Protecting electronics - acrylic box + what kind of filter?

[DeadlyKungFu]

Does anyone know how Space Cowboys (for example) hang projectors out in the elements? $40-$50 at Tap Plastics for them to cut a box for me, then I would have to install air filters to allow air flow and put grommets around the wires. This is totally doable, what kind of filters stop playa dust? I'd like to do this with a projector and computer in a dome.

[Dork]

One camp I know of with 3 projectors kept their projectors inside vehicles and projected onto the screens from behind. This solved a number of problems at once.

If this is not an option, cleanable furnace filters would probably work well, though they are big. Maybe a seperate box somewhere else with a fan and big filter, run via ducting to the box?

Automotive filters might be sufficient, but you would need a beefy fan to push enough air through them.

Thin plywood would be cheaper than plastic. Only the front piece needs to be see-through right?

[DeadlyKungFu]

THANKS DORK!

Plywood is a great idea, it also hides it when it's not in use.

It might be good for the fans in the projectors to draw from a larger intake box than pull directly against a filter, I like the way you think!!

[stuart]

I made 3 boxes for 3 projectors for my vid rig. Not entirely happy with the results (mostly for security reasons) but it got the job done.

I bought 3 medium sized (~2'x1'x1') plastic bins with tupperware like lids from target. Built a little platform out of ply for the projector to sit on. This allowed for more ventilation around the projector body as well as a more stable surface. I put the projector in the box and then used a sharpie to mark where I wanted holes for the image, the cables, where the projector fan was (usually on the front of the unit), as well as additional ventilation on all sides. I then used a dremel to cut out the holes (this sucked as the dremel would melt as well as cut the plastic. Pyuck! What a mess) For the projection hole I got some clear plex and hot glued it to the box.

These worked fine but I would do some tweaks.

1, I would swap plex for quality glass. I lost a fair bit of light from bounce and absorbtion in the plex.

2, I need to find a way to secure these rigs. I am thinking steel cable and rebar through the bottom. Most projectors have a little anti theft ring you can slip aircraft cable through.

3. I need to set up a filter system



IMPORTANT! Make sure, after you get your box together, that you test it with your projector for SEVERAL hours. The projectors will shut off if they sense the ambient temp in your rig is too warm.

[playasnake]

Does anyone know how Space Cowboys (for example) hang projectors out in the elements? $40-$50 at Tap Plastics for them to cut a box for me, then I would have to install air filters to allow air flow and put grommets around the wires. This is totally doable, what kind of filters stop playa dust? I'd like to do this with a projector and computer in a dome.

exactly like that. in fact, i think they were even made at Tap.

2 fans (one input, one output) for circulation... filters were bought from mcMaster-Carr, and the trick is to oil them to catch the dust. also, keep them external so you can switch them out.

you can use grommets or build a patch panel.

also... remember to allow enough space in the box to actually have air flow. thats why the ones on the mog are "oversized" compared to the size of the projector.

[Jordan 10-E]

Good suggestions guys. I like the idea about oiling the filter. Anyway, this reminds me of when they rigged the oxygen filter on Apollo 13.

[Badger]

what kind of filters stop playa dust? I'd like to do this with a projector and computer in a dome.

Only one I can think of that's near 100% is a HEPA (high efficiency particle air) but everything else needs to be sealed very tight. Do a Goole search but you might plug in the word 'media' (HEPA media) seeing as most filter designs may not be what you're looking for.

[jamesgreen]

Sorry it's taken so long for me to reply. The projector boxes were fabricated at Tap plastics per my spec. The lids have a lip to seal out dust when closed. A hole was cut in the back to attach a patch panel for video, and power. We built a custom edison power connector/cables to run power to the box. We also had fabricated a patch panel that has composite (bnc), s-video, and rgb to connect cabling from the outside, and then connect up the projector on the inside. Two more holes were cut on each side...one for an intake fan, one for an outtake fan. The 4" fans were mounted on the inside of the box. Filter attachments were placed on the outside of the box in holders that allowed us to swap out the filters as they got dusted on the playa. The filters were bought from McMaster Carr. K&N air filter oil was applied to the filters to trap dust. We used Chief RPA projector mounts to ceiling mount the projectors. Unistrut was attached to the top of the box to attach to the arms of the Mog. It is very important to give keep open space in the box for airflow/cooling, or your melt down your projector.

Filters from McMaster Carr:

http://www.mcmaster.com/asp/DisplCtlgPa ... nWidth=884

K&N air filter oil:

http://www.partsamerica.com/PartDetails ... ber=990516


Patch panels, fans, and other misc. parts can be had at Markertek:

http://www.markertek.com

Happy fabrication!

James
Unimog VJ
Space Cowboys

[jamesgreen]

Oh...a few more things.

Chief projector mounts can be had affordably from B&H Video in NYC. http://www.bhvideo.com

Those ran about $200 each.

Also, the boxes (two of them) cost about $600 to be fabricated at Tap. throw in another $200-$400 in parts (those patch panels were not cheap) and you have 2 UNIMOG projector boxes. So, about $1,200 - $1,400 covers it.

Not cheap.

James