View Full Version : Projector Project
The 'Construction' section of the Gallery mixes the images with other users, plus I'm out of storage space. I'll edit and try to attach pictures with each post. Please see the posts that follow.
Should be pretty clean. The only thing I haven't gotten figured out is the front sub placement. I'll have to run a audio coax up to it. Power is not a problem but it won't get filtered power.
Viewing distance is 13', single row for now. (edit: moved back to 14').
Thoughts/Critique welcome, but don't hurt my feelings too much :)
Lee
Images attached in the following posts.
HT before any changes.
The screen will go on the wall behind the existing HDTV, which will find a new home within the family. You'll note that the window/drapes are not centered in the room, the screen will be. Ground level is at the window level and there is a bush that conceals the window from the outside. It won't be missed. Will remove the window trim, the area behind the screen will be flush with the wall. The screen will cover the window.
The area behind the screen, including the window will be covered with flat black (something to be determined)
Screen mounting not firm yet. But the bottom will be at least 24" from the floor. Front LR spreakers will move out to sides of screen and the center will go below the screen
Will re-install the drapes, perhaps another material. The drapes can cover the screen when not in use. (edit: old drapes are history, don't match the new color scheme)
The flood lights in the center of room will be replaced by some indirect lighting on the existing dimmer.
Lee
12ga 20amp ckt
Running 12ga wire from a dedicated 20amp ckt in the garage through a heating duct into the HT room,
Picture shows where the romex will enter the duct from the breaker box. Romex will be in a conduit until it enters the duct.
Lee
Cables exiting and entering duct.
Power will run through the duct, across the HT room and down and within the wall to behind the equip rack. The foundation is in the wall up to about 4'. All the outlets will be at that level. Then 14ga romex back up the wall through the duct to where the projector will mount. There will be a filtering/protection unit in the rack. The rack will be moved from beside the TV to just behind the seating and on the left (as you face the screen).
Using the same duct for the video cables from the equipment rack. All 16' cables, 1-DVI, 2-Component, 1-Svideo, 1-composite. All Ixos cables, don't worry, getting them at cost :). The video and power will be separated by at least a foot and won't cross each other
Lee
(removed the image)
Projector mounting area.
The projector will be mounted behind the beam and duct that are shown in the picture. Just low enough to clear beam.
Using the same duct for the video cables from the equipment rack.
The sticky with the X on it is the optical centerline of the projector. It will be in exact alignment with the centerline of the screen. You can see how the window and drapes are not centered in the room.
The video cables will exit the duct above the projector.
The AC will exit the duct to the left of the projector (as viewed in the image). A dual recepticle outlet will mount in the duct. The AC input to the projector is on the left side, this will keep the AC away from the video cables.
Lee
(removed the image)
Day one work completed. The projector and mount are on site but didn't get to mounting it yet. Video cables to finish running first.
Due to work schedule probably won't get much done until Wednesday.
AC wiring/duct work in garage finished.
AC and cables outlet from duct. Found that the duct did not extend all the way to the wall. This was good, we were able to run the cables down the inside wall without exiting the duct into the HT room. The duct and area behind it will be sealed and refinished.
The AC wiring has been completed. Just have the video cables to pull to the outlet at the projector mount area.
Projector Mount Area
The AC outlet has been wired and is complete. Just need to pull the video cables and install a box.
Behind the equipment rack
AC is completed except for the cover plate.
Video cables, the two Satellite feeds and the OTA antenna feed will go in the double box. The Three Antenna cables will be rerouted from the old location at the left. A phone jack too.
Got a little more work done in the last two days. Just two pictures.
The mount is up. Looks a little strange, had to span two studs. Figure after its textured and painted like the ceiling it will look ok.
I don't figure it will fall down :) 5/16 lag bolts.
Lee
The window is sealed. Vapor barrier and insulation. When done taping and texturing it will be just a bare wall.
The trim was saved and everything put together with screws. With a little work the window could be restored.
Lee
Suggestion for ceiling mount - probably too late.
Cut out piece of ceiling drywall exactly the same size as plywood.
Insert plywood into "hole".
Use plywood same thickness as drywall?.
Make plywood look like ceiling.
Mount ceiling mount to plywood...
Keep piece of drywall if necessary for "fixing" hole if ever required (or puchase a small piece of drywall several years from now...
mikehbkwm
12-31-2003, 10:42 AM
Lee that looks nice man im really impressed cant wait to see the finished product.....
Hippie
12-31-2003, 02:56 PM
Lee...
I ASSUME you will be flying us ALL out there for the grand opening of your "theater" :whistle:
:D
If you only knew what an impatient guy I am. Waiting for the screen is killing me :).
I'll have EVERYTHING ready by the time it arrives.
Thanks,
Lee
A/V equp rack has been moved to behind the seating area adjacent to the projector. All speakers rewired with 12ga. I have the wires running along the baseboard. Can't see them in the dark anyway. I would have liked to have hidden them too.
