Build a projector out of a tv for cheap!

[Kuhlman]

FYI: The image quality on these magnification projects is absolutely horrible.

 

[SemperFi]

Here is a forum that has a lot of info on building you own projector. diyaudio

Here is a place that has a lot of info. I was thinking about building one but my wife says no. build your own projector I still might build one.

 

[psycocommy]

Ignorant question: would putting two lenses in the projector not reverse the image back to normal? But yeah, I am definitely going to try this once I get back to school, and maybe even at home for the hell of it. Thanks!

 

[kindest]

Originally posted by: Kuhlman
FYI: The image quality on these magnification projects is absolutely horrible.

 

[marvdmartian]

Of course, you could always learn how to watch tv while standing on your head, right? ROFLMAO

 

[dud]

You get what you pay for ..... this idea has been around for years upon years. I've seen old particle board antiques where you place a TV in a box on an inclined shelf UPSIDE DOWN and a 50" (or so) picture is projected on a curved screen. If the picture was so bad at 50" just imagine how bad it would be at 100"!

 

[IronOxide]

Originally posted by: dud
You get what you pay for ..... this idea has been around for years upon years. I've seen old particle board antiques where you place a TV in a box on an inclined shelf UPSIDE DOWN and a 50" (or so) picture is projected on a curved screen. If the picture was so bad at 50" just imagine how bad it would be at 100"!

Ok, I'm glad you guys don't want to do this. That's fine. It's not for everyone. Apparently, I mentioned that at the start. However, if I built a 150" and don't think it's that bad, then I'm sure that some one could build a 50" out of a 19" tv and be fine. I wouldn't have posted this if it wasn't worth doing. And why is everyone still talking about it being upside down? I thought I had a solution for that? Did you not read the whole post? Reverse the image by cutting the wires that hook into the back of the tv and switching them. IT'S FREAKIN' EASY.

 

[VisionsUCI]

The second link posted in the original message had some pics of it... kind of cheap looking with the cardboard, but with some paint and case mods - LOL - it would be a nice project.

 

[Undream]

yeah, me and the guy that runs hommie.net were some of the pioneers of the DIY LCD projector that actually had working configurations. He ended up winning the race though, with a small condenser lens, and a great reflector that I did not have access to. I think he still links to my site from his. After a year and a half, I stopped working on the project, sold all my parts for $650, and put that 650 into the cost of an Infocus X1. Now, I enjoy my $999 1100ANSI lumens of 112" wide screen goodness (see pic: http://www.dreamlash.com/pics/9.JPG)

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: conehead433
Warning! Do not turn your TV upside down, you could easily ruin it. Keep in mind that the resolution of your picture, depending on how large an image you project, will be rather poor. Using a computer setup with a monitor set a high resolution could give better results in regard to picture quality. And you can adjust the reverse and upside down picture with mirrors. They would need to be optical quality and not reflect from the back side of the mirror. OK so for those of you who have time to waste and want to do this, here's a site with step by step instructions.

Build A Projector (PDF)

Projector Info

Well, it depends. Some tv's/monitors have the drivers just hanging on the back of the CRT, and those would have issues. But the ones where the drivers are mounted to the base with a bracket or something should be fine except for the heat issues mentioned above.

 

[SLOviper]

When the electron beam scans across your monitor, magnetic fields are used to guide each pulse (electron) to its proper place on the phosphor screen. Since Earth has a natural magnetic field, this added "pull" has to be compensated for. If you turn the CRT (monitor, TV, oscope, etc.) upside down, the electronics are now compensating in the wrong direction giving you a shifted, off-color picture. You *might* be able to get away doing this and have it look decent with a low res CRT (such as a standard TV) depending on its construction, but it's highly recommended that you don't because of the heat generated by the components. Heat rises, and having all of it that's created be "collected" on the primary PCB (normally on the bottom of a CRT unit) could cause serious problems. Also, as mentioned before, it probably won't even work.

