Anybody Use a Laser Projector Off Grid?

[AlaskanNoob]

We've currently got a Samsung Freestyle 2 that uses 50W max. But it's hardly usable in the daylight. Apparently laser projectors are bright enough for daylight viewing. We have a 16 foot distance to our screen that we are stuck with and we have a 6 foot wide viewing area for a 16:9 picture. This screen is the smallest size the Samsung can produce at 16 feet away so we lucked out there. Whatever laser projector we get needs to be able to throw a screen that small or smaller.

I imagine there will be a higher hit on the batteries with a laser projector, but if anybody uses one, what do you recommend?



Our winter ermine is out front in the tarped wood pile enjoying some chicken, salmon, and turkey for Thanksgiving and she said she's ready to watch Tron Legacy but just can't do it with this crap Samsung projector. Hook an ermine up!

 

[Brucey]

Looks like you've got a large amount of ambient light to overcome. Prob need something bright like a lamp based dlp based projector, those laser units don't genrally have a lot of brightness on the lower end models

 

[AlaskanNoob]

Looks like you've got a large amount of ambient light to overcome. Prob need something bright like a lamp based dlp based projector, those laser units don't genrally have a lot of brightness on the lower end models

Good to know. I was under the assumption that laser meant good for daylight viewing. The mountain range even in winter is reflecting some light back at the cabin as the sun sets behind us as that picture shows. We don't see the sun at the cabin right now, all that is from the mountains. I'm sort of surprised even with this little bit of light that the screen is so washed out but the Samsung we have is a cheap-o model.

In the summer this place will be light 24/7, so something that works well in daylight would be nice. I'll take a look at a lamp dlp based projector.

 

[Bkord]

A lamp projector can be as bright as a laser projector. You may be better off with a TV, or a much brighter projector, several thousands of dollars.

 

[Brucey]

Good to know. I was under the assumption that laser meant good for daylight viewing. The mountain range even in winter is reflecting some light back at the cabin as the sun sets behind us as that picture shows. We don't see the sun at the cabin right now, all that is from the mountains. I'm sort of surprised even with this little bit of light that the screen is so washed out but the Samsung we have is a cheap-o model.

In the summer this place will be light 24/7, so something that works well in daylight would be nice. I'll take a look at a lamp dlp based projector.

You may want to look at a bright lcd/led based direct view panel, plasmas and projectors generally struggle with ambient light like that.

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[AlaskanNoob]

A projector is what we want. We already have an LCD. I thought there were projectors powerful enough to watch in the daytime but I'll look into it, maybe I fell for some marketing hype.

 

[Grend]

I suspect at night the display may be acceptable. With a projector the problem is the black area of the picture can never be darker than the screen is with the projector off. If you have a kW light source the picture will appear better as your eye's iris will close down when it sees white areas to some extent. Cheap solution, get some heavy drapes / curtains - they will keep more heat in the room too. Alternatively a big OLED tv will be be brighter per Watt as you are looking directly at the light sources but even with a TV you need to cut out that outside light.
Or get a pair of VR Headsets!

 

[AlaskanNoob]

I suspect at night the display may be acceptable. With a projector the problem is the black area of the picture can never be darker than the screen is with the projector off. If you have a kW light source the picture will appear better as your eye's iris will close down when it sees white areas to some extent. Cheap solution, get some heavy drapes / curtains - they will keep more heat in the room too. Alternatively a big OLED tv will be be brighter per Watt as you are looking directly at the light sources but even with a TV you need to cut out that outside light.
Or get a pair of VR Headsets!

VR Headsets would at least make us look cool.

We're considering the Epson Pro Cinema LS1200 as a possibility. Puts out 2700 lumens and this little Samsung we're using for night only viewing only puts out 230 lumens. Samsung draws 50W and the Epson draws 200-300W. I like the idea of automated curtains but the wife isn't a fan of it.

We have only one spot for viewing in the cabin and if I can keep from wiring over to it that would be good. I think the wiring would be a pain. But where the projector would go would be easy.

 

[Brucey]

I'm thinking you need something more like 5000 lumens but I didn't realize your current one was a microprojector. I guess being off grid you cant just try one out at best buy and return if it's not bright enough?

 

[AlaskanNoob]

I'm thinking you need something more like 5000 lumens but I didn't realize your current one was a microprojector. I guess being off grid you cant just try one out at best buy and return if it's not bright enough?

