The solution for DIY projection TV - a plan for making your own projection TV home theater
The DIY Projection TV Plan
Home Material List Steps 1-4 Steps 5-8 Steps 9-12 Lens Systems Troubleshooting

Step 9

Now that the box is held in place reinforce and close the gaps by running a strip of duct tape down each join.


Step 10.

Now take the focusing board and insert the magnifying fresnel lens in it. Stick it with duct tape to one end of the smaller focusing box.


Step 11.

Turn your TV upside down.(It won't do any major damage, if you don't want to do this there is an alternative).With duct tape attach the outside box to the screen of your TV making sure to close any gaps so that no light will escape. Then insert the focussing box inside the bigger box. You are now ready to use your projector.

Step 12.

Sometimes it is difficult to predict what the best position for the TV and focusing box should be to get a picture. I always start by lining up the outside end of the box about 2 inches from the wall, the picture is very small but at least you know its working. Then slowly move the TV and projector away from the wall until the desired screen size is achieved. Then use the focusing box to focus the image. It will take a little fiddling around with but you'll get it.

Turn your TV upside down?

The first alternative is to put your TV on its back with the projector on facing the ceiling. This will then project the image into the ceiling. You could lay back and watch the movie on the ceiling our place a mirror at a 45 degree angle at the end of the projector. The image will then be projected onto the mirror and bounce off onto the wall reversing the image top to bottom.

The only other alternative is to watch the screen upside down. Adding another magnifying fresnel lens will not turn the image around the right way.

How to insert the Fresnel Lens.

Measure the diameter of the 5th biggest circle on the fresnel lens and half the amount to get the measurement of the radius. Set your compass at this measurement and place the point of the compass on the middle mark of the front panel. Draw your circle and cut it out. Use duct tape to hold the rectangular shaped lens in place. (using duct tape will allow you to turn or move the lens if you have to.