Im mounting my projector this friday or saturday. I have a FPJ1 so there is a lens shift. How many inches off center can the pj be mounted? I can mount the pj center of the screen but I dont really want it directly over my head and there is no stud right there. The close's stud is about 8-12 inches from the center of the screen.

I had the pj on a table off center of the screen to test it out.Right above is about where the stud is to mount. But one side of the picture was smaller the the other and I was told that was because it was to much off center. I used the lens shift to center the image but I couldnt get both sides of the image to exactly the same hieght. So Im not sure if there is a way to get the picture perfect from that mounting position. Maybe Im doing something wrong?

If I do mount the pj directly center what do you guys recommend for mounting options? Toggle or molly bolts? What kind will I need to keep the pj from falling down? BTW The ceiling is double drywalled with Green glue..

Im using a CHIEF RPAU MOUNT.

I really dont want to pay someone to come out and mount it for me if its pretty easy to do. I already have all the HDMI,Speaker,Power Bridge cables all running in the ceiling ready to go. PJ just needs to be mounted.

One simple approach...

I recall a post from Dennis Erskine where he suggested using a square piece of wood (maybe do some edge round over with a router for aesthetics) being glued with construction adhesive to the ceiling. Paint it the same color as ceiling. I'd most likely throw some toggle bolts in there as well if it were me.

I would prefer just to mount it to the ceiling without building some type of box..

My biggest problem is just getting each side of the image the same height. one side always seems to be smaller when the PJ isn't centered.

Anyone else have any suggestions?

I just got off the phone with the company that makes Chief Mounts. They said it isn't safe to use molly or toggle bolts..

You can't just mount to drywall so you need to consider the lesser of several evils.

1) cut open the ceiling, install cross bracing between joists, replace the drywall, patch and paint than install the chief mount with lag bolts.

2) put a piece of 3/4 plywood flat to the ceiling anchored securely to the one joist and secure the other edges with glue and a lot of drywall screws. Paint to match the ceiling. Dress up the edges with molding if you want. Then mount the chief to the piece of wood.

3) mount the projector to the one joist near the ideal location and hope your lens shift can make the necessary adjustment.

When aiming your projector first get an image that is equal height on both sides without lens shift. then you know that the projector is square to the screen. Then move the image left and right with the lens shift. If it doesn't make it to the screen it isn't going to work in that position.

I used a piece of wood to attach the post for my diy mount. BUT...both the wood and the pole are screwed through my drywall and into my ceiling joist. Its not going anywhere..

On a side note...getting it all up there and square with my screen was a pain in the butt...BIG TIME...And doing it all by myself was horrible but it got done.

I just installed one of the new Epsons for a friend of mine in his already finished basement... we used a nice piece of 3/4 MDF veneered to match the rest of his equipment, and mounted it to the ceiling with PL Premium and monster screws to the floor joists... After that was in the projector installation was a cake walk... tons of robust material to mount to, no matter where you had to install it... it literally took an hour to cut the material, contact cement on the veneer, and mount it to the ceiling... Very easy...

I'm going to be going through this same process next weekend with my Epson 7500UB. Couple of questions -

1) Given the existing mount that it comes with, do I probably want to run my HDMI/Component/whatever cables up a piece of conduit from Home Depot or some other solution? What have other people done?

2) I have the screen coming next week as well. Should I first mount the screen in the desired location before even trying to tackle the PJ mount. Once I punch a hole in the ceiling I'm kind of commited, so what have people done to test that their lens shift and zoom can be adjusted to fit the screen accordingly from the height of the projector?

anyone?

I have mounted my screen (100" daLite) and am still waiting on the projector to come in (Mitsubishi HC-6500). I do have plenty of space/options within my ceiling however to allow me to shift/adjust as necessary to ensure that I am on center with screen. I will ten cut hole in ceiling --- attach some additional framing to ceiling joists -- run wires to that location -- and then patch drywall (it helps to have smooth ceilings for invisable drywall repairs -- vs trying to match a pattern).

So -- I would say if you have flexibility in where/how you mount to your ceiling, mounting your screen first shouldnt be a problem.

I'm going to be going through this same process next weekend with my Epson 7500UB. Couple of questions -

Do I probably want to run my HDMI/Component/whatever cables up a piece of conduit from Home Depot or some other solution?

Best choice is to install a big fat electrical conduit with sweeping curves inside the walls so that you can run whatever cables you will end up needing.

Next best choice is to punch holes in the wall and ceiling and pull in whatever cables you need. Then patch the holes and paint.

In third place is using a surface mounted conduit or molding to hide your cables.

coming in dead last is to string up some cables and secure with duct tape.

Best choice is to install a big fat electrical conduit with sweeping curves inside the walls so that you can run whatever cables you will end up needing.

Next best choice is to punch holes in the wall and ceiling and pull in whatever cables you need. Then patch the holes and paint.

In third place is using a surface mounted conduit or molding to hide your cables.

coming in dead last is to string up some cables and secure with duct tape.
Sounds good to me...Except I used some big stapples to fasten my wires to the ceiling..:)..nothing like being able to get to the wires with ease..

Here's a related question. Kind of a chicken/egg thing.

