So I took the plunge and bought the parts. No turning back now, even if I have no idea what I'm doing.
I've been lurking, looking at other PLOGS for awhile, thinking I knew what to do. Not quite I get my tools out last night and am all .... now what


To an extent. Here's my parts list:

Samsung 17" 740N
2 frenels
standard LL triplet
ballast from prolighting.com
WOOD and various other tools


Parts I NEED:
a ballast I can use (more on that later)
something to mount the light in
the light (400 W)
lexan or tempered glass (which is better?)

So the monitor was an easy strip, no problems encountered. Everything is ready to be mounted, and I realize I'm going at this without an sembelance of a plan. The idea is to have a ceiling mounted projector, but the details are, naturally, extremely fuzzy.

I have a basic idea of how everything works (i.e. triplet in front, LCD/frenels in the middle, lexan & lamp in the back), but the devils in the details.

I'm at work now, so I can't really draw up any ideas in my head, but I do have some questions I hope some more experienced members can answer.

#1: my prolighting.com ballast is 120V 60 Hz, which I bought after seeing a finished projector which was using that beast. I get it in the mail, and it's a giant wiry lump with a cylinder attatched, leaving me baffled. No instructions. So wiring this I'm totally clueless about. I've already bought the LL kit, because that looks more user friendly, but am ready to cancel if someone with more experience can explain, guide, or point me to some info on how to use this beast. I know I still need lamp/lamp holder/lexan/etc, but any tips would be appreciated (naturally, I'm also trolling the PLOGS and instructions with intensity as well)

#2: Now I know this should be easy info to find, but I'm not sure of the lengths required between the various parts. It's someting like 220mm from the lamp to the LCD, and 330mm from the front frensel to the triplet, correct? I've planned on making the triplet and front frensel adjustable by hooking them up to a chopped up tripod (the top cranky part is for triplet, the frensel is moved by one leg of the torn up tripod while the other two are bonded and support the frensel). Any tips or advice?

#3: Ceiling mounting. Over my bed. Good idea, or bad idea? I figure that the weight of the thing will end up being in the 30~40 lbs range.

I'll be posting regularly, and browsing further. Thanks a ton for any help ... I need to get this done before school starts back up on the 23rd or I'll go nuts!

Thanks again!

-Ian

ok i did some reading about, checking PLOGS and the pro-wiki i somehow missed, and am feeling infinitely more comfortable about the project.

The precise lengths weren't to be found, but I think I can use that focal calculator to determine all that jazz. Particularly, I'm concerned about how far the two fresnels should be from the LCD. The fresnel closest to the triplet will be adjustable, so I'm not too worried about that one. But the one closest to the lamp... should I make that adjustable to? Or, if it should be fixed, what position should it be?

I think I'm going to take the route that a lot of people take here and work on this in seperable parts. I'll construct the triplet assembly, the LCD assembly, and then the lamp assembly. Then everything comes together in the end. HOPEFULLY

Were you speaking of http://www.lumenlab.com/protectedwiki/Simple_Projector_Plans that was not to be found.

Its sort of like a witches brew...Once you know the basics ( eye of newt etc...) then its just an artful timely blend to bring it all together. Read your manual first. Ponder it, the go to a FEW plogs, then go to the wiki, then back to the plogs, before you know it, you will be cackling with mad glee at the though of raising your own Frankensteinian monster!
( By the way, thats Franchenschtein...)

Welcome Home!

I'll be following your plog very closely as I am about to start my first projecter soon and am planning to use the 470N

Ok so updates! I'm determined to get this done before the 23rd!

No pics yet, but I'll u/l some when I get back from work. I'm following Samuraijack's EXCELLENTLY detailed PLOG (thanks!) loosely. I'm going to build the projector in three parts, then mount it in a frame.

I drew up some initial designs, but I'll try to CAD them out (or at least photoshop them) tonight.

