Video Projection System

[TommyBoyGomes]

Hey all,

Just wanted to share a recent mod that I did. I'm an audiovisual systems designer for large-scale applications like casinos and stadiums, so I thought that it was about time to apply some of that AV knowledge to my van.

Every now and then, it's simply too windy/rainy/cold/bug-infested to be outside during a camping trip, so I figured that it would nice to have some in-van entertainment. Even though I now have an aux battery kit and solar panel setup, flat-screen TV's are still power hungry and are hard to mount/store. The advent of LED technology has allowed video projectors to get very small and very energy efficient. They've gotten so good that you can get a projector that is the size of a paper-back book that can output 350 lumens, run 1.5 hours on a rechargeable battery, and have adequate short-throw lensing to achieve a large image at short distances. In other words, this technology is perfect for a van!

So here's what I did... After calculating lens-throw, lumens amount, and battery life on a few pico projector models, I found that the Asus P2B projector would work perfect for this application. The P2B won mostly because of three features. It has an internal rechargeable battery that can last 90 minutes, it has a threaded insert capable of ceiling-mounting the projector, and it has image-flip technology that allows you to mount the projector upside down. These are great features for such a small projector. It's not the cheapest around, but it was the only one that would work for my application.

http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-P2B-Battery-Powered-Por...s=Asus+P2B

The next challenge was mounting it in a place that puts it far away from the screen as possible (to create the largest possible image) without creating shadows or exceeding the screen area, mounting it in a place where it won't get knocked around too much, finding a way to allow fore-aft movement for adjusting screen size, and having a 360-degree swivel for aiming. This was pretty easy because the projector's lens just happened to output a ~37"-40" image when it was located just in front of the AC vents. So I just cut a 47.5" section of 1"x3" wood, drilled a hole right in the middle, bought a camera mounting swivel with 1/4" threaded stud and clutch, and got the following:

This works well as long as the top bunk is folded back.

The best location for the screen is to hang it from the pop-top cross-bar. I was going to get a real pull-down screen that could hang from the bar, but I found that a simple white twin-size bedsheet works just fine.

Here's a shot of the general setup during the day-time (just with a towel instead of a nice white bedsheet):

The blue area on the towel will give you an idea of how big the image area is. It's about equivalent to a 37"-40" TV. Of course, the image looks very light because it's during the day and the towel was not flat or white.

Once we got a chance to try it out at night, we were blown away with how awesome it looked. It was difficult to capture with our phone, but here are a couple screen shots:

(this next one is a bit washed-out, but it shows how big the image is in relation to the vanagon interior)

The cool thing about this projector is that it has a microSD slot, an HDMI input, a VGA input, and USB input so that you can pre-load up to 32GB worth of movies onto the projector itself or output a laptop through it.

It also has an audio output, so I ran a 3.5mm cable from the projector to the aux input on the radio and listened to the movie over the car speakers.

The best part of all is that it ran off the battery for about an hour and 15 minutes before it needed to be plugged in. Most movies aren't much longer, so you'd only have to plug in for a little while until the movie is over. Also, when you're done and need to pack up, all you have is a projector that is the size of a book, a bedsheet that can fold up, and a 1"x3"x47" plank of wood that fits easily behind the folded bunk even when the pop-top is closed.

If anyone wants to do something similar, please send me a PM and I'd be happy to help. The projector and lensing must be pre-calculated before purchasing/installing to know whether it will work in your van for the size of image and throw distance that you want.
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1969 Squareback, 1776cc
1990 Vanagon Multivan

[ThankYouJerry]

Wow! Just when I thought I've seen every Vanagon accessory. That's really impressive.

What do you do for sound with the projector? Is it Bluetooth compatible? That would be the best.

When you say that you have to plug it in for the last 15-30min of a 1.5hr movie, is it 12v or 120?

What made you chose this particular brand over others? Do others have longer battery life? The price is very reasonable compared to small 9"-11" LED tv/DVD options.
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1990 Multivan - "Ohana"
1.8T, Auto w/3.27 R&P + Peloquin TBD

[wes.outside]

Wow. Nice work.
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'73 Thing
'86 Vanagon Syncro with Westfalia Poptop

[Magnus357]

I wasn't exactly sure what I was expecting when I clicked on this thread, but your solution is substantially better than anything I imagined.

It ticks all the boxes:

1. Relatively simple
2. Cost effective
3. Completely reversible without any modification

Very well done.

[fraggle00]

Very cool, I'm sure my daughter would love to have this option!
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'91 Vanagon Carat
'87 Porsche 928S4 DOWN
'12 Fiat 500 Abarth

[TommyBoyGomes]

Thanks all. I agree that for ~$500, this is probably the simplest way to do it without drilling permanent new holes in the van.

Jerry, for sound I ran a simple 3.5mm stereo cable from the headphone output on the projector to the aux input on my stereo in the dash and ran it through the car speakers. I don't think the projector has bluetooth unfortunately; however, you can by a 3.5mm analog to bluetooth converter these days in case you have BT headphones or something like that.

