Dumb Question about Daily Use

[Rustolem]

Can I actually use a Front Projector for my full time viewing ? Right I average about (don't laugh) 55 hours per week and around 10 hours per day on the weekends ... I don't mind having to replace a lamp or bulb once a year ... just want to know can it stand up to the long term use ... will be buying a quality projector, around $ 5000 for screen and projector, if that helps ...

thanks

Rustolemite

[solarrdadd]

First, it's not a dumb question. If the maker of the product doesn't tell you NOT to use it for more than "x" hours a day then it should be fine. Knowing ahead of time that your NOT shortening the lamp life, but using up the given lamp life quicker is half the battle. I'd say watch it as much as you want! I have a rear screen projection Sony and I don't let "lamp life" get in my way of watching as much TV, Movies or Gaming as I want to and neither should you.

Life's tough, get a helmet!

[Rustolem]

thanks for the response ... most of my watching is done through DirecTV HD, Blu-Rays and gaming via HDMI on Xbox 360.. and i don't have a windowless living room but during the day its dark enough you can't see to walk around so i guess that's light controlled enough to work ... I usually turn my tv on for about 30 mins each morning before work then again when I get home until I go to bed ... is powering it up down that much lead to wear and tear?

Thanks

Rustolemite

[solarrdadd]

Everyday you wake up is another opportunity to die, same with your equipment!---don't worry about that and LIVE like there's no tomorrow, cause there might not be for us or our equipment. I say, let it burn to the ground and enjoy yourself!

[Scooby Blu]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

Everyday you wake up is another opportunity to die, same with your equipment!---don't worry about that and LIVE like there's no tomorrow, cause there might not be for us or our equipment. I say, let it burn to the ground and enjoy yourself!

Very well said ! I agree 100% !

[Beta Man]

I agree with the others....... but will throw this out there.....

Why not get a 32" LCD for your "morning routine" It'll pay for itself with the time it saves from the bulb..... and you'll be able to enjoy the news etc. without having to sit in the dark.....

I personally don't like to watch Television on my projector (just sporting events etc...) I just don't think it's necessary to channel surf on the big screen


Even with the dedicated room, I sometimes watch movies in my "living room" if I'm going to do some work on the laptop etc....

My wife, however... made a comment yesterday to a contractor that was in our home, and commented on the movie-room..... She said "After watching movies in here, it's just not the same watching them on the small T.V. downstairs" .....ahhhh how quickly they are swayed

Either way, I'm not concerned with bulb life either.... but I don't think "everything" needs to be viewed on our front-projection setup..... I know many people use them for everything, and that's fine.... but you may find yourself like me, wanting to watch the news/weather/Sportscenter etc... in the living room on a nice sunny day..... (I also have a kid, so watching anything up there during the day-time isn't practical.... so that factors into my decision also)

As far as turning on/off etc... if you want to save the bulb from 'abuse' (for lack of a better term) Just make sure you don't turn on your projector, only to turn it off 10 minutes later..... you should really let it run for at least 15 minutes otherwise the bulb doesn't have time fully warm up etc.... and turning it off before the 15 minutes, has been claimed to reduce the life of the bulb..... Not sure how true that is, but I've heard it from multiple sources.


What is your Throw Distance, Seating Distance, etc... You said light wasn't a problem, but other factors may come into play.....

NOBODY that has seen my projector setup (which is as modest as it comes) has ever said anything negative about the picture quality.... so with a $5k budget, you may not get Kuro-performance, but you'll knock the socks off of most flat panel displays, and at a screen size that will amaze most folks.

If it's the question of projector or Plasma/LCD...... once you have a projector, I doubt you'll ever not want to have one again...... I know I'll have one as part of a setup for the long-haul.

