Home brew projector

[sajeev]

So its the cold months and i was feeling bored at home and needed a new project. So i thought of building a projector. i dont want to buy one as it costs about $500 for a new one. besides it more fun to watch things that you build work :)

so to start off i need the following:

1. a good small TFT display (preferably one that can take video directly
2. a good lens
3. a good and cheap light source.

Lens and light source are not a problem. its item one that i need.

anyone know a good place i can get a good tft ?

thanks,

[bearcreek]

There are 2" tft monitors (ntsc) on eio.com for $59, but the resolution is not great. For good resolution, you might want to look at used computer monitors and add a scan converter. Personally, I would prefer to hack a broken projector. Some person in my city sells about a dozen broken ones every week on ebay real cheap and I have been looking into that.

[village_idiot]

You should search for the threads on the DIY Audio forums, there are kits you can buy with the light sources and lenses. Go for the highest resolution LCD you can afford.

[Tomapowa]

The higher the contrast ratio the better too....

[Chickenthief]

Remember ont thing: LCD's dont like heat!
Anything above 45 degres C can cause permanent damage, so active cooling is a must.

[Tomapowa]

Here's a few places to start.....

http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/

http://www.diyprojectorcompany.com

[sajeev]

ok i am going to check in the DIY audio forum

[Pete P]

Get a cheap, recycled 15" panel, and mount it on an overhead projector... Makes for an inexpensive first project.

OR

Get an LCD kit (like http://cgi.ebay.com/TFT-LCD-Monitor-AD-Board-Kit-Driver-Board-Kit_W0QQitemZ150320150798QQihZ005QQcategoryZ4663QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) and recycle an old laptop LCD panel, preferable a 14" Dell LCD with a resolution of 1280x1024 :D

I personally own a 15" 1600x1200 panel with controller kit, acting as a secondary monitor... It's awesome!! This is the controller I own http://cgi.ebay.com/LCD-TV-kit-for-lcd-panle-15-1-17-1-and-19-1_W0QQitemZ110332618762QQihZ001QQcategoryZ3320QQss PageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2 em118Q2el1247 .

Also, ask the seller for a board with a built in TV tuner- They are available, with remote!!

In the end, buying the kit will give more satisfaction, less cost, and greater performance due to recycling the panel, and greater resolution than what's available in current retail 15" LCDs.

[Tomapowa]

....Also, ask the seller for a board with a built in TV tuner- They are available, with remote!!

I hope that's a Digital TV (DVT) tuner... :eek:
Anything else will soon be useless...

I've also noticed LCD monitors (like those for auto headrests) with built-in tuners selling for almost next nothing on Ebay...

[sajeev]

hmmmm...that leads me to think..there are hand held TVs from citizen being sold for $30. So if i get one of these, take it apart (yes resolution might not be great but its just to tinker around ) add a lens in front, a super bright LED behind it, it should be able to project at least a 50 to 60 inch projection ?

[sajeev]

update. i opened up an old compaq laptop and took out its LDC. here are some pics.

[sajeev]

the second one is a plastic lense to better focus the light i think its called a fresnell lense or something. now i need an OHP

[Pete P]

My tuner is CATV and RCA+SVID :D

Sajeev- Those handheld TVs may work, for LOW resolution, so long as they have the required input (IE RCA, Svid, etc). But you'll need a few tuned lenses to get an image, and you'll never get a good 60" out of it. Go for 40" and see what the results are. You have to remember, these cheap LCDs don't have great contrast, and punching that much light through them really takes the contrast out of the image. Even the blackest black may be greyish. Also, make sure you have a proper screen- They can be bought very inexpensive, if not free (and used). It makes CONSIDERABLE difference.

[sajeev]

since i opened up the old laptop i was planing to put it on an OHP and project the image. i saw a few good used ones for about $20. so my total cost for this - iamboredtodeathexperiment - would be about $20

[sajeev]

HEY !!! i found it. exactly what i wam working on:...

http://www.instructables.com/id/LCD-Overhead-Projector---Laptop-Powered/