video projector housing

[benenergy]

Anyone have any suggestions for housing a video projector to protect it from dust? What about a laptop?

Is it best to embrace the playa and hope for the best, or is building a box with fan and filter worth it?

Also, what kind of generator is necesary to meet the power requirements? There are very inexpensive 1000w generators, but is a cleaner power needed, like from the Honda eu1000?

I'm looking to create a shadow dancing with live video portable installation thingie, and I'm also considering putting it on the bike trailer, either battery or generator powered.

Thanks,

Ben

[HughMungus]

You will definitely need a way to protect your equipment. While I don't know what you could do as far as housings, I can't imagine them being very hard to build. Also, as someone else here has mentioned, you can also just put the projector (and/or laptop) in your car and shoot it thru the window...

[theCryptofishist]

I don't know about housings, but, the caustic dust is hard on even simpler electronics. You're going to want to keep it clean as possible and maybe even clean it out afterwards.

[Badger]

Quick fix...

For the projector maybe rig up an old aquarium on a table to set over the projector. The glass would probably provide minimal distortion. A small, computer venting fan on one end to draw the air over the projector and some sort of filter (HEPA filter) on the other. If the aquarium is large enough you might be able to get by setting them both under the rig.

[stuart]

the projectors won't be all that fussy about clean power but you don't want the genny to run out of gas while the bulbs are hot.

ventilation is critical as the projectors will overheat and shut down in an inadequately ventilated environment.

Last year I had 3 projectors out on the playa. My boxes sucked and it was warm enough on certain nights that they overheated. I ended up throwing caution to the wind and ripping out some of my filters to add ventilation. My projectors got massively dusty. No problems with them to date. Bring a case of dust-off.

Also, with RP and shadow dancing, be aware that keeping your screens clean becomes a major hassle. A lot of light is lost when the screens become dust saturated.

[choc]

sorry-- didn't see other post-- the car window idea works really well though. We've done it for 2 years with no trouble. Just try to stay out of that car as much as possible to minimize the dust.

[benenergy]

Thanks for the tips and info, but I'm hoping to find a plan or suggestion on actually building a housing, or finding one that is built commercially. What materials are used? What kind of filtered fan, etc?

Thanks!

[Ranger Genius]

I doubt that you'll find a comercially available housing. Badger's suggestion of an aquarium is brilliant, though. You'll want some rubber weatherstripping, available at most hardware stores, to seal all the joints. If you get the right accessories, you can probably even encase the projector and notebook in the housing and operate them by remote control without having to get inside. You can get a wireless USB mouse for the notebook for about $30, which should operate fine through the glass.

[Tafkah]

The whole box doesn't need to be made of glass, just where the projector lens is. Make a wooded box with a tight fitting hinged top and a small glass window. Install a fan with a replaceable filter. Run your electrical cord out of a hole in the box (sealed). Test it on a hot night before taking it the playa.