Questions - projector & pull down screen vs lcd tv?

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Questions - projector & pull down screen vs lcd tv?

May 09, 2016, 03:54:01 am

Yahoo Message Number: 160387

Another upgrade/usage question.

I see that a lot of people use their lcd tv just fine for hours each evening when dry camping (e.g. using batteries).
We are planning a lot of boondocking/dry camping.

With all the new technology, has anyone checked out projectors? It seems the small handheld ones for meeting presentations, displaying movies/internet shows from a tablet would work great and might use less battery.

For example at home we right now use a iphone/ipad to airplay to an apple tv that is connected to a TV. I could easily connecting the apple tv to a small handheld projector (or even somehow going from iphone/ipad directly to a small handheld projector).

A larger screen is possible (e.g. across the entire wall of a TK lounge area or an island bed, maybe with a pull down screen).

It seems lighter and maybe less battery use than an LCD TV and more flexible in placement (e.g. I put it where I want it to be in the RV).

Anyone look into this? Thanks, Jane

Re: Questions - projector & pull down screen vs lcd tv?

Reply #1 – May 09, 2016, 12:47:00 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 160399

"has anyone checked out projectors? It seems the small handheld ones for meeting presentations, displaying movies/internet shows from a tablet would work great and might use less battery."

Two things to note. First, the resolution specs for handheld projectors I've seen have been a small fraction of what even a cheap LCD/LED TV set has nowadays. That means a much coarser, less detailed image. Second, the brightness of these small projectors is a lot less than that of a TV set. Most reviews I've seen say that you need to be in a totally dark room to get a decent picture.

Of course you can get a brighter, higher-resolution image from one of the larger notebook-sized portable projectors. But those are fairly power-hungry probably more so than a TV set.

And most projectors use small, high-speed fans to keep from overheating. It's one thing to have that noise in a conference room, where you can get ten or twenty feet way from it, but in a small RV can you imagine having that thing buzzing away next to your ear while you're trying to watch a movie?

Andy Baird

Re: Questions - projector & pull down screen vs lcd tv?

Reply #2 – May 10, 2016, 02:00:50 am

Yahoo Message Number: 160413

We have used a projector on occasion for the last couple of years inside and outside of our old Itaska. We have a projector screen that is about 3 feet wide we use some times. Most of the time we hang a white cotton sheet which is over 10 feet wide and we have used the sheet inside and out side the RV. Alas our projector is a 800 lumens and requires it to be dark and the image is a little fuzzy but is 10ft large and you watch it from 10 feet of more it looks good. Inside we have projected it near 8ft wide. I think if I were to get another projector I would go for a 2K lumens model around $500 to $600. My projector is 120v so I use 100 Watt inverter to fun it, I looked into other mini models but seems the reviews all shared the same problem which was they were not bright enough.

Karen~Liam 98 26.5 MB Blu

Re: Questions - projector & pull down screen vs lcd tv?

Reply #3 – May 10, 2016, 09:38:26 am

Yahoo Message Number: 160417

I did a quick search on B and H photo/video site. I saw this guy which seemed interesting. At least one reviewer was using it in a RV because after the power brick it runs on 12V. It uses LED lamps so lamp live is up to traveling. I would be concerned about regular lamp bulbs get brittle with age and I would worry about them not holding up well on road trips. I asked store if it would work. It will run off an internal battery for an hour at lower light.

AAXA Technologies P300 400 Lumen HD Pico Projector KP-600-01 B&H

Re: Questions - projector & pull down screen vs lcd tv?

Reply #4 – May 10, 2016, 09:53:57 am

Yahoo Message Number: 160418

Sorry, just to be clear every thing I purchased from B&H has worked. What I asked the store is if the projector would work on a RV, Auto, Boat 12 v system and if there is an plug that can be purchased. The specs state it runs off 12v DC after a AC power adapter.
John

Re: Questions - projector & pull down screen vs lcd tv?

