O/T: Help Wanted With Quieting Down a Projector

[Tom Smit]

Might I suggest to augment the flow of the projector as well. What I mean is to put a diverter plate to "push" the cool air into the projector, and "pull" the expelled hot air out from the projector.

You know, you're right. The projector itself does have intake and exhaust fans (and a couple more to direct air inside it). So adding another fan and having 2 push in and 2 pull out looks like it'd be a good idea.

, Daniel!

[shane2943]

Not a bad idea. Not sure how I would do that, though.

Here's a picture of the projector:

img.jpg (4.91 KiB) Viewed 2325 times

You can see the exhaust vent running down the left side towards the top of it (dark area rectangle down left side). That is the only exhaust on this thing. The exhaust vent itself has loovers (sp?) that direct the air backwards towards the rear of the unit. This is why I put the exhaust fans and channel at the back left of the unit.

The air intake on this projector is actually on the underside of it. You can't see it in the picture (obviously ) but the intake is on the bottom very close to the right front "foot" under the lens. That's why I tried to put the cool air inlet fans close to the right front.

If you have any suggestions on how to do what you're suggesting, please, offer them up! I definitely think it's a good idea, just don't know how to make it work.

Thank you!

[BoostFab]

one last thing, i think you should put the exhaust fans at the end of the exhaust tunnel.

[Rick Lee]

Nice thread! My projector has a problem with over heating- I've cleaned it but it still shuts off. So I've been trying to figure out how to get additional cooling through the unit. I've got 8' ceiling so I might try a box that mounts to the ceiling and vents into the attic. No problem with sound levels, just overheating.

[subharmonic]

The WAF is already not looking forward to a bigger thing hanging there than the projector/shelf already is.

Just paint this on it.

BON BONS

It may help the WAF factor or ....you may go to an early grave. Me thinks I watch too many sitcoms.

[subharmonic]

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/1068807/

my other favorite forums. Anyway not sure if this would help much but...

[shane2943]

Just paint this on it.

BON BONS

It may help the WAF factor or ....you may go to an early grave. Me thinks I watch too many sitcoms.

My wife isn't a fan of bon bons. Now, if I painted the whole thing to look like a big floating Keebler Grasshopper cookie.....

[shane2943]

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/1068807/

my other favorite forums. Anyway not sure if this would help much but...

Wish I knew about that a couple days ago. I already have the 4 fans and paid a little less for one of them than all four of those in that link!

Excuse me while I cry a little...

[subharmonic]

Don't cry too much. They were cheap but that isn't always the best option, sometimes cheap has a huge cost in the end. The BFM designs seem to be an exception to the rule.

Follow Fatwallet a bit and maybe you'll find a super deal to cheer yourself up.

[shane2943]

Mkay, update.

Got it built, but not yet installed. With almost no damping material inside, the box loaded with just the 4 fans running at 5V can barely be heard from more then 5 feet away. Up close, it's still very very quiet. I then tested the box with the projector inside. The only damping material at that point was just a double layer of auto carpet padding on the bottom of the projector's chamber. I turned on the projector with the lid of the box off and let it get good and warmed up (ran for at least 5 minutes). I then kicked on the fans and closed the lid. My reaction: The microwave volume projector dropped to that of a quiet whisper! I left it in the box running for about 10 minutes. I could feel a bit of heat coming out of the exhaust of the enclosure, but not a ton. I then opened the lid of the box and to my delight, the air inside was not even warm. Not even a little bit! This box flows more than enough air for this projector even with the fans at 1/2 speed!

Currently, the box has been fully damped with ample padding, foam, felt, and more auto carpet padding. The finishing touches and hardware have been fitted and installed and the box has been painted. I'm waiting for the paint to cure, then I can relocate the chains it will hang from and hang that sucker. My wife is not too thrilled that this box is over twice the size of the projector shelf now (the hush box is 30"W, 10.5"H, ~21"D) but she felt better when I told her she can puts plants on top of it.

Hopefully with all of the damping material inside, the projector will be even quieter than the test I did. I'm going to have to run it with a plain glass window for the time being until I can afford a nice piece of anti-reflective glass to put there.

I can take pics if y'all want to see 'em. I ain't the best craftsman out there though.

[DanielNY]

We love pics....!

[shane2943]

Ok, don't laugh too hard...

Here's a front shot of it (lid removed):


Top shot down in to see my lovely damping work. Ugly but hopefully functional:


The slot is where the piece of glass fits and there's another piece of wood that goes on top but is removed as well:


And here's the setup it's replacing. Ugly as sin, but strangely enough, most people don't even notice the projector hanging there first time the visit the house!


The chains will not do that criss-cross thing with the new enclosure. Not sure how I'm going to stabilize it and keep it from swinging. I did the criss-cross stuff with the chains because the ceiling fan we have is really strong and caused that shelf to sway a bit. We liked to get sea sick watching movies with the fan on. Maybe this new enclosure will be heavy enough that it won't move. Else I'll have to come up with something to keep it still.

[DanielNY]

Nice work man, looks just like the drawing. If your worried about the outside finish you could get some wood filler or some bondo to fill the screw holes, sand it down, and give it a final coat. You could also probably get away with a ceiling fan down rod for hanging the box. The box should weigh about the same as a ceiling fan.

p.s. Is that a RIB on the ceiling fan string?

[shane2943]

MOAR PICS!

With the lid on, glass in place, and glass topper in place:


Close up view of the "window:"


And the leaf blower/beast in it's home:

Nice work man, looks just like the drawing. If your worried about the outside finish you could get some wood filler or some bondo to fill the screw holes, sand it down, and give it a final coat. You could also probably get away with a ceiling fan down rod for hanging the box. The box should weigh about the same as a ceiling fan.

Thank you! The screw holes are filled with screws. I thought about a rod of some kind, but the whole lid on the top opens up so it has to be supported from the sides. I thought about 4 thin wooden dowels painted white to hang it but that did not pass the WAF. She wants the chains because they are less intrusive.

p.s. Is that a RIB on the ceiling fan string?

Pelvic bone from the last neighbor I didn't like.





Kidding. Don't run off all scared like. It's a deer antler.

[shane2943]

Ok, finally got this thing hung in the living room and projector installed. First impression: "WHERE'D THE PROJECTOR GO?!" Seriously, I can't hear it at all. My Media PC now is the loudest thing in the room! Gotta quiet it down now.

Pics to come.