I thought it funny how people said that they read through the forum for months before diving in. And now I am one of those people. I've poured through other PLOGS. And now I'm starting my own, with the hopes of getting some good advice and to keep myself moving forward.

So...the only 2 things I have to begin with are:

A 15" Sceptre X5 Komodo stripped and working. [Actually, I stripped it about a couple months ago and never tested it until tonight. I'll try to get pix up eventually. Currently, I am doing everything on the floor. *nods* i know. ]

And I have an Infocus Short Throw Lens
stats:
Throw Ratio: 1.2 (distance/width)
Focal Distance: 3.3' - 19.7'
F Value: f2.3
Length: 6.69 in / 169.9 mm



I don't really have much of a budget. The construction materials for the box, I can get my hands on. But where can I get a fairly cheap ballast and bulb. I've seen some 250W ballasts on Ebay for under $100. And, unfortunately, I'm not sure what kind of box I want to build. I'm open for suggestions on nearly everything.

I got my ballast from http://www.1000bulbs.com for about $50 but they don't have any great bulbs.

I'm still around. I'm watching some ballasts on Ebay. I am reading up on ballasts now and the differences between them. i know that i am aiming for an eballast 250W or higher. and, like computers, I'm assuming that there are compatibility issues. I know I can use either pulse or probe bulbs and that the wattage for both should be the same. My main concern is: Are there any 250W (and higher) eballasts that won't work for a DIY projector?

Unfortunately, it is kind of late and I work early in the morning, but soon, I plan on laying out my thoughts about what kind of setup I am going for, with links, and hopefully pix. I'm ready to get to it!!!

Ok. Here is one of the links.

Quasi_Mojo's 12.1

I'm going to use this design for my LCD/Fresnel sled. Of course with dimensions that work for my projector.


As for the box design, I am waiting until I have my components before I decide what kind/shape. Mainly, the ballast and bulb because the sizes vary. Keeping my eye on ebay for a ballast. I don't know enough about them or who would have them for a 'really' good price. I've seen that some people had a ballast lying around when they started their project. I'm guessing that the most common household use is for horticulture. So i know they have to be floating around here in los angeles. grrr...

maybe i'll go yard sale scavaging in the area and come up lucky this weekend.

My LCD sled (built with Basswood and Elmer's Wood Glue) holds up well under the heat produced from the 150W lamp. I have not tested it under any other lamp that produces more heat. Once you get it finished, you might want to test burn your lamp next to it for several hours before putting any fresnels or LCD into it.

Here's a Google search of the LL Forums for 250W ballast information: site:lumenlab.com +250w +ballast eballast

Good luck!

so...unfortunately, I think I am going to be too impatient to wait for an electronic ballast to come my way for my price range.


the two alternatives that I've come across are:

1) ballast and bulb

...but it states as an upgrade?

2) I saw a post today about a SOLA metal halide ballast for $55.


...for those of you who have used different types of ballasts...if i can get my hands on an electronic ballast for $50 more...is it well worth the extra money? (both having the same wattage.) thanks.



***addition****

just extra info...


I plan on using it in a room that is roughly 12'x12'. so, i'll be projecting about 9'-10' away.

so, what wattage is overkill.

ie- 250watt would suffice, 400watt better, 600watt a bit better, 1000watt not necessary. (this is not a statement, just an example of the info that i am looking for.)

I'm using my "mock-up" projector about 10' from my screen and I'm getting satisfactory results with a 150W'er. A 250W or 400W would offer a better picture due to better brightness, respectively. I wouldn't bother with anything more than 400W.

As far as comparing an eBallast to a magnetic ballast, this question has come up repeatedly before.

Google: site:lumenlab.com +eballast +magnetic compare

ok. still mulling over the ballast. I think I have settled on the electronic ballast because i think it is just easier in the long run for setup and compatibility. now my dilemma is wattage. 400watt sounds ideal to me but i'm just not seeing them in my price range or i'm seeing 600w for the same price. i'd like to find a 400w electronic for sub $100.

**answered my own question. so i deleted this part***

The problem with the 600watt and 1000watt lamps is the long arc. It pretty mich means that most of the extra lumens is wasted because the light becomes less of a point source and then gets magnified to much and won't fit in the triplet.

Also the lamp shell is bigger so you can't use a Pro reflector so you lose lumens.

So 600watt and 1000watt lamps are basically useless.

ok. it's been a hot second. Finally...I got a ballast. A FCC MH/HPS-250W HID Lamp Electronic Ballast. Now comes the fun part of researching which moguls and lamps are compatible. Then I'll be down to getting the fresnels, a compatible controller for my monitor, and little things. And then finish off by building the box and putting it all together. The ballast is on its way. Hopefully I'll get the right info from whatever paperwork comes with it.

As always, any suggestions are always accepted.

so far...cost totals = $52 [lcd, ballast, lens] ... but...the time = over a month (and more including research)

hopefully more soon...along with pics of what I have so far.

Why do you need a controller for your monitor??? You stated that it works in your first post. Am I missing something here??

hmmm...maybe i am. i thought controllers were used so that u could use RCA and such.

Those aren't controllers they are external audio/video boxes that allow you to add inputs to your VGA only monitor.:

Like This

Nope. The controller board for your LCD monitor only included a VGA input.

If you want to use some other type of video connection, you'll want to look for a VGA to "whatever" adapter.

You can try a Google search like this: VGA to RCA
For any other type of adapter, you can substitute the "RCA" for anything you like.

Or, what jonjandran said.

ok. all makes sense. i just misunderstood why people were doing it. but now i got it.

well, finally took some pics of what i have thus far...

just received ballast...



it is roughly 7" x 4" x 3" and weighs around 5lbs or so.



the plug "xiongrun XR-505"...don't know what that means.

this is an electronic ballast, so are pretty much most lamps and moguls going to be compatible?
if so, that's next on my list. 250watt 4200K.

next set of images...

lenses...





monitor wrapped...



unwrapped...





and...in a box waiting...



....

list to get....fresnels, lamp and mogul, little doodads.

then...i'll look everything over, as far as size and such, and build a nice feng shui box

From what I can tell, several people have liked OSRAM. So I am looking at the Osram HQI 250w bulb. Anybody know a good place to get one of these? I've done the google shopping search, but sometimes there are better deals out there that aren't listed within google shopping. (I know from a few years of computer parts shopping )