The wall the screen is to be mounted on is ready for painting. The off white walls will be a deep burgandy with a dark blue/gray ceiling. It will look better than it sounds :) Right now there is a lot of reflected light off the screen (wall) onto the walls and ceiling.
Relocated the 3 RG-6 cables (2-sat, 1-OTA) to a jack panel behind the A/V rack. Same place the Video cables for the projector and power are located.
I watched "Pirates" on the wall, can't wait to see what to see what it will look like on the screen :)
The MT8 setup is nice. I have only enabled the DVI, one component, one s-video and one composite. The projector is set to 'autoscan' just those inputs. When I change the input on the A/V receiver the projector switches to that input. (and it remembers the last AR setting) I now watch 4:3 SD in 4:3 AR. We don't care about no steenking black bars. :)
I'll post final pictures when the painting is done and the screen is up.
Lee
Hippie
01-03-2004, 11:26 PM
How about this for your ceiling..
Make it like a drive-in.
http://www.brandlighting.com/fiber_optic_lighting_galaxy.html
Suggestion for ceiling mount - probably too late.
57U,
Not too late, why didn't I think of that! :bow:
We probably have a week before the screen gets here.
Don't know how I missed your post until now.
Any other thoughts? :)
How about this for your ceiling..
Interesting stuff :) Looks pretty good but starts getting more and more expensive as you go down the page.
I'd have like to have had lighting like pradike has in his HT. Just can't figure a way without tearing the sheetrock off the walls. :( My wife has been giving me the evil eye with just the little cutting we have been doing :). I will say that she has taken it all pretty well.
I'll be back on the project Wednesday (day).
Thanks both,
Lee
Actually if you "raise" the projector, you may not clear your beam. Make sure my suggestion doesn't screw that up.
Originally posted by 57U
Actually if you "raise" the projector, you may not clear your beam. Make sure my suggestion doesn't screw that up.
Won't be a problem, there is more vertical adjustment in the mount :)
Thanks again,
Lee
Picture of the outlets behind the equip rack. Phone jack is in. Power completed. The three coax connections are 2-Dish Satellite inputs and 1-OTA antenna input.
The video cables to the projector are not completed. The DVI cable and adapter was supposed to be delivered today but probably got delayed by the weather (woosies).
The old coax outlet has been sheetrocked and finished ready for painting.
Part of the ceiling and most of the walls have been primered and ready for paint. Just worrying about the wall the screen mounts onto right now. Screen is due in tomorrow afternoon (Friday).
You'll note the tear in wall paper by the video panel. Note: don't use duct tape on wallpaper :(. Really sticks good.
Screen came in Friday. Finished painting the main walls Friday night. I took three coats of the Dark Burgandy to cover the white, and I have a few touchups to do. The ceiling to be done yet.
Installed the screen on Saturday. Went together and installed easily. In the dark HT room it almost looks like it glows.
Grandkids were over and we watched Finding Nemo, Ice Age and Back to the Future II.
I cannot begin to describe how good it looks. I haven't even run Avia on the projector yet. It didn't come set in torch mode like my RPTV did. Most everything set at 50. I did turn the brightness down a tad. The review from ProjectorCentral did say they look pretty good out of the box.
Rather than post any more photos in this thread I'll update the ones in the Gallery.
The remote for the Dish receivers (811 and 501 now) both work on UHF and pointing them is not an issue. The projector remote reflects off the screen, no issue there. I just have to find a way to remote the ones for the Onkyo and DVD player. I'll search through the forum, I think pradike using a type of remote IR system.
Based on the review from ProjectorCentral I turned off the progressive scan on my DVD player and let the Faroudja in the projector take care of deinterlacing. We did some compares on Nemo and Ice Age and the PQ was better sending 480i to the projector (several opinions, not just mine) I did some blind tests.
The only negative comments from the better half have to do with the fact that I bought something new :). I've had very good luck just moving things around the equipment rack so when she asks I just say "No, I just moved things around. Kinda hard to disguise a 10' screen and projector. She actually likes the setup, doesn't care much for my dark burgandy.
The projector is great, all you do is turn it on and forget it. Once setup it auto senses the inputs and sets the correct AR, or just remembers the correct one, not sure.
I still have to work on the indirect lighting and ceiling. The DVI cable still hasn't been delivered, maybe tomorrow (Monday).
I couldn't recommend a projector more, especially a DLP. The store has some LCD's that look very good too. I think with the prices dropping on projectors that more and more people will be going this route for their HTs.
On the screen, I know we discussed building your own. The frame would not be difficult, but the material this screen is made of is 'magic' (can't think of another word). I have heard that you can by the material in bulk and build your own, this would work. The frame came in four pieces and went together with 8 screws. the pieces interlocked. The screen snapped onto the back of the frame. I can see that the screens are all preassembled by hand. Everything lined up and snapped into place.
Unless there are questions or comments we'll consider this thread done :). I'll update my Gallery pictures this week.
Lee
