LCD Overhead Projector Hack

[MrTpengineer]

With thoes old overhead projectors you can also fit a led bulb in it, say one that's around 60 watts, no heat will mean longer lcd life :)

[chrisconwaypeters]

I just tried to mount my own projector with a flat screen, not one, but two, and had the problem of connecting the vertical and horizontal board ribbons together without obstructing the screen.

[lwmtech]

eine frage, wie habt ihr es mit der erdung des tft´s gemacht? ich hab meinen ersten tft geschrottet weil ich die das erdungkabel nirgends dran hatte. soll ich das erdungskabel mit an das gehüuse des Projektors festmachen? Bitte um Hilfe

[libertysunbeam2]

make sure you watch for heat dammage as well if you do this and you may want to make vents if that occurs.

[libertysunbeam2]

if you simply cover the top of the unit with a cardboard box you should dramaticaly increase brightness as well as turn off and shut out all lights (anything low light even like open window, led alarm cock, etc). allowing a cut in the box positioned for the light to reach the mirror. light pollution will dim a dim light and wash it out. light from the main unit is most likely filtering into the room washing out the projectors own image, a brighter light will wash out a faint light.

[PRCkevlar]

Where did you get the overhead projector? Ive been wanting to do this for a while but I cant find a projector...

[karandex]

do you use it regularly ? what is quality compared to other projector ?

[matts2007]

@karandex Na, my brother sold the overhead. We use a standard LCD projector that uses the typical HID bulb. The quality wasn't too bad, just not very bright compared with other projectors. You will get extremely low bulb life with overheads as they take halogen. HID bulbs in normal projectors are usually around 2000 hrs.

[yuppybarf]

you should be able to improve the image by putting a cardboard box on the top of the unit and make sure the room is light tight (and you allow ventalation and check for heat when you do this. most likely light pollution from the main units base is bleeding through the causing the screen to look faint, it should help focus the light into the glass mirror/lense as well. you will want a ligth tight room as even a little light can wash out a projectors projected image.

[GrimlyKK]

OHPs can work ok, especially if you throw out the halogen bulb and install a 150W HID bulb and ballast - cost, about 70usd total, if you buy the ballast from ebay.

The standard cheapy OHP isn't too good on the optics, but a half-decent one with a triplet lens and NOT a simple single-element lens can produce decent pictures.

Only problem with them, is the light spill that comes out of all the vent holes - a ghetto fix is to make carboard baffles, painted black and gaffer-taped on.

[linglingjr]

So can I get a bulb for an overhead projector that will last more than 70 hours and also would a ps3 external fan thing work?

[FilmPropsInc]

Anybody reading this, DIY LCD PROJECTORS have come a long way from this overhead projector hack, 75 hour bulb? says who. Perhaps for this, the diy'ers now are using 400w pulse strike METAL HALIDE superbright lamps with ballast burns for 10,000-20,000 hours. Much brighter aswell, with reflector etc, it can be cheaper. Metal halide bulb is $22 a bulb maybe. Long life bulbs with little heat. Overhead projectors use outdated lighting. Look up diy lcd projector on google, it can be economical.

[physiist777]

okay...lets look at it this way. My proxima projector has a bulb life of 1000 hours. a new bulb cost me 200 bucks. for this set up, 1000 hours would require about 14 bulbs, and at 15 bucks a piece, equals 200 bucks in bulbs. not very economical when you factor in your time investment and headaches involved.

[gasto5]

that's the bulb cost. What about the projector itself?

[physiist777]

I bought mine used for $150 bucks.

whats the cost in parts and labor for this hack?

~ 200-300 bucks in quality components

~ 20-30 hours for building an enclosure and working out bugs. @ $10/hr, that's another $300 in labor

so you are looking a quite an investment into something that really is no more efficient than the commercially available version.

don't get me wrong, cool project, but the rational many use for building it is fundamentally flawed (that it is much cheaper)

[patrickrameau]

@physiist777 It can be a good deal for those who dont have $1000 to buy the proper projector, and NO ONE likes paying $200-$400 for a bloody light bulb...thats why you find so many cheap projectors on ebay with dead bulbs. The local college here is selling surplus overhead projectors for $25, fresh bulbs at $10. For people who enjoy building and saving money, this is pure win.