[Rustolem]

really wanted a mounted screen but here's my other thought ...right now have a Mits 73 DLP... and I have thought about getting a motorized drop down screen in at least 106 to 120 inches, only problem is that I would have to move my Mits further back against the wall to make room for the screen.. my normal viewing to the Mits is about 8 feet and after I moved it would be about 12 feet cause I need to be at least 10 from the big screen..the other thing is that with the drop down screen it would completely cover my front speakers (c,l & r, sub)...

[Grevlin]

Hey rust, I will be putting in a projector in my living room soon. I'm thinking about the same thing- daily viewing. In my case, I have the 40" Sammy that I can install in my home office (work from home) for the quick news viewing etc.

I'm not going to worry about lamp life or check the usage hours all the time. If you have the huge screen- fire it up. I would, however, think about the 30 minutes every morning. It seems like a sort period of time to warm up and then shut down. I agree a smaller LCD for the mornings might be safer, and faster to turn on and off.

[Beta Man]

Do you have some pictures of the room? If the drop-down screen would cover the speakers..... why wouldn't a fixed screen? I'm pretty sure you should be able to fit a t.v. behind the screen, when the screen is down, and still have your speakers..... and then there is always Acoustically transparent screens... which are usually much more expensive, but with a $5k budget, it's certainly possible.

EDIT:

if you do have some ambient light though.... an AT screen is going to cost way too much for one with a higher gain though (I'm guessing that is)

[Rblu-Dblu]

There are no dumb questions, only dumb people. haha just kidding you.
Watch as much tv as you want and dont worry about the consequences. Life is short, do what you want and have fun doing it. If youre going to drop that kind of money into something you might as well enjoy it.

Oh and I'm jealous bc I want a front projector.

[ryoohki]

Well off course you can. A projector is only limited by the number of hours. Normally it's better 2000 and 3000 so at 60hours a week it will last you 33week if you reach 2000 hours. A bubl cost about 300-450$US depending on you're projector.

If you have ambien light i suggest a high gain screen (like the Da Lite High Power for example). HP screen are retro reflective witch are best when the projector is setted the closest as possible as the eye sight but even if they are higher they provide a pretty good boost. Well i use one even if i have perfect control of light because i like punchy picture vs a dimmer one..

[Trogdor2010]

Go for it, but if you want to be more conservative for the Bulb, you may want to avoid casual use of the projector, the bulbs generally don't last as long as those of normal television sets (excluding sets using a bulb as a light source) but atleast if the bulb burns, you don't lose the set.

[Suntory_Times]

Odd suggestion, but if you go front projection and you use it for that much, you may want to consider DIY'ing one. The advantage is the bulb will only cost around $30 each and last over 10,000 hours. Then again, it can seem like a big task to do so.

[Grevlin]

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

Odd suggestion, but if you go front projection and you use it for that much, you may want to consider DIY'ing one. The advantage is the bulb will only cost around $30 each and last over 10,000 hours. Then again, it can seem like a big task to do so.

Do you mean build a projector?

[Disky76]

Originally Posted by rustolemite

Can I actually use a Front Projector for my full time viewing ? Right I average about (don't laugh) 55 hours per week and around 10 hours per day on the weekends ... I don't mind having to replace a lamp or bulb once a year ... just want to know can it stand up to the long term use ... will be buying a quality projector, around $ 5000 for screen and projector, if that helps ...

thanks

Rustolemite

Depending on your projector, your lamp can last up to 3,000 hours in low mode. As a general rule of thumb, however, once turning the projector on you should allow it to run at least 30 minutes before shutting it off. And once you have turned the projector off, you should allow it to cool for at least 30 minutes as well.

Turning the projector off and on multiple times during the day should be avoided. I have learned that it is better to leave it on for several hours than to turn it on then off then on again in a short period of time.

Your projection lamp is basically a fancy, high powered light bulb. They work best and longest when steadily burned. What happens when you turn the light on and off?

It burns out more quickly.

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by Grevlin

Do you mean build a projector?

Yes. It is limited in many ways, but if your using it for 50 hours a week I would seriously consider it.