Ceiling mounted projector and cigarette smoke

i would imagine that when the smoke passes through the smoke, the smoke will be lit up and be visible

Having maintained 20+ projectors for a chain of sports bars, I can tell you that smoke is NOT good for the projector. The optics get coated with a nasty film and cleaning requires substantial dis-assembly. In addition, any filters were also adversely affected. So there is a definite maintenance issue and it WILL affect the image as it accumulates.

I think Sheridan got it right, there will be an issue in the long run. Optics may be sealed but i doubt they are hermetically sealed, so smoke may still go in

In my