Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: A couple questions about upgrading to digital projectors for on-screen advertising

This is topic A couple questions about upgrading to digital projectors for on-screen advertising in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=010270

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 01-12-2010, 12:12 AM:

Just to be clear, I am talking about stand-alone LCD/DLP projectors to replace regular 35mm projectors - not Digital Cinema projectors.

When we have looked at this in the past, one of the main issues we were not able to resolve was how to power on the projectors at the end of the show and how to power them off at the start of the show.

Currently we just plug into the convenience outlet and the power on/off automatically. But with digital projectors we would need to send an IR pulse to power on and we would need to be able kill the lamp but keep the fan running at shut down.

Most likely we would create a presentation in PowerPoint and then burn it to DVD for playback.

Any input on how to make this work would be greatly appreciated. We currently do everything ourselves and would prefer to avoid using an outside agency.

Posted by Michael Voiland (Member # 5386) on 01-12-2010, 01:51 AM:

This is an interesting issue to deal with.
I would suggest getting a projector with a serial / rs232 port.
Then make sure it supports distinct power on off commands over rs232.
Get a micro controller such as an adruiano and program it to go with a contact closure. When the pins change from high to low or low to high send the appropriate command. This is the best way as the projector will cool down properly.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-12-2010, 04:14 AM:

Just get a projector like the Panasonic PT-D3500U. I've got tons of them in operation for just this purpose.

Download the manual and you will see how pathetically easy it is to tie into it via their "remote 2" terminal. You can use the same relay you have on your switched AC outlet to connect to pins 1 and 2. Voila, done. (Look at page 41)