Finished the projector yesterday. Here it is completed (except for the screws on the lid) I'm very happy with the results....it produces a bright and quality image. It is much better then my old OHP pj. If you are thinking of doing an OHP I would recommend this instead. LCD came with 1 scratch (no dead pixels)...which shows up...but you don't really notice it when you are watching a movie. I don't have any result pictures yet...I don't have a digital camera...but I will get some next time someone comes over who has a good cam. Thanks Joe, Brain, Cnorth, and everyone else who helped me out and answered my questions.

LCD Monitor Viewsonic VG150 - $185
EYE Bulb - $40
Lumenlab Lense Kit - $65
MDF - $20
M59 Ballast - $10
Socket - $10
120mm 130cmf Fan - $5
NorPro - $15
Flashing - $5
Tempered Glass (from halogen fixture) - $15
Various parts: Nuts, Bolts, Screws, louvre etc. - $20

Total: $390

Some construction pictures:

The Box built and sanded:

Hole for the fan cut and a bunch of other parts laying around. In the lower left corner you can see the tempered glass from the halogen fixture mounted in a plywood frame (later I covered the plywood with flashing).

Testing a possible layout for the parts:

Ballast wired, switches installed (in the back), and wires secured to the wall.

Test run with the ushio. Unfortunately the ushio would not fire after this run (I have the M59 ballast) so I got the eye.

LCD stripped...quite a mess. Stripped well with no ffc problems. The electronics can be hinged out of the way.

Everything done except the focus box.

I thought I had heat problems because I was testing the temperature with a thermometer that required me to lift the lid to check the temp. (Lifting the lid makes it hotter for the LCD because air is no longer flowing over the LCD) But I just got a different thermometer today and it kept below 86 Deg. Fahrenheit for a full movie so it seems to be working well.

any result photos?

your ballast was only 10$?

Looks Great man! you got it done so cheap....we need some screen shots! Hope ya had fun making it. Were you in awe when you first got and image? I know i was, i just stood there smiling for like 15min at 2am in the morning.

did you make that board that the components are on? or is that board part of your components?? i know we have the same modem board but i thought they were identical.

Uneek, yes, I made the board that the electronics are mounted on... the main board is mounted on the back and is almost but not quite touching the enclosure wall...then the smaller circuit board is on the front (and there is a hole for the cable to go from one side to the other)...that allows for that big yellow ffc thing to connect the boards without having to be twisted... and the controls are on mounted behind where the electronics are mounted on the outside of the enclosure.

Cnorth, yeah...I was pretty impressed the first time I turned it on...I sat there and looked at the opening screen to Shrek for like 10 min saying.."wow.....so bright..so clear"..lol.. Yeah, it ended up totaling to be pretty cheap...(its $490 if you count the tv tuner $390 if you don't)

Cjab, no no result pics yet...I need to borrow a digital camera...the other pictures I have were taken with a disposible camera and i'm sure that won't do result pictures too well. And yes, the ballast was $10 second hand..but it was never used...pretty much new...from cnorth...that really saved me alot of money...thanks again cnorth!

Sweet dude...now that's what i call ingenuity. That way there is no wear an tear on the ffc from being twisted. I wouldn't suppose you have any closer pics of your board.
And where are the images at? We want to see how it turned out.

hehe..if you guys think his was cheap...wait until you see mine lol I have the same panel

btw..what are the exact dimensions of your box so i can compensate for having to mount my components on the side of my proj

Looks great man, I'm eagerly awaiting some screens .

If you don't mind could you post some specs of the box? I'm trying to get my box planned out for when my stuff comes next week.

Box Specs:
Approximate Interior Demensions are:------------
Aproximate overall/exterior dememsions: ----------------
...removed the demensions due to modest's request...i will send you a pm when i get home later tonight. (...sorry forgot that you didn't have to be a member to view this forum...brain does list the demensions in the FAQ page though..)

I used 1/8" plywood to mount the electronics...I don't know if you can find that but I think you could also use the stuff Joe2000chev used to mount his...im not sure what it is called.

Uneek, no result pics yet...Have to borrow a digital camera.

i would take out your deminsions - dont want to give away plans for free - thanks -



looks good keep it up

I AM A GUIDE BUYING MEMBER!!!! j/k. Well I am a guide buying member what I was joking about was that I'm not really mad. I really didn't get what you were saying at first. I thought you were calling me a nonmember. I guess u can feel safe again now that I know what you mean .

Thrasher: Well why didn't you just email it to me?? Duuuuhhhhh lol

Am i looking at it wrong or will the way he has his glass mounted will cause him to have light loss???

Sorry for asking for the dimensions, I only asked because we are both using the same LCD monitor in the PJ's, so they should be slightly customized from the original plans I assume.

Thanks thrasher

No worries folks, thanks for your consideration!

Looks great, good job.

Hey.... were did you get a M59 Ballast for $10?

I believe he said earlier it was a used ballast purchased from another member.