What should you mount first, the projector or the screen? I could see merits for both but what would be easier?

If your screen doesn't need to be centered on a wall then do the projector, get a square image from your desired projector location then hang the screen.

Most guys like the screen centered on the screen wall so that goes up and the projector location can be measured by taking equal measurements from the upper corners off the screen to an intersection on the ceiling. Remember trigonometry?

If your screen doesn't need to be centered on a wall then do the projector, get a square image from your desired projector location then hang the screen.

Most guys like the screen centered on the screen wall so that goes up and the projector location can be measured by taking equal measurements from the upper corners off the screen to an intersection on the ceiling. Remember trigonometry?

Actually Im not needing to do this..BUT as I was putting all my stuff up I had a hard time doing it all by myself. AND I was wondering how people know where to just put the projector? How do you measure for it? My screen was up first and I had to physically hold the pj with it ON and get the pic in the screen where I wanted it ...WHILE holding it I had to mark on my ceiling where to bolt it up...was very very hard.

Can you measure the center of the screen then measure the center of lens and put at that spot on the ceiling or what???

Can you measure the center of the screen then measure the center of lens and put at that spot on the ceiling or what???

Only if your room was constructed perfectly square and most aren't.

It really is helpful to have a help hold the other end of when you are measuring 15ft or so distances.

Here is what I did to find the perfectly centered line to the screen. I got a spool of landscaping wire (think long twister tie) I took about 17 ft. then tied a loop at about 15 ft held one end of the wire up to the upper right hand corner of the screen and put a pencil in the loop 15 ft away and scribed an arc on the ceiling. Then repeated from the upper left corner. Where the two lines intersect is point one. Now move the loop to the 17 ft length and repeat that is point two. Draw a straight line connecting points one and two. Your projector lens needs to be centered below that line. Just measure along that line from the screen for the throw distance you want. Obviously modify my example dimensions for your situation so that you have a reference point ahead and behind of your desired projector mount location.

Erase lines from ceiling. I actually use an artist's chalk pencil that wipes away with a damp rag.

Best choice is to install a big fat electrical conduit with sweeping curves inside the walls so that you can run whatever cables you will end up needing.

Next best choice is to punch holes in the wall and ceiling and pull in whatever cables you need. Then patch the holes and paint.

In third place is using a surface mounted conduit or molding to hide your cables.

coming in dead last is to string up some cables and secure with duct tape.

I already have 2 HDMI plates in the ceiling and a power bridge installed.

I haven;t got my screen yet. I was just going to mount the pj and shoot the image on the wall for a few weeks until I get a screen. Should I get my screen before I mount the projecotor?

Any suggestions?

I wanted to mount the pj so I can figure out exactly what size I wanted to go with.

I haven;t got my screen yet. I was just going to mount the pj and shoot the image on the wall for a few weeks until I get a screen. Should I get my screen before I mount the projecotor?

Any suggestions?

I wanted to mount the pj so I can figure out exactly what size I wanted to go with.

Shooting on the wall and seeing what size image you like is always a good plan.

Ok, so last night I was messing with the projector and trying to get the image perfect and the same size on both sides. I came close. The left side was 62 inches high and the right side was 62 1/2.. I couldnt get it any better than that. WHATS GOING ON! I had a friend helping me and we just couldnt get the image perfect on both sides.

I measured the room which is 11ft 6 inches.. (138 inches) so the center of the room is 69 inches. I put the PJ as center as possible. I dont know what else to do.

I have it on a table and thought maybe the table wasn't leveled. But I put a level on the table and it says it is.

Someone told me it might be easier once its mounted on the ceiling to align but Im not sure and I dont want to mount it and then have to remount it. The ceiling is Double drywalled with green glue so I dont know to be putting holes in the ceiling.

Anyone know what Im doing wrong??

rotate the projector just a smidgen to the left. Of course the image will move to the left. But you will increase the distance from the lens to the left edge and it will be bigger. trust me.

Chrisx... what kind of projector? Some PJ (my mitsu included) have a lens shift with step (single increment) adjustment. Really helps in a situtation like this.

I have a FPJ1 aka JVC RS2 clone..

When I use the lens shift to much one side of the picture starts to get really uneven.

Do you guys think this might be because the Pj isn't leveled?

If I mount the Pj center of the room shouldn't that be perfect position for any size screen I decide to go with?

well level the thing and make sure the front is PERFECTLY parallel to the front wall.

well level the thing and make sure the front is PERFECTLY parallel to the front wall.

I put a level on top of the PJ and the table its on and it says its level. Guess I will have to keep playing with it.

I just want to get it mounted already and watch some movies!!:mad: LOL

BigmouthinDC thanks for the help..

When I did mine im sure its a little off but I just built my fram around my diy painted wall and went with it..cant even notice it. Just get it up and going so you can watch a movie already..lol

I didnt get to mount the projector..Tryed moving the projector around,shifting it left and right and getting it squared with the wall but it seems to still be a little off..

I called some Home theater stores and got some prices to mount to pj..

Magnolia av told me $300 just to mount it and it takes about 2-3 hours..

Geek squad said $100-200 and it should take them nomore then a hour..

Another HT store told me $500 to mount it..