Extreme teardown - $42,000 NEC projector - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: thmjpr
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2011, 04:10:20 am
content: wow, excellent video.I wonder how much of an impact the loss of the black anodizing has on UV output. Aluminum should be quite a good reflector of UV light.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2011, 10:27:31 pm
content: Quote from: thmjpr on June 15, 2011, 04:10:20 amCan't see it being significant as it's still a matte surface so would diffuse in all directions, and much of the diffuse reflected light would bounce off the back of the mirror.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2011, 02:07:22 pm
content: Nice! Thanks for taking the time out for it. What do you intend to do with it, cannibalize its probably very high quality or parts or put it into some working order?For interested viewers:http://www.projectorcentral.com/NEC-Nighthawk_XT5000.htmhttp://www.projectorcentral.com/news_story_167.htmAround 2000 this projector reminds of the first flat screen TVs 42" diameter, averaging $10k each for no more than 720p, which you can get these days for under $500.

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2011, 08:55:13 pm
content: I always wanted to take apart one of those beasts.I swear I could smell it while you was taking it apart!!!

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2011, 09:34:19 pm
content: Quote from: firewalker on June 16, 2011, 08:55:13 pmmmm.. stale cigarette smoke....QuoteI got 2 complete units and a couple that had some parts missing. I now have one complete unit, lots of bits and enough scrap aluminium to recoup what I paid for all fourI'll probably keep the complete unit in case I ever stumble on a lamp that I can bodge into it. Or hack the eeprom and run it til the lamp blows up.

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2011, 09:42:55 pm
content: Did you managed to work out how the system knows about the lamp? Let say you buy a new one. Is there any communication with the lamp module?

author: The1
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2011, 10:16:19 pm
content: Looks good should still be able to feed 720pSo question is, is there enough room in your lounge room for them?

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2011, 10:19:58 pm
content: You could also use it as a radiator during the Winter...

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2011, 10:29:19 pm
content: Quote from: firewalker on June 16, 2011, 09:42:55 pmIt's just a 24C02 eeprom - I've taken dumps of all 3 boards I have but not looked in any detail at the data.

author: tesla500
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2011, 06:16:51 am
content: Excellent teardown! I love seeing old high end stuff like this.Odd seeing zebra strips on something other than an LCD. I guess they wanted some play in the DMD connections so the position could be trimmed during alignment. The new DMDs we're using at work use rigid LGA mounting sort of like modern Intel CPUs. They're still using Xilinx FPGAs in their reference designs.I have an LCD projector from the same era as your unit, and it has some common features, a small PIC micro, and a fly eye lens that looks identical to yours.I recently made a video (actually 3 parts) of a much more modern DLP TV, it's interesting to see how things have changed since then:Part 1: Initial look at the TVPart 2: Opening it up, a look at the optics, and showing the DMD in operation (this is really cool to see running).Part 3: Fixing the color wheel, and playing with the lampRegards,David

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2011, 10:11:33 am
content: Quote from: tesla500 on June 19, 2011, 06:16:51 amYes - I'm sure it's so the DLP can be very rigidly clamped, and decoupled from any vibration picked up by the large heavy PCB. Socketing a chip with that many pins whilst removing heat from the back would also be quite tricky.QuoteThe 'custom' chip in the DLP Pico kit is actually an Altera FPGA