project PROJECT

[TacitBlue]

I just ordered a 15" TFT monitor and an overhead projector... can you guess what Im gonna do? thats right, Im going to build a projector. It may be to soon to start telling you guys this as I probably wont have the stuff until next week, but Im too excited. Ill keep you posted, and Ill take some pictures.

putting that tax refund to work already.  ;)

[TacitBlue]

The overhead projector was delivered today, the monitor should be here tomarrow. Going to start right away on a cooling system for the LCD panel. basically its two 12 volt PC case fans and a box with a piece of foam board to direct the air through a slot that will fit at the edge of the panel.

[TacitBlue]

I dont know if anyone is paying attention to this thread or not, but heres my update: Today I officially said "screw it". The LCD screen arrived today, and upon taking it apart, I discovered that the circuit boards covered part of the screen, thus making it impossible to project through. So, naturally I decided to put it back together thinking "well, at least I have a nice LCD monitor now", But NO!!!! one of the flat ribbon cables that connect the board to the the LCD panel became unatached. so now, I have a broken LCD monitor, and an ancient overhead projector for wich I have no use and Im out over $200! this has been a horrible experience and one I wish never to repeat. There is no curse word in the english language that adaquately describes my feeling tward the whole notion of building this projector. However, I still believe it is possible, but I do not intent to try again as I am thouroughly disgusted. It was my fault, and my idea to try, and it was my money, I have noone to blame but myself. sorry for the long winded post, but I had to let my frustration out somwhere.

P.S. I also got a nasty shock when I was fiddling around with the thing while it was turned on. Thing is, I didnt notice that I was being shocked untill I smelled the burning flesh on my thumb. must have deadned the nerve endings or something. I'm okay though, only a very small area was affected.

[JBaymore]

Tacitblue,

That is too bad!  How much experience with electronics assembly do you have?  That is not a simple project..... so unless you have done a bunch of "component level" type stuff.... it was a brave undertaking.  I have looked at that website that shows the step-by-step....... and it is an involved project.... particulary "field stripping" the lcd monitor.

Befoer you totally give up....... step back and review both the instructions for doing it and your options.  Sometimes thia simpit construction stuff is NOT a "linear" project.  Sometimes you have reall issues and have to go back and re-try something slightly different to get it right.

best,

....................john

[TacitBlue]

I guess I dont have as much electronics experience as some people. I didnt really have a problem assembling the projector, the only reason it didnt work was because of the circuit board placement. the big problem occured when I was trying to put the monitor back together, and accidentily broke one of the connections from the board to the LCD panel. my last post was made right after I discovered that it was broken, so I was a tad angery. I may try it again, but probably not anytime soon. I would like to use one of the monitors that are recomended on tomshardware.com wich is where this idea came from, then I know it would work. As for the shock, it still dosnt hurt, it must be completely cooked.