Might have to do that. Or just get curtains. Or just suck it up and go cut some firewood and do something useful instead of watch the tube...

 

[Blackbart]

the screen is to high. it needs to be in your line of site. my neck hurts looking at your set up. get a drop down screen with black backing,
it will block out some of the light. add side window coverings.

 

[AlaskanNoob]

the screen is to high. it needs to be in your line of site. my neck hurts looking at your set up. get a drop down screen with black backing,
it will block out some of the light. add side window coverings.

Our recliners recline. The position works for us.

 

[yodamota]

You could always try some blankets/sheets before buying curtains.. just to see if it helps. But i think the light from those windows are not helping.

 

[Blackbart]

Our recliners recline. The position works for us.

when the screen is so high its off axes to your eyes. you get a gray out affect. the same as the projector is in line with the top of the screen ceiling mount or table mount at the bottom of the screen. i have built well over 100 screening rooms and home theaters. try lowering the screen it will be brighter. this is from epson but all projectors work the same.

 

[AlaskanNoob]

when the screen is so high its off axes to your eyes. you get a gray out affect. the same as the projector is in line with the top of the screen ceiling mount or table mount at the bottom of the screen. i have built well over 100 screening rooms and home theaters. try lowering the screen it will be brighter. this is from epson but all projectors work the same.
View attachment 263409

I haven't noticed that effect with our current projector mounted in the same spot, but this is the only spot we have for it so we're going to go with it.

 

[Frank Blue]

I use proj since 20y, my lg laser is very bright and is 70W, I would'nt worry for the added 30Wh for a 90m movie.
Blackbart is theoretically right if you have a reflective or semireflective screen, with the normal one the effect is negligible. After trying everything I now project on wall. Buy more power so you can white balance (that means reducing the color that is more reflected) and all is perfect (color perception science, not an opinion). With laser is better a screen/wall slightly orange because lasers tends to be blueish and lacks yellows when uncalibrated, usual screens are not very warm too so be prepared for a blue turn down.

 

[Blackbart]

Optoma ZW340E EDP 3600 lm WXGA Laser DLP Projector 30,000 hour, 137 watts 3600 lumen
my distributor sell it for $563.08, 3600 lumens you can view during the day if no light hits the screen directly.

 

[Frank Blue]

I agree that you CAN.
But sorry if I disagree if we talk about enjoying a projector in daylight..
Everything under the light level of the screen (the screen itself has some light bouncing off it) is lost.
This is the real limit and especially with dark movies there is no solution. Having lots of power can overpower all the room, make your eye close the pupils so the perceived black is blacker..than modify the gamma curve so the grey don't go too off (my proj has a gamma curve for daylight, most have it) with the side effect that your eyes will be strained fast and everything looks washed out.
The more power you use the more the room lits the more the screen bounces off the light of the room canceling darks..there is no real solution or at least is way easier to darken the room imho.

 

[Rossman]

Im not sure I understand why you dont just throw a 65" TV up there.

Why all this bother with projectors which will never work well in the daytime against all that incoming light?

 

[Danke]

when the screen is so high its off axes to your eyes. you get a gray out affect. the same as the projector is in line with the top of the screen ceiling mount or table mount at the bottom of the screen. i have built well over 100 screening rooms and home theaters. try lowering the screen it will be brighter. this is from epson but all projectors work the same.
View attachment 263409

I am gonna build a theater room. Have one of those Epson Cinema 5050UB 4Ks. I think that’s the model.

Anyway, how hard is it to make wall smooth enough for projecting on? Or should I just get a screen. Currently using a 120” screen, but would like to project larger image.

 

[Brucey]

I am gonna build a theater room. Have one of those Epson Cinema 5050UB 4Ks. I think that’s the model.

Anyway, how hard is it to make wall smooth enough for projecting on? Or should I just get a screen. Currently using a 120” screen, but would like to project larger image.

Good resource for making a diy screen:

https://www.avsforum.com/forums/diy-screen-section.110/

I would just project against a wall initially and then go from there.

 

[ksmithaz1]

IMNSHO. Projectors suck. Hisense 100" is under $2k. 75 can be had for under 600 either will have a drasticlly brighter and better picture. A good highly reflective projection screen can be had for $300, then $1500 for a super bright projector and it still looks like sh-t.