The basic design for a lcd projector.

The same basic design using mirrors

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DIY Projector Company - Run by A.Staples.

here are a few frequently asked questions (FAQ'S) about building or running a diy projector.

DIY Projectors in General

What types of projectors ? The DIY Projector Company offers LCD projector kits to build your own home theater projector. They can supply the light sources, lenses, enclosures, and even the LCD panels - everything you might need for your projector. Visit the designs section to preview the different models of LCD projector that DPC currently offers. You can also visit there online store to browse different projector kits, which are convenient groupings of parts that you will need to build your own projector. Back to top

Can I use my DVD, PC, XBox, etc. with a diy projector? Yes - you can use a diy projector with nearly any type of video input source. The types of components that you can use with your projector depend on the inputs that your particular LCD panel has. For example, if your LCD panel has a VGA and RCA or Svideo input, then your panel will be compatible with nearly all DVD players, PC computers, gaming consoles, and other video electronics. If your LCD has only a VGA input, then it

How easy is it to install/setup a diy projector? People of nearly any skill level can build a diy projector. Those with very advanced skill level may find our online instructions too obvious or simple because these projectors are simply very easy to build! People with no previous knowledge of how projectors work, or those with no experience using tools, will all be able to build projectors with ease as well. Our online instructions are very easy to follow, and we even offer projector kits that include everything you need so that all you have to do is screw together a few parts before you can start enjoying your projector! Back to top

Can I use X LCD panel in my projector? There are many different types of LCD panels that will work for a DIY projector. The easiest type to use is a projection panel, which can be easily obtained online at www.ebay.com or even right here in our online store. An even better type of LCD to use is a modified LCD monitor (15" diagonal or smaller is best). You will get better resolution and contrast ratio from a modified LCD monitor, but the modification can be very difficult. In general, any transmissive ("see-through") LCD panel will work for DIY projection as long as your lens set is compatible with an image source of its size. You can read more about LCD fundamentals in the LCD Theory page. Back to top

How does a DIY projector compare with an "Off The Shelf" (OTS) projector? Primarily, DIY projectors are cheap short-term and very cheap long-term compared to OTS projectors. The reason is that you do most of the work in assembling it (though you can have DPC do the work for you typically). The other reason, which is more of a "long-term" factor, is that the light sources in DIY projectors far outperform those of OTS projectors in terms of lifespan. A typical OTS projector lamp lasts about 2,000 hours and costs $300+ to replace. Our DIY projectors use lamps that are capable of lasting 10,000-20,000 hours at a replacement cost of only $39-49 per lamp! That is an amazing savings for DIY projectors regardless of how often you use your projector! Back to top

What about the "100 inch big screen" offers on eBay? Nearly all of the auctions on eBay for "big screen" projection systems simply do not work. They typically send you a page-magnifier fresnel lens (very low quality compared to what we sell here) and expect you to use one of your television sets as the image source for your projection. Regardless of whether that design requires to you flip your TV upside-down or use a mirror, the results will be terrible either way. Everyone in the true "DIY Projector Community" has found that those auctions on eBay are a scam, and that the results photos they show are extremely misleading and falsified. The only way to build a good video projector is to use high quality optics that were meant for projection. Read the DIY Projector 101 article to get you on the right track towards a high quality video projector. Back to top

Lens Questions

How do I know what the focal length (FL) is? If you have one or multiple fresnel lenses of unknown focal length (FL), then here is a simple test. Use a single fresnel lens (test doesn't work for lens pairs that have been glued together as in OHP's), hold the lens at a distance of about 5 inches from a wall opposite a window. With the smooth side of the lens towards the wall, gradually move the lens away from the wall until the image of an object far away (e.g. a tree outside your window) focuses on the wall. The distance at which your lens focuses the image is approximately your focal length. This test is more accurate the further away the object is that you are trying to focus. Back to top

What fresnel lens should I use? The fresnel lens combination that you should use depends on what projection lens you will be using. Here is a list of compatible lens combinations depending on the projection lens you have (projection lens model - fresnel focal length combination(s)): Triplet-80 - 220/330, 330/330 Triplet-135 - 330/330 Varifocal - 220/220, 330/220 For the projection lenses that list multiple compatible fresnel lens combinations, we always recommend using the combination listed first (i.e. use 220/330 with the triplet-80) Back to top

What does a fresnel lens do? A fresnel lens is necessary to evenly distribute light across the LCD and then focus it back onto the projection lens. Without a fresnel lens, a DIY projector would be very dim and the projection would be completely useless. To learn more about fresnel and other lenses, visit the theory section. Back to top

What is a split vs. combined fresnel lens? The fresnel lenses that are found in overhead projectors are traditionally two fresnel lenses that have been fused together. Alternatively they are not fused together. This is known as a "split fresnel lens". The advantage to this design is that you have the option of putting your LCD panel between the two fresnel lens halves, which may significantly increase the contrast that your projector is capable of. To learn more about fresnel and other lenses, visit the theory section. Back to top

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