[physiist777]

you are still missing my point...they are fun to build, and are nice for those on a budget. but the UPFRONT cost is misleading. it may be cheap(er) to build to start with, but when you have to replace the bulb every 75 hours or so, it adds up quickly. I am just saying it is not as cost effective as you think it is. I have built 2 of these. plus, if you can get a used video projector for dirt cheap and buy a new bulb for ~200, then you are in the same price range as a DIY setup.

[h5e5l5l5o5]

Don't bulbs cost a lot of money and last only like 75 hours?

[ihakkr]

the bulbs i've seen for projectors have been less than 15 dollers

[h5e5l5l5o5]

nice! How long do they last?

[ihakkr]

75hrs. but i found some for my projector for 75hrs at $7!

[h5e5l5l5o5]

nice deal! Much cheaper than those projectors that hang over the ceiling!

[WastedOne2]

mine lasted 2000 hrs it was rated at 700hrs at 8000 lumens my projector normal runs 10000 lumen globes 50hrs most times i get 200 hrs i seem to get longer if i leave it on for long periods i use mine as a tv with computer 1.5years still running. My diy projector consists of a gilkon 24volt 250watt over projector a dell monitor 800 to 1 contrast and a computer.if you run the lower 8000 lumen globe instead of the original you will get the 700 hrs and upwards per globe cost about $15Au

[IntermittentSprocket]

Is that a grain structure of HD-DVD or is this DVD? I have all three region 2 first editions of The Matrix havent viewed any on the LCD video projector as of yet as I rarely run it. Oh the Fifth Element I viewed a few moments from that on the LCD Transformers havent looked at that on the LCD yet, but Ive seen it on the biggest THX screen in the UK and on the most powerful JBL sound system 56KW THX sound system at Empire Leicester Square a few years ago in Dolby SR-D.

[IntermittentSprocket]

Sounds like leaf-blower but thats the fan cooling the lamp. I guess this DIY didnt cost much. Well done!

[Pudsta1970]

Hi mate

A job well done :).... Is there any chance that you could show how to make this projector step by step? If so let me know asap as this is going to be my next project.

[eikedeus]

First of all, transformers ;;;; Glad i never saw it......looks like a sucky film.....Second of all.....i cant understand where the picture comes from?? I have both a overhead my self, and in time i want to trye to mayke a prosjektor, but, i thot the LCD-plate from a LCD-screem had to be layed on the overhead-plate?

[shaunmc3433]

The picture looks a little grainy, but that could just be the video. What's the resolution like on your setup? Are you able to get HD? Do you have it hooked up to your computer, a regular player or a 360 or PS3?

Thanks.

[pacxman1167]

I have a question!!!!

Wouldn't it be better if I take apart a overhead and make my own box for it and that would help keep it cool since I would also be rearranging the positioning of the fans and they would be integrated into box design???????

PLEASE GIVE ME SOME INFO.......

AND DO YOU THINK i WOULD BE ABLE TO USE A LAPTOP SCREEN?

[matts2007]

I wouldn't mess with the overhead projector design itself. The internal fan is trying to push hot air out from the bulb. If you disassemble the bed of the projector, there is a chance of optical misalignment. I figure adding fans was the easiest approach. As with a laptop screen- if it tears down easy, and you can interface it with some sort of video source, yes.

[pacxman1167]

OH ok thanx

Is this projector still working for you??

[matts2007]

Yes, It just takes up a lot of space.

[narcovice]

simple its an lcd screen projected on the wall

[TuPP3]

No, monitor needs to be disassembled to light pass through it, makes thing bit more difficult than would think they first are :)

[SMO7777777]

how can u optimize the picture on the wall wothount the corners and that the picture is widescreen?

i mean the ohp shines everywhere or not?