First up will be the triplet assembly. I plan on mounting the triplet to a piece of wood, tacked onto 4 other pieces of light wood to form a smallish hollow square. Most of the PLOGs I've looked at that have adjustable triplets seem to have those 4 pieces move into the projector rather far, so I'm assuming that the light from the front frensel hits the triplet at a point in the center, and doesn't 'fill' the triplets first lens (i'll explain later with pictures what I mean by that). Once this is constructer, it will have stoppers on the outside and inside to keep it from being pulled too far out/in. I'm debating whether to go with some sort of metal adjustor that slides easier versus just form fitting it to the frame. Again, all will be better explained with pics

After that's done, then the 2nd phase. An adjustable frensel (the one facing the triplet), a stationary LCD and stationary collector frensel. Whether to go lexan or tempered glass is up for debate... my g/f works for GE so she's all about lexan (tho apparantly can't get me any free ). There will be a recess at the bottom of this to allow for fans to blow some cool air over that LCD, and a temp gague. I'm also planning on recessing it enough to put a PC power supply in there to power the fans (hooking things up to the ballast other than the lamp just doesn't sit well with me for some reason... i think it has to do with all the warnings about death and horrible electricution everytime somebody mentions wiring Monitor controls will also be found down in this recess as well.

Third part is just your normal ballast/mogul/light/etc piece. Nothing crazy here, except I'm a little hazy on how to make the lamp adjustable. Should it be up/down adjustable or forward/back adjustable or both? Up/down seems most logical to me, because there'd be too many heat issues with in/out. The ballast will be mounted on the outside of the frame. I'll probably also include back fans to pull hot air out. Is it a good idea to also mount the capacitor outside?

The final part is the frame itself. This is going to be ceiling mounted, so I'm worried here. I plan on making the top part of the frame the solidest part, and just mounting it to the central, most sturdy part. Panelling on the side will be removable to allow for further work when needed.

Like I said, pictures will help here

Parts left to get:

lexan/tempered glass
waiting on my LL ballast + wiring kit + lamp + mogul + etc

Things I need more of:

patience.

UPDATE!

I've got one frensel frame built, the other will be done tomorrow. I'll post pics once I get batteries for my camera. LCD frame is partially built as well.

Up for friday is the triplet assembly, the rest of the frames and as much of the core frame I can get done.

My question for you experienced folks out there, the ballast I bought initially and was frightened of has become less creepy and more exciting to me. It's hefty, but I'm not worried about mounting it. I AM, however, worried about wiring it. It's a ISBSola Basic 400W M59 Metal Halide Ballast. Is this a good one? I'm gonna try and pick up a mogul and 400W MH bulb somewhere tomorrow and get some lightage, but will definitely need some walking through with the wiring.

In the meantime, here's the current schematic idea quickly drawn up in photoshop.

If there are any glaring problems with this design, lemme know so I can fix! Thanks!

Also, I guess I should mention that it'll be slide out siding. And that the little bevel at the front bottom will probably go because it really serves no purpose

everythings mostly built... frames and all. Getting the case wood cut at home today.

But then...... tragedy.

I was making sure the LCD fit in the frame. It did. PERFECTLY.

I was ecstatic, of course. And dropped the LCD. Which, naturally, hit the corner of a piece of wood and developed a nice shiny crack.

I'm upset, but it was my carelessness. No way I'm giving this up, even if it bankrupts me

So, with all hope the replacement LCD and new ballast should arrive early this coming week.

Well, you could practice at removing the AG on that panel

lol. I'm utterly petrified of the LCD takedown now. Even tho this monitor strip was easy, I'm totally expecting something horrific to happen again.

It's gonna be the last installed part in the box, for sure.

Bummer, well at least you can use it as an exact size test peice to make sure everything fits, so you can finish the box and be ready for Lcd #2.

I hate to say it but haste makes waste. rushing the build ends up with problems. everything else looks good though. you are planning on mounting this over your bed, be sure the mount is in a solid part of your ceiling like a joist. you do not want this to fall on you! make sure the mount will hold twice the weight of your pj. good luck with your next panel and lets see some pics!

exactly right, and i've been taking my sweet time now. sorry for lack of updates, but i got my first projected image last night. i'm working on mounting right now, and have joints in the wall that can support MY weight, so I think it can handle the projector

PLOG steps and steps-not to take will be up when i'm done... too busy making it

it is DONE!!

mostly. I need a shiny new reflector and some blackout cloth, but already the results are amazing. I'll post pics soon! and an actual PLOG

Can't wait!

YOu might be to exited to notice but how is the focus from corner to corner ? what about just for movies? Are you seeing any out of focus sides?