I am trying to build my own projector, and I have a few problems/questions, which I was hoping the more experianced builders could help me with...

What I have...

Dell 1504fp with FFC problem x1
Nobo Quantum 2523

I have the dell screen in pieces, and have tested it since taking it apart and its fine, but there is a small FFC joining the two side pieces together, which I need to extend, but I do not know what cable I need, or where to get it, also its about 0.5cm deep when locked in.

Where can I get an FFC in the UK?



As you can see its very short, need to make it longer, it measures just over a centimeter wide and you can see there is a flip up clasp on the board it connects to, the other end is soldered to the board. I need an extension for this.

Also there is a cable (below) which I want to extend because it will give me more room to move. Its about 2.5cm wide and have the same connector on both ends. The connector has a shape to it... a small noch at the top which sticks out from the rest, and the connector is about 0.5cm deep.



So far its very successful, need some tips on cooling as well, I have 2x 4cm computer fans, although one is a bit iffy, I also have a 12cm fan, my plan is to hook these up and blow air under the screen using a cardboard funnelling system. What do you guys think?

Also how high off the projection screen should the lcd sit, it has a black plastic frame which holds it nicely so I want to use some risers, possibly just bluetac to lift the thing off the surface and then block the top and bottom off... Heres what I mean...



Thanks, I hope some one can help with these questions!

you can get a ffc exension kit from diy-beamer.com, a european site that it pretty good. if you count the pins on the lead and then measure the size in mm's and send an email to the site administrator he should be able to point you to the correct exension.

with regards to how high off the ohp you want the screen, i would have thought as close as possible. the ohp is designed to focus on an object just sitting on the glass stage, but putting a few mm's to supply air cooling is a good idea. try using just a thick piece of card at either side and supporting the screen whilst still allowing air to pass through.

EDIT: i actually made on of the ohp projectors before starting out on here.
have a look http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWlsPfPZTdc i made a frame out of perspex, fixed fans to the ohp and cased all the components at the back in more perspex. it was a pretty simple design and worked well, really good for the movies, games not so much as the screen had a quite slow refresh time.

I posted this in another thread a while ago:



Here's a link to an article on how to "Retrofit Your Overhead Projector" that you might find helpful.

The LL forum won't let you search using a three-letter word. I find it easier to use Google for searching the LL site.
Google search: site:lumenlab.com +ohp

I guess I need this then...

http://diy-beamer.com/EN/store/comersus_vi...sp?idProduct=89

it will be somthing similar to this, but i would check the number of pins you have to connect and the pitch of your cable, there is advice on these subjects around these forums. don't worry if you have fewer than 20 pins as you don't have to use all of the cable and the excess can be removed.

well I put some pix up but the thing is that the cable is soldered at one end so I need a board like the linked on I count 21 pins but I only count 20 wires. I understand one may be the sheid pin? So do I get 20 or 30 pins as I doubt a 30pin connector will fit a 20 pin cable and stay in.

My guess on the pitch is based on the 1cm~ width and there being 20/21 pins means 20/10=0.5mm can any one confirm this?

Thanks.

I'm guessing you are right, and thinking you would be better off with the 20 pin connector but i have never had a panel i have needed to extend the ffc's on so i would wait for someone to confirm this before you went and bought it.

good luck

You can determine what type of FFC you need like this:



Measure the width in millimeters and count the number of wire leads. On the FFC above, you can see that it's 10mm wide and has 20 wires.
Next you have to measure to find out what pitch they are, 0.5mm or 1.0mm.
Measure the width of the cable and then count the number of contacts. Divide the width of the cable by the number of contacts. If the result is close to 0.5mm (.020 inches) then you have the 0.5mm pitch FFC cables.

Also read: Note on using the FFC extension kits, How to extend...

If you had a bigger picture of that second cable, it might help. It looks like an LVDS cable - the one that goes from the PCB at the bottom of the LCD panel to the controller board.

yeah. Click the images for a larger one. Thanks

Actually, what I meant was a picture showing more of the cable and where it plugs into (each end of the cable). Sorry I wasn't clear enough.

These are the best I can do because of their accessibility, click to make bigger, I measured the FFC, almost exactly 10 mm, will some one please count these for me because I count 20 wires, and 21 pins, so I assume one is shield or some thing but will it still fit, and the pitch must be a strange one if thats the case? Any way I ordered the linked above product, I need this working soon so I just ordered, it and just need to identify the other cable or cut it in half and expand the length, not too happy about the latter idea though.

Save yourself $10 and cut each one by one (not to lose track of where each goes) and solder in easy extensions using network cable whatever number it works out to all the wires will be the same (no replacement to worry about working or not) and its just 42 easy points to solder. Heck it'll take 30 minutes...