As far as I could tell from my searches, this is really the only projector on the market that has its own rechargeable battery, can mount upside-down (ceiling mount with a threaded insert), and can image-flip. Without the last two features, you'll have to rest the projector on its feet and it will shoot the image upwards over the pop-top bar. This is not a good viewing angle if you're seated or in bed. In other words, this is the only projector I could find that could work in this mounting condition.

The projector comes with a 120V AC charger, but it uses the same plug as the Asus laptops which have 12V car chargers. I haven't gotten the 12V car charger for it yet, but I'm planning to.

I'd love to see anyone else's setup if they're doing something similar.
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1969 Squareback, 1776cc
1990 Vanagon Multivan

[syncromike]

I got this 30" screen on sale for $60 back in January.
http://www.brookstone.com/30-inch-retractable-projection-screen
I'm happy with it, the reflective silver coating does great keeping the image bright. In the past I used a white plastic TV tray folded vertical as a screen, but the kids do a good job keeping that from staying nice and white. On my list of projects to do is to figure out a ceiling mount using rare earth magnets so I can mount it on the ceiling behind the passenger seat.
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'91 Syncro w/ Country Homes PopTop

[bluebus86]

multimedia and camping, UGH!!!!!!!!

time for a nature walk.

however nice idea if your into that stuff
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[syncromike]

What'd you use as the mount for the projector? Did you custom make that, or is that something I can pick up somewhere?
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'91 Syncro w/ Country Homes PopTop

[syncromike]

[TommyBoyGomes]

Yeah I was looking at those too syncromike. A true screen would look a little better than a bedsheet, but I like that I can fold up the bedsheet into a small space where most screens are rigid and hard to pack.

There are tons of little 360-degree swivel ball-head mounts with a 1/4" threaded stud and clutch out there. Check out any camera store like Samy's or Amazon. This isn't the one I bought, but it's very similar http://www.samys.com/p/Flash-Adapters/VZSHOE/VariZoom-VZ-Shoe-Swivel-Shoe-Camera-Mount/26136.html . Your projector will need to have a threaded insert in its top in order to mount it this way (upside down).

Don't get me wrong, my goal of going camping is to get out in nature and we do plenty of hikes. I did this just to see if it could be done and in case we're ever stuck in the van during a long storm and wanted to pass the time.
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1969 Squareback, 1776cc
1990 Vanagon Multivan

[syncromike]

I have an Optoma pk201 with all the features of the Asus but in a much smaller package and much dimmer, mine is only useful at night. I didn't notice until now you have plywood to attach the mount. I'll have to get a little more creative and tinker around with a ceiling mount.
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'91 Syncro w/ Country Homes PopTop

[TommyBoyGomes]

Thanks for sending along that optoma info Mike,

Yep, I used a plank of wood that rests on the side rails in front of the top bunk. That way, there are no permanent holes drilled.

Regarding the optoma projector, I wasn't able to find info on whether it had a threaded insert or whether it had image-flip so that it could be ceiling mounted. If you keep the projector "belly-down," then you won't want to mount it up by the bunk as I've shown it because it will shoot the image upwards. The bottom of the projected image on the screen is usually at the same height of the lens when the projector is on its feet "belly down." Without any image-flip or threaded insert on the belly of the projector, you'd be better off placing the projector on its feet on the front part of your bed (depending on your lens and how large you want your image to be).

If it does have image-flip and a threaded insert for ceiling mounting, then you're well on your way! But yes, probably only viewable at night .

How much battery life do you get on one charge?
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1969 Squareback, 1776cc
1990 Vanagon Multivan

[Timwhy]

Do it outside and more people can watch!

Crasher!
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'15 Audi A3 Quattro
'09 VW Tiguan (dead)
'87 VW Westy
'91 Tin Top
'90 Cabby
What the Westy wants the Westy GETS


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[TommyBoyGomes]

[Timwhy]

[syncromike]

Here's my setup, Optoma pk201 projector, tripod leg just wedged in A/C column, and pico projector screen from Brookstone.
I mounted a piece of angle aluminum stock along my front poptop cutout to give a flat surface to mount the screen. The screen doesn't go all the way down to the full 30" due to my "kitchen" unit. If I pull it out or shift sideways I could move the projector back for full screen, but this is about 24" and is good for me.

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'91 Syncro w/ Country Homes PopTop

[TommyBoyGomes]

I love it mike! Your projector must have a straight-on lens (i.e. one that is meant to shoot straight out instead of designed to rest on a table and shoot out-and-up like in a conference room). Do you run the audio through your stereo system?
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1969 Squareback, 1776cc
1990 Vanagon Multivan

[syncromike]

[HoustonPhotog]

great thread guys!! i love the creativity...

definitely book marking this one for when Im ready to add one to my arsenal...

it definitely beats my "oh crap its pouring outside/blue painters tape and my Samsung Note 3 phone" technique... =)

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