Hi. I'm from Winnipeg. Just thought I'd tell you about my experiences. My cousin and I built a projector this past Christmas. Had a bunch of 400 W coil and core ballasts kicking around (about 14 of them! - two uncles are electricians), and most other parts, so whole project cost about $350. Bought a 15" Benq monitor which stripped easy and works well. Bought a Sylvania 400 W bulb with about 33,000 max lumens (not a very efficient bulb). Could not find a good reflector locally. Using mixing bowl with flat bottom - does not seem to help much. After a few months of watching movies every weekend, have gotten tired of low brightness, so couple weeks ago went looking for high efficiency 400 W bulb - found out could order them through Litemore, but have to purchase 6 of them. So decided to go 1000 W. Well, I was surprised at how much brighter projection is! Brightness is fantastic! (was skeptical given that arc tube is long so only focussing on part of it). So I would recommend to people who haven't built yet to just go 1000 W. Can't go back to 400 W now (although I don't know but maybe high efficiency 400 W bulb with good reflector might compare in brightness - I wonder how LL bulb and reflector would compare). New 1000 W bulb is on yellow side, but is tolerable and adjustable with computer. Bought my 1000 W wire & core ballast for $102 before taxes (new 400 W ballast would be $65), 1000 W Sylvania bulb for $42 before taxes, about a week ago, from Litemore. Make sure 1000 W ballast has 120 V tap. Projector probably draws about 11-12 amps with that setup, so it should be on its own electrical circuit. No problems with cooling, but some concerns about heat (it gives off a bunch more heat than 400 W) - don't want the box to start on fire and burn the house down. Going to insulate light box with Roxul (a batt insulation like fiberglass, but green in color and more fire resistant, available at Home Depot - btw, after using Roxul to insulate my house, can't go back to fiberglass). I'm looking to build another projector using a 17" monitor. Just checked tigerdirect.ca. LG 17" monitor with 8ms & 1400:1 contrast ratio !! $250. Would be interested to know if anyone has used it and whether it strips easy or has FFC issues. http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/Sea...2&CatId=167
Anyways, am optimistic that I can come very close to matching performance of my brother's Sanyo high definition LCD home theatre projector he purchased about 1-1/2 to 2 years ago for about $2,500 after taxes (except in terms of contrast ratio - his projector is a bunch better in that department than can make a LL projector - although that 1400:1 contrast ratio LG monitor looks like a major improvement). For those of you who haven't built one yet and enjoy building things, this is a cool project and worth you're while. But if you don't enjoy building things, I would say save your money to buy a commercial one. Even though picture of my projector is very good (esp. since installing 1000 W), cannot match awesomeness of picture of my brother's projector (and tiny projector size, projected image size adjustability without moving projector, effort & time to build one, etc.). One last note, am interrested in meeting other Winnipeg builders and seeing their results in person. Still have some minor picture issues (ghost images biggest issue) and want to see first hand if other's have same problems. Leave a response post, maybe we'll connect.

I too am from Winnipeg and am just starting to get into my first build. It's going to be a Haas style and the parts are just starting to come in now

What part of the city are you from? How old are you? So cool to hear of another Winnipeg builder on these forums!

Good-day fellow Peggers.....

Built the first generation (I think that's what you call it) 15" LCD projector using BENQ 557s screen, 400W Sylvania MH bulb (from Litemore), LL regular frensels and triplet......everything is mounted in a 1/2" thick birch box to reduce weight. Overall I am pleased with the results but I cannot achieve "pinpoint focus" throughout the projected image. I don't know if this is due to the quality of the plastic frensels or the uneven distribution of light from the 400W bulb. I am using a "Wal Mart" mixing bowl for a reflector, but am interested in finding a better reflector for even light distribution......

Anyways we can share thoughts / greetings/ ideas ......

Wow! There ARE Winnipeggers here! I just recently moved into the Fort Garry area. I was previously living in the Village and before that in River Heights. What part of the city are the rest of you at?

K-Man, just so you are aware, the 1400:1 contrast ratio is only when using the included backlight as it changes the amount of light on-the-fly to achieve this rather high contrast ratio. When stripped and just using the LCD, the contrast ratio is probably about 600:1 or maybe 700:1. Still an excellent contrast ratio for a DIY, but you definitely won't get the rated 1400:1.

I am still in the researching (and money saving) phase of this project. So far I have only purchased a Beseler Vu-Lyte document projector off of eBay and salvaged the 18" triplet, glass, fs mirror, and focus adjustment assembly. I just bought a house and before that a brand new car, so I'm a little house poor at the moment. I would definitely be interested in seeing a completed projector though! I'd bring beer of course! I can ALWAYS afford beer.

Well, I gotta go shovel. I look forward to chatting with you guys.

Cheers.