The projector I am building uses the same OHP as yours (Nobo 2523). Check out my other posts and my album as they may help you:

My Album

haha me too i dont have any pictures up because of my situation, but i didnt have any problems with the dell 1504 fp. but i do know this. dell contracts out thier monitors to toshiba, phillips, and lg. Mine happenned to be a toshiba and there was no problems. but when i cracked open my 1501 fp. i noticed a problem with the ffcs. so even though i searched the archives for my specific monitor i noticed different results from different people. btw: you should check out my plog its very similar. even down to the drawing in what you mean. one thing i ran into while installing the new bulb though is that unless you have a smaller MH bulb your better off scrapping the ohp. (sorry it pisses me off when people tell me that too) good luck!

Kinda getting urgent, summer is here the projector works with the Extended LVDS cable but there are some strange pink and blue issues the image has become postarzed, I need to buy a replacement LVDS cable, but where from? Not DIY Beamer

Well. how goes it?

I am so angry, my house mates got drunk in the front room the other night and after being told not to touch it even a little bit put a ****ing ipod radio on top of the lcd panel, damaging the ffc's in some mannor and also creating a massive pressure mark in the middle, I am so angry with them, thats £55 gone because they are idiots.

Back to finding another LCD, any one know of one which has no FFC issues, guarenteed

I know the feeling man. alcohol and projectors do not mix, unless your working on them. are you gonna give up? i was actually looking forward to your plog. its similar to mine and seems to suffer the same fate.

Its been a while and no reply, What LCD can I buy which is safe as far as FFCs go because that was the main limiting factor in a working projector this time.

Thanks

What size LCD are you looking for?
Do you want standard def, 720p or 1080p?
What kind of video inputs are you looking for?
How much do you want to spend?

Have you checked the Compatible Monitors List?

I have looked at the monitors list but its very confusing as no one seems to use the same standard as each other, some don't mention FFC at all...

I need it for an OHP so 14/15" (15 preferred) and I need 1024x768 minimum but higher depending on cost.

Thanks

Well... when buying and stripping a panel/controller from a LCD monitor, there are no guarantees. If somebody stated that there were no FFC issues with the LCD monitor that they purchased, the manufacturer may have switched panels half-way through production.

The only way to guarantee no FFC issues is to buy a panel from somebody like johnzo. You might have to pay more, but it's definitely worth it, IMO. For use with an OHP, I would recommend his 12.1 Kit (720p). Hmmm... it says he's out of stock. You might also want to look at his 10.9/MST Kit. When you move on and build your own enclosure for it (which you hopefully will), you can recycle your parts from the OHP or buy the less expensive LL S15 Lens Kit and still have a decent throw (~ 10' for a 120" screen). As well, your final enclosure can be as small as 24 - 26" long.

Oh... something you might want to consider, if you still have irresponsible roomies, is to put a lock on your enclosure. You can also get an on/off switch that locks, too.

Nope were all moving out to different places, the two idiots which also last night ruined my work uniform by using it to mop up beer and sleeping on it, are never going to live with me ever again, YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYYAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

So if I buy an LCD and take it apart theres no guarenttes and if I buy from this guy its gona cost more. hmm, the thing is although I would like to get into this whole building a projector its gona cost a lot and I don't have any tools for wood working etc... Will need to think.

The guys route is gona be too costly because of the shipping and import duty. I am so fed up with this whole thing since they broke my projector, it was great but now I duno what to do.

Thanks!

Large power tools are not really necessary (patience helps, though). See my PLOG for proof.

Where do you live?
Perhaps you can post in the Trading Post section that you're looking to buy a "No FFC issue" LCD from somebody else in your country. You might just get a bite that way.

Thats usually not the reccomended size for ohp's. most ohp conversions i saw had bad corner focusing, and the standard size bed on an ohp is big enough to fit an 13" panel or smaller. You can virtual scale it if you have a video card that supports it, but if your into gaming, it's a headache seeing half your picture gone. Try to look for 10" or 12" panels and i'd imagine you would get much better results on your first try. good luck man.

How about a UK supplier, I can't afford as much as that US site will cost me. I have already spent a lot and had it ruined and now I don't know whether to just go and buy a proper projector when I have the money and scrap the whole plan. I don't think I will be wood working and making a container, I don't have any space or tools at all. And I would just like some thing which isn't going to cost the earth.

Well then. ebay or craigslist. Thats where i got mine. I got an xga 3lcd projector for 125 bucks. I find i have much better results if you search big cities around you and are ready for a drive (craigslist). but you have an ohp like mine, and even though i have a projector, it bothers me even mor ethat i have something thats not finished, and nobody cares about my commercial one. you should of seen the confused looks when i had my ohp up and running. they were like "huh?" you could make that with that?
i guess it comes down to what you want, because i have had an enjoyable and not too expensive time so far, and i still cant shake the diy feeling. it haunts me.

Yeah craigs list is all but useless, but theres a similar site which is better, and ebay is always a good choice I guess, would you buy one with no bulb and get one or get one with a bulb but might not have much life?