Overall a very interesting thread however

 

[PHiuR]

Originally posted by: Undream
yeah, me and the guy that runs hommie.net were some of the pioneers of the DIY LCD projector that actually had working configurations. He ended up winning the race though, with a small condenser lens, and a great reflector that I did not have access to. I think he still links to my site from his. After a year and a half, I stopped working on the project, sold all my parts for $650, and put that 650 into the cost of an Infocus X1. Now, I enjoy my $999 1100ANSI lumens of 112" wide screen goodness (see pic: http://www.dreamlash.com/pics/9.JPG)

your living room is a bit small for that...no?

 

[weepul]

this has been around for ages. i even got a one of those free magnify lens for free. once again, u get wat u pay for. think about it as a picture getting zoom in again and again.

//krunk (^_^x)

 

[SimMike2]

I seen one of these twenty years ago in a bar. It was terrible then, and I don't think it would be much better now. Dim and fuzzy is the best way to describe it.

 

[Doomer]

Cool, a ghetto big screen.

 

[dud]

IronOxide, I did not intend to crap yur thread but this HAS been around for a LONG time. How old are you? It might have been around longer than you! The forums are a great place to use as a sounding board for deals and ideas. You said the following:

"And why is everyone still talking about it being upside down? I thought I had a solution for that? Did you not read the whole post? Reverse the image by cutting the wires that hook into the back of the tv and switching them. IT'S FREAKIN' EASY. "


... and don't forget to stick a screwdriver across the leads of the biggest capacitor you can find. Please do not recommend the average Joe to try this out. This can be extremely dangerous ... and no, please do not short a capacitor, no matter how large or small it may be.

 

[Cybordolphin]

Hang on... I just about have my OD chair bolted to my ceiling....
I used an old seat belt out of my neighbors junked car. No problem with the upside down projection any more!! I have to drink my beer through a straw..... but hey... I can live with that!

 

[mfcman]

somebody post some pics of an image?

 

[MangoTBG]

I'd like to know if anyone tries this with an LCD monitor and the aforementioned nVidia drivers that let you flip the screen whichever way you want. Heck, when I get back to my apt. I might as-well try it. People are bitching and moaning, get over it. We're talking about $20 bucks and a couple day's fun!

 

[ReiAyanami]

so inside every big screen TV is a smaller TV, cool! its like buy one get one free

 

[optimistic]

thanks. save for later.

 

[fumbduck]

im a poor college student and would try this, but im also lazy.

 

[Pezman]

I have begun to put this bay boy together. I expect to use my 17" LCD from work and will try it with my Radeon 9800 later. Thanks for the tips everyone. I will let y'all know how it turns out with some photos later. :beer:

 

[TekDemon]

Originally posted by: ObiDon

Originally posted by: IronOxide
It would be nice to figure out how to make a dual lens system like this. That would rock, it wouldn't be reversed and upside down

With nVidia-based cards you can just use NVrotate (180 degrees) to fix that problem. It's somewhere in the drivers.

I don't know if ATI has anything similar...

Yeah I was thinking NvRotate would be perfect if you didn't mind that it would still be reversed...just don't try to use subtitles and you should be ok Of course, that means you can't really use subtitled stuff =( I'm pretty damn sure there IS a way to reverse the monitor output too through drivers, but right now I don't remember how.

 

[TekDemon]

Now what I figure is with a screen that outputs enough lumens you can actually make a pretty solid projector here...I'm talking about a super bright 11" LCD or something...I guess a high contrast ratio is useful still but you need something with extra brightness..hmmm

EDIT: well it turns out superbright LCDs do exist. Problem? They cost thousands.

Heh, BUT if you can land a score on a 500 nits brightness LCD that's like 15" or so on the cheap, go for it =) 500 isn't TOO bad, although if you want 1000+ nits it'll be in the thousands. Oh well

Hmmm turns out CRT monitors put out between 400-600 nits already....coulda fooled me, my stupid monitor looks MUCH dimmer than my TV but maybe I'm insane? Eh