Hi all.
OK. I think I'm ready to build this thing. I've already ordered everything I need (lcd, fresnals, etc) and I'm going to home depot tomorrow to pick up some mdf and other supplies. I'm not very good with the electrical stuff but I'm going to try.

Well I've look at a lot of the projects in these forums....and I have to say that the results look awesome....that is, the result of the projected images....the boxes though are something else.....maybe most of them are work in progress but I think we can do better than just throwing some wood together....even if I am unable to project an image at least I'll have a good looking ottoman to rest my feet on...

Items in my pj:
Benq FP567SV2 - $317 new (had a hard to findind an lcd...older models anyway)
here: http://www.shopperwiz.com/shopdisplaydetai...1&Key=082001717
Lumanlab lens kit - $63?
here: http://www.lumenlab.com/store/index.php
Lamp , ballast, bowl - $100 ?
here: <link removed by OKflyboy - Sorry, but links to that site are not allowed. Thanks!>
Nexvision N6 - $170 - already had this

Some of the features of my pj box:
- 5/8 MDF.
take a ride here: www.homedepot.com

- Sides of box are going to be a little larger then lumanlab plans with a gap along the bottom. Thinking about putting air slot on bottom instead of on the top.

-Thinking about putting two 80mm exhaust fans at back end. I think it will look a little nicer.

-lcd controls will mount on front of box. Also vga input, speaker input, volume, on/off switch and keystone adjustment controls. Everything will be mounted a piece of tinted plexi or lexan.

-Also going to use some arcade cabinet parts like t-molding (leather) for the side edges of the box and I'm going to cover the entire box with the same vinyl used in these machines. The vinyl looks great.
here: http://happcontrols.com/index.html

-Instead of having and extra switch for the fan, I want to use some kind of simple temperature control fan. I dont know if there is a simple solution. And dont understand Brainchild's circuit that runs the fan for an extra 5 minutes. I was googling around a little and came across some thermal switches, time dalay relays and thermal fans. Problem is I dont know how to impliment any of these. Maybe someone can help me.

Thermal switches:
http://www.hoffind.com/thermal.htm

All types of time delay relays:
http://www.ametek.com/product/ProductCateg...ategory_Id=3403

Not sure about these fans:
http://www.antec-inc.com/us/pro_details_co...hp?ProdID=75012


-And whatever else I (or anyone else) can think of that will give me a good looking box (and picture). Thanks.

Sounds good and more power too you if you think of a better way to design everything else than we have That's why it's a DIY project...you tell us our way sucks and let us know what you are planning on doing... Either way we all benefit, or lead you to a better way than you originally thought, and we can all put our ideas together and think of something better

And I'm sorry for giving you smack but yeah we need some work on our wood work along with projection etc but we'll all learn from what everyone else's designs/suggestions??? Other than that all I can say is we are trying our best to come up with what we can think of and anyone else can take our ideas/what they learned from other threads...and...post it for everyone Cause we are all learning from each other and everyone else and if you've got a better idea than post it and we'll LEARN from it...

I think I can see where both of you are coming from. The results are great, and I personally think it's a stroke of genius. The boxes may not be the prettiest commercial type finished boxes, but I think the whole concept of the DIY is saving money and personal investment. If we did everything 'commercial grade' then what's the use of the project in the 1st place?

I personally will have to take special care in building my box because the unit I am going to build (hopefully start in late May) is going to be in my living room. If that project goes well, then this fall when I convert my garage to a home theater I will be able to build another one for that project. If it isn't pleasing to the eye, this thing will never be able to be used except for when my wife is away and I won't be able to have friends over to play anymore.

On another note though, I've look through almost every project gallery in here and there are some nice boxes. Fyberoptix's, JeremeyVNC, moose's and others have put some nice 'finish' on their boxes.

Can I suggest you start doing some prelim wood finishes then, if the look is important? That way you could get your wife involved too, so she'd have the say in how it fitted in with the rest of the decor. Hearts and minds, as they say, hearts and minds.

I've been thinking of doing something similar myself, so that I can get an idea of how to finish the box before I get to the point of no return.

I was going to build my box out of MDF and then once I get the measurements etc maybe build it out of hardwood that way I can stain it etc. Then again my box is going to be almost 33" long so definitely an eye sore. But I'm going to store it in the closet so I see where you're coming from Duke with the whole workmanship stuff because if you're going to leave it out then it's a whole different story.


I like the cosmetic ideas you have Duke. I am also thinking about putting two 80mm fans in the box powered by a 12V adapter available from RadioShack etc.


I would like to do something like this but I'm wondering how far you can extend the LCD controls before they do not work anymore.


I don't understand it either or at least I'm not going to sink the money into the kit when you can do the same thing with some basic ICs. I am using the 12V adapter above and I'm going to design a circuit, hopefully, that once the lamp goes off in the box a timer starts that will allow the fan to operate for a few minutes.

_elduke,

Seems you have everything worked out very nicely. My projector will also be in the living room and needs to be as aesthetic as I can craft. I will most likely ceiling mount my projector and thus paint it the same color as my ceiling or finish it in a nice powder coat black or something close.

I like the side mount for controls, it makes it easy to adjust my box when it is mounted. I really don't think I will place any lovely LED's or backlit displays on my box, I fear it will distract me when watching movies in almost total darkness.

Can't wait to see your project, I hope to have mine on the go in the next couple of weeks.

Cheers,
Lee

sounds like he's going to have the best-looking projector of them all...don't let us down!

Elduke, I think you should make up some drawings and post em in the protected area for us to look over.

I second Jeremyvnc's suggestion. I would love to see some pic's of your plans.

Cheers,
Lee

Just remember... Post them in a new forum in the protected forums so we don't put BC out of a job . I urge this b/c I almost did.

heh, good point jeremyvnc. I have made a few boo-boo's and posted things outside I should have posted in-side.

Cheers,
Lee

Thanks guys. A lot of it is still in my head but I'll post a few pics in the other forums.

Now I'm feeling self-conscious about my box...



on the other hand, even if I don't have a good looking ottoman, at least I'll have a kick-ass projector!

That was funny flyboy