I've been on the forums for quite a while, checking out all the projects. Finally got the money to build a projector, so I'm hammering out the parts list. I already have a 15.4" from johnzo coming tomorrow, so I'm trying to get the rest of the parts figured out (haven't been able to find any simple lists of supplies to buy).

Here's what I have so far:
$425 15.4 Kit - Samsung 15.4 1920x1200 LCD, MST Controller (HDMI, Component, VGA, S-Video, CVBS, Coax), Power Cable, Remote http://www.manhattanlcd.com/ProductDetails...roductCode=1002 (PURCHASED)

$10 Bulb Socket - http://www.lumenlab.com/estore/product.php...=254&page=1 (PURCHASED)

$150 Bulb Ballast - http://www.lumenlab.com/estore/product.php...=254&page=1 (PURCHASED)

$50 Lamp - http://www.lumenlab.com/estore/product.php...=254&page=1 (PURCHASED)

$15 Reflector - http://www.lumenlab.com/estore/product.php...=254&page=1 (PURCHASED)

$5 5amp Circuit Breaker - http://www.lumenlab.com/estore/product.php...=255&page=1

$17.50 Lens 1 - http://www.lumenlab.com/estore/product.php...=253&page=1 (PURCHASED)

$17.50 Lens 2 - http://www.lumenlab.com/estore/product.php...=253&page=1 (PURCHASED)

$30 Triplet - http://www.lumenlab.com/estore/product.php...=253&page=1

Pro Triplet (PURCHASED)

And of course some supplies for the actual cabinet (and the wiring I can figure out myself, as well as the cooling).

Anything that I should change?

i think you need a lens with bigger diameter. such as the hdtv pro lens or a beseler 18" or 22".

You could use a standard triplet but you would need larger fresnels.

Lumenlab sells the larger 220mm pro fresnel and then you would need the larger 330mm fresnel from 3dlens.com.

But I recommend the Pro triplet and Pro fresnels from LL.

You might not be happy with the short throw the standard lens would offer.

Yes, you'll need a pro triplet or a large beseler.

Why do you guys keep saying that?

A 15.4' is only slightly larger on the diagonal than a standard 15" so the standard triplet should have a large enough FOV for a 15.4".

The throw would just be short IMO.

True enough. But this is what the FocalCalc shows:



He'd have to go split, so the projector won't be in his line of sight and it'd be sitting (or ceiling-mounted) in front of the viewing area.
For a screen smaller than 120", he'd have to move it even closer.
If this is desirable, then by all means do so.
Personally, If I were building a 15.4 HD projector, I'd want it behind the viewing area.

Pro Projection Lens Triplet

http://www.lumenlab.com/estore/product.php...=253&page=1

Yes hence the reason I said in both posts that the throw would be very short.
And the reason I recommended the pro triplet in the first post.

It's true. Every time I see jonjandran give this advice it's always the same thing. "Short throw, but its fine."

I'll second what Jon said.

The standard triplet WILL work for a 15.4" LCD, but the throw will be short, and the standard fresnels will not fit it.

Get larger fresnels (The pro 220 and a 3dlens 330, for example) and the standard triplet will handle the 15.4" screen just fine. The standard triplet can deal with a 17" LCD -- though I'd personally never do this as the throw would be unbearably short.

You say get larger fresnels (220 and 330) - but that's what I linked to (but of course I'm experienced in computers, not optics). I would get the Pro kit (although it seems a little large - fits a 19" LCD?) but they're all backordered. And as far as the pro triplet... I think I would need a little more justification to go from spending $30 on a part to $200 on a part for my first projector.

As far as where it'll be... the triplet should be 9ft. away from a 108" screen. I would run the focal programs, but I'm on ubuntu and they don't work in wine. And it'll be ceiling mounted.

Advice welcome, links even more welcome

Ceiling mounted with the triplet only 9 feet from the screen...
What is the height of the ceiling?

Will he be able to keystone the front fresnel enough to project correctly?
How far down from the ceiling will the triplet need to be in order to have maximum keystoning? What is it... something like only 20 degrees of keystoning available?

Ceiling is a standard 8ft ceiling. Was planning on having the top of the screen about level with the lens.

I'm sure I can overcome that problem. I just want to make sure that I get the correct parts.

That is asking a bit much of the standard lens.

You'll be much better off if you can move the projector back, and use the pro lens. This will also help resolve the keystone correction issue that you're going to have.

Yes, the pro lens will handle up to a 19" LCD, but with the amount of keystone correction that you need, this is going to be necessary. You might even be pushing it a bit for having the top of the screen level with the lens.

Alright, I finished purchasing the supplies - lets hope it all goes together nicely