[windoes98se]

wair do u get the lcd screen, i bet they cost a lot of mony , is thair a way to buy them real cheap?

[Bluesage2009]

Hi mate, excellent work

Can you tell me this. The picture with regards to colour saturation/ bleeding e.t.c

How well does the overhead projector portray the image, and would this mean whatever resolution you use on the LCD monitor, can be accurately displayed via just using the overhead projector ?

[matts2007]

Much of this depends on the size and quality of the lcd, as well as the size and brightness of the overhead projector. On this one, it isn't vary bright of a projection. Also, the resolution is messy as the screen is bigger than the viewable space on the projector. If you get the correct equipment, it does work vary well.

[o0JohnnyReb0o]

Did you leave the backlight of the lcd or did you take it out ?

[watchmystuffplease]

leave it on it makes the picture much better

[ransandrich]

can you show how to make this projector step by step?..pls?....tanx!

[CROZZY39]

Hi,Can I use an lcd av monitor for this.GREAT VIDEO

[matts2007]

We used a dell monitor for this. Some monitors are much more difficult to tear apart than others. I ultimately don't know.

[26highstreet]

Hi, im glad you pointed this out, ive made a few of these before and less than 50 percent of lcd monitors work, there pcb boards are in the way and have to be held up at an angle to keep them out the way, they also brake fairly easily, good results can be had, i used a 14inch xga on a 650watt ohp and the result was very good but the heat oh the heat and the size of the thing made it a bloody noghtmare

[jeevanirajiv]

thanks for the info...(great setup by the way!)...one more question if you dont mind. Does the fan HAVE to be mounted...couldnt i place it next to the setup? on a table of similar height or something? thanks.

[matts2007]

The fan doesn't have to be mounted; as long as the lcd screen is getting cooled enough, you should be fine. The only reason why we used computer case fans is because they are cheap, small, and make a more compact design resulting in less time to set-up the projector.

[jeevanirajiv]

what kind of screen size can you get with this? can a portable fan be used to cool stuff down instead of those little pc fans?

[matts2007]

The actual LCD screen size depends on how well the screen fits onto the projector itself and how many lumens the projector puts off. (The brighter it is the more you can set the projector back to increase size.) I don't see why you couldn't use a portable fan. The only issue is mounting it.

[sdutango]

hi, i think it might be easy, but i want to know the steps on how to get power for the pc fans.

LCD, take them apart, put it on top of the overhead projector, that's it? if it's that simple, then i just need help on the fan, thanks!

[matts2007]

Yes, it was simple. For the fan, PC fans typically run on 12 Volts DC. Just obtain a power supply and a 12 Volt PC fan for cheap. The only other issue is housing the electronics that are now exposed once you tear the monitor apart.

[sdutango]

yea. just got that done. i'm thinking where to put the wires, that's not a big problem. one thing is, if i don't put the fan, what would happen? also, i got a model 3M 9100 that works ok. but the problem is it has kinda yellowish lamps, and it's not quite bright enough and i hardly can get the focus good, probably is because the lamp is not bright enough. any suggestions? if i could get a higher volt and white lamp, will it be safe to do so? thanks!

[caborn]

Where does the video source come from? Like do you connect RCA's to the overhead or what.

[matts2007]

Using an LCD monitor that was gutted as an overlay on the overhead projector. Using VGA cable connected to laptop.

[djdavies83]

i like it, shame i threw out an old portable ohp like that a month ago, gutted!

[poweressen]

can you remove the mirror and use it at the horizontal

[frogz]

yes, flip the screen so it isnt reverse

[tehmushroom]

what is the black thing that you put on after the flat screen goes on?

[matts2007]

One is a support for the fan, the other is just to prevent light from shining out.

[chuyldren]

what is the maximum size wath can offer this home proyector¿¿ can put other video where you explain how do one of this , please . and sorry for my bad english

[theblackhand2]

Very clever mod.

[MFfilms]

Kool