Reply #5 – May 10, 2016, 09:57:52 am

Yahoo Message Number: 160420

B&H replied,

"The power brick that is supplied with it outputs 12VDC at 3A. You probably could not connect it directly to the projector without damaging it. You'd need a power transformer that outputs 12VDC at 3A to be connected between the car battery and the projector, or plug the power brick that ships with it into an AC converter connected to the car battery.

The brick that ships with it needs 100-240VAC at 50/60Hz as its input.

Alternatively, you can charge one or more batteries that the unit uses and swap those out."

Re: Questions - projector & pull down screen vs lcd tv?

Reply #6 – May 10, 2016, 11:42:15 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 160430

[B&H said] "You'd need a power transformer that outputs 12VDC at 3A to be connected between the car battery and the projector, or plug the power brick that ships with it into an AC converter connected to the car battery."

Just my opinion: whoever wrote that was clueless. A transforme that took in 12 VDC and put out 12 VDC would be pointless, if such a thing even existed. And going from 12 VDC to 120 VAC via inverter and then back to 12 VDC via power brick would be pointless and a waste of power.

If the projector runs on 12 VDC, then it ought to run on 12 VDC, period. The only caveat I can think of is that voltages in vehicles can run somewhat higher than that when the system is charging the batteries, so a persnickety manufacturer could potentially void your warranty if they found out. (But how would they find out?)

Andy Baird

Re: Questions - projector & pull down screen vs lcd tv?

Reply #7 – May 10, 2016, 11:51:46 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 160431

P.S. "Note that the AAXA P300 projector puts out 200 to 400 lumens. That ain't much light. Karen~Liam's projector puts out 800 lumens, and they are thinking they'd really prefer 2,000 lumens.

I hate to be a naysayer, because digital projectors have always fascinated me, and I'd love to buy one if I had an excuse but they definitely have their drawbacks. A good 22-30 TV set is less expensive, much brighter, and has two to four times the image detail of the mini projectors we're talking about here.

Andy Baird

Re: Questions - projector & pull down screen vs lcd tv?

Reply #8 – May 11, 2016, 01:46:29 am

Yahoo Message Number: 160432

Hi there,

May I suggest checking out what Cherie and Chris of http://Technomadia.com are using? I recall reading a blog post where he had gotten a new projector which they use for movie nights with other RVers boondocked in their area and they project to a sheet on the side of their coach for those occasions. When inside the coach they seem to use a screen and are happy with this small projector. Forgive me for not posting a link to the projector here but I'm thumb typing in my Fone before sleepy time.

There is a page on their site under one if their pull downs with all the gadgets on their bus and you could also probably search by projector.

Good luck and please forgive my lazy lack of proper punctuation here.

Val (Conversion van- no LD mid bath YET)

Re: Questions - projector & pull down screen vs lcd tv?

Reply #9 – November 08, 2016, 01:15:14 am

I am testing projectors out these weeks - I needed one for a series of meetings and figured it was the time to try some out and help zone in on features.

The portable ones are getting better. Some now have:
1080p (high def),
Are smaller (pico - handheld or under 5 lbs for slightly larger ones).
Use LCD (so less heat, less power usage, do a good job).
Some starting to use LCW & Laser to make extremely clear pictures.
Lumens enough and color managing well so can see video well with daylight/lights on, not just night time, etc.

Lumens with the new LEDs seem to be some people/someone saying well that is about as bright as X lumens in a regular projector as it can't really be compared apples to apples.

I am about to test my second projector, learning what I want as I test them out.

What I really want: Ability to see a 50" bright clear picture on rainy days or with low lights on, not just in pitch black, 1080p or better, use low electricity & have quiet fan & not put off a lot of heat, and have a short throw (e.g. put 6-12" away from the wall to makes a 50" viewing area vs needing to be 4-6-8' back from the wall for that size viewing area). Those features seem available right now but I also want it in a PICO (small handheld) and that is the part I am not quite finding out there. I bet they will have what I want in a year or two and I might find something that works good enough for now.

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