because it comes with a circuit breaker. most designs incorperate a fuse that needs to be replaced when blown from an overload. a circuit breaker simply shuts off power to the circuit and can easily be reset with the press of a button. I'm sure you could find this and the DPST elsewhere, such as from digikey, farnell one, or other electronic suppliers though.

I think you're making the best decision. I used the pro triplet and larger fresnels from 3dlens with great results.

I also use the N6 and it gives you much more than your receiver will. It allows you to set the aspect ratio you want, control brightness, contrast, hue, etc. The only complaint is the quality of the s-video and composite pictures. It's not bad, but it's not great. Considering the price, it's a great value.

Hey..... this is what PLOG's are all about... Just keep us all updated. We're always dying to hear more and see pictures!

UPDATE:

I am the proud winner of a samsung 730b from ebay. Winning bid was $116.50 with 34.99 shipping for a total of $151.49. Wow, that was a rush, in the last 10 seconds, it went from 76 to 116. But I got it!

also, what about the fresnels and triplet from DIYPC, they look like the best deal. the 500mm lens is only $130. I was thinking that 3dlens was kinda expensive with $18 shipping. that's what the fresnel costs on DIYPC. I was thinking the 550mm fresnel is better since it would be closer to the 500mm focal point of the triplet lens.

So the options are:

Pro Triplet lens (500mm):

LL ................................... $199.99
DIYPC ............................. $129.95

Fresnels:

LL (650mm & 330mm) ........$49.98
DIYPC (550mm & 330mm)...$52.98
3DLens (550mm & 330mm)..$54.00 + $18 shipping

LL 650 +220!

what's the difference between the DIYPC Pro Lens and the LL Pro Lens?

only difference as far as I know is the overall dimensions

so it wouldn't really matter which one I get?

as long as they are big enough to cover your LCD and have the right focal lengths, it shouldn't matter.

take this in mind, I ordered from DIYPC and I have been waiting for my order since June 16, and still waiting till this day.........so expect to wait long......

about as big a difference as possible, the DIYPC lens(modded or unmodded) is not in the same class as the LL pro lens, there have been numerous discussions about it, one member just switched from the DIYPC to the pro (christmasGT) check out his PLOG

and thats the issue, the DIYPC really isn't meant for anything bigger than a 12 inch screen I believe, not sure how it operates on a 15" screen, but the LL pro blows it away....

well I think that settles it. I'm going to go with the LL Pro Lens Kit! Ordered Today! Starting the build hopefully soon. $300 is a big chuck of change. I hope this projector stuff you guys are talking up is really worth it :-P. At least I'll get a lot of reward points.

you get out what you put in

If you take your time and continue to 'do it right'...... you will be amazed!

Hey guys! Great news! I got my Light Kit today that I had ordered from ebay!
Although, I didn't get a mogul base, and I don't think I got an ignitor :-(
Can I get these at a retail store? I don't know if I can wait to order them online.

There's the Ballast


And the info on it


Here's the HUGE bulb
[img]http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/7553/lamp20cs.jpg[img]

you don't need an ignitor with an M59 ballast, you're good to go....

and I just saw some moguls on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-MOGUL-BASED-SOCKET...5QQcmdZViewItem

though a good lighting store should have some too...

that's a very sweet song to my ears.
and oh yeah, that's for the pulse start, isn't it. Well there's a huge lighting store about 10 mins away. It's off the highway and the wall facing the highway is made of glass and there's tons of fans and lights on all the time in there. I'm going there tommorow, and hoping at least my monitor shows up tommorow.

Thanks a ton!!!

sometimes they keep them in back for contractors and landscapers so you might have to asl

Will the Pro Reflector from LL work with an ED28 bulb? If not, then I've got one for trade I guess.

no, it needs a t15 style(cyinder) bulb... sorry!

So I didn't find a socket for my bulb yet, but I was thinking about how I'm going to wire this bad boy up. I haven't done any wiring projects since Jr High, and they were just ordinary lights. Any ideas on how to wire it for just the bulb to light up for now?


Here's what the wires look like.



Here's what I think it should be wired up like.


well, maybe a switch in there too

I should be getting my monitor today or tomorrow

Yeah!!! I got my LL Lens Kit, and my monitor today. Tommorow I'll be doing the stripping, although,I don't have my camera with me :-(

Anyone have any ideas on my wiring idea? or where to learn to wire?

Congrats on the lenses I don't know if your diagram is correct or not (I have a nice dumbed-down electronic ballast), but you can learn the basic of soldering somewhere like this. Items like power cords will be connected with wire nuts.

Anyone have any ideas on my wiring idea? or where to learn to wire?
[/quote]

The internet has many sites that are great starting points to get your feet wet (but not when working with electricity). There are alot of pictures, diagrams etc. The best thing would be to search/read as much as you can......install the wiring and then have someone savy in electrical work inspect your installation.

I would also look at this site and carefully see what others have done and copy the ones that look neat and have worked well. Even ask them questions PM or email.

Try to find a friend/neighbor/electrician who will help you out.

Good Luck!

So, I'm stripping my monitor. I got most of it done, like the power and inputs taken off, but I became hesitant after seeing the FFCs, I don't want to wreck them. Does anyone know of a guide for the 730b besides Triast's? I'll get my pics posted tommorow.

Here we go, I stripped my monitor and took pictures

Here's the back of the LCD with the stand removed


Then I pryed off the back with the use of a screwdriver


This little metal thing was kinda hard to get off, but just push the bottom part away from the middle
(the image is sideways, sorry)


I Seperated the controller card and power card from the LCD and backlight


Here's the LCD and backlight successfully separated

This screw wasted a lot of my time, it's so small and It took a long time to find a screwdriver that fit.
Then carefully pull the plastic off the lower FFCs.


I finally pulled it out, the LCD came apart from the backlight kinda easily.


Here it is, powered up freely, and there are no lines missing :D


So there it is. It measures loosly 13 3/4 inches by 11 inches.

Now its time to build the box it's going to be tough

whats the LCD panel number on the backlight?, couldn't read it when i blew up your pic

It is looking like the LTM170EX-L21 if I could make it out correctly.

Yeah, thats right

could you do me a favor and take a better picture of the back of the lcd itself(not the backlight, the actual plastic outside of the monitr, where it shows model#, model code and serial number? it probably shows the date of manufacture also, thats the first 730b with that panel in it(the first picture is too washed out to read it) I would really apreciate it, looking for a new lcd myself

So now I'm thinking about my box. It's seems like it's going to be pretty long.

650mm + 330mm = about 1000mm, which is like 2 and a half feet, plus room for the ballast, yikes

thanks a lot, yeah you box is going to be 3feet at least, 3 1/2 is not out of the question...

So I hooked up my ballast, and it works, and it's really bright. I'll post pictures tommorow. This weekend is the build date for the enclosure

So something came up, and building is off for the weekend, so, it'll be mornings this week.