Mix big screen home theater dreams with a skimpy budget and you have the makings of a fantastic do-it-yourself project. Just think of how impressed all your friends will be watching blockbuster movies on a video projector you made with your own 2 hands.
It was just these motivations that landed me in front of my web browser digging for information for this project. There are a lot of cheesy websites that promise the moon and sell you a plastic magnifying lense and the instructions to stick a television into a box and put this lens on the front. You will get an image, but it will look like you made it yourself. - dark, and blurry.
Is there
...addition to your television, DVD player, and advanced disc formats such as HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players, you can include a stereo CD player, satellite television receivers, a digital video recorder (DVR) or similar device, and in many cases some older ...
The parts you need are:
High resolution LCD computer
...However, it is important to keep in mind that the boardroom and the home theater are two different arenas that require different beasts. The distinct requirements between the two are important; the discussion that follows explains what video projector attributes ...
Projector lens (and possibly 2 fresnel lenses depending on the plans you use)
Cooling fan(s) - bright lights get hot when you shove them in a box
Bright lightsource (one approach to the project is to use an old overhead projector)
Electrical power supply
There are dozens of websites with step-by-step plans for free or for sale. Some sell parts that you’ll need. Two that I’ve found to be excellent are LumenLab and the DIY Projector Company. They both sell parts and parts kits. LumenLab sells a very nicely produced PDF instruction guide with detailed plans. DIY offers plans free, but expects that you’ll buy one of their kits to actually make the projector. They both use the
...When shopping for one of these televisions, it is important to review the models carefully and to read the reviews of the various models you are considering. The quality of these TVs varies widely from manufacturer to manufacturer and model ...
InventGeek has a great article explaining the whole process in depth including the theory behind projectors. I recommend you check it out. The DenGuru website shows another approach to the project. They use an old overhead projector for both the lightsource and lens. You strip the LCD panel out of its frame and lay it on the projector like a transparency. Ugly, but it works! Check out their tutorial.
Break out your toolkit and get busy - and let’s be safe out there people!
Andrew Seltz is a Go-To Guy! His wide range of interests and experiences have made him a walking search engine for his friends and colleagues. His passion for
...fixed frame, ceiling-recessed, tripod, truss framed, motorized, rear screens, tab-tensioned vs. tensioned vs. non tensioned, ceiling vs. wall mounted, and others. They can also be classified on the basis of their size, the material used, and the brand. Home theaters ...