I'm having a ceiling mount installed this week for my new Panasonic AE3000. I will not be using a screen at the moment so it will be projecting onto a white wall for now. I may get a screen later but I'm buying all new equipment including speakers, amps, component racks, etc. which are being delivered at the same time with the PJ and they may affect how I can position the screen. So therefore I want to play around with how I want to position the PJ image first before committing to a screen position and size.

I would like to get the maximum screen size possible for 2.35:1 viewing, hence it would be better to get the PJ as far away from the front wall as possible, and I can always re-size the image smaller if necessary.

Therefore, for the AE3000, what is the minimum distance that I can install it from the back wall?

As the AE3000 is roughly 12" deep, installing the PJ mount 12" from the wall would position the AE3000 6" from the back wall. Is that enough space for it or can I position it even closer to the wall? Any negative effects from installing it so close to the back wall?

Any help would be much appreciated.

I can only say that I've had an AE1000, AE2000 and now AE3000 all installed in the same bookcase with little more than a couple of 3" holes in the back to allow fresh air to be drawn in. I haven't suffered any issues related to heat (having said that I've changed the PJ every 200 hours or so :rolleyes:). The hot air vents go out the front so are well away from the intake and completely unblocked as your would be too. Therefore I don't see any problem with 6" rear clearance on a mount, though I'm sure the manual probably states differently.

YMMV, IMHO, etc, don't sue me if it blows up. ;)

That's great, thanks a lot for the confirmation.

According to the AE3000 manual, you shouldn't place anything within 20" (50 cm) of the projector. There are footnotes on the bottoms of pages 12 and 13 (which discuss the air intake and exhaust ports) which state:

Note:
- Do not cover the ventialation openings or palace anything within 50 cm (20") of them as this may cause damage or injury.


That appears to be the official position of Panasonic. When I installed mine, I moved it out more than 20" from the back wall, and when I found the beam it turned out to be almost overhead (which is just fine).

Mike

My AE3000 is arriving along with the rest of my equipment while my ceiling mount is being installed earlier, so I haven't seen the manual. Installing it 20" from the back wall means the lens will be roughly 32" from the back wall, losing nearly three feet of the throw distance. If I had a longer room, then it wouldn't matter, but my room is relatively short and I'm sitting on the sofa against the back wall. I'm the type the really prefers large screen sizes too. Wow, that's a tough dilemma.

Has anyone actually installed the AE3000 from six to twelve inches from the back wall, and if so, have you had any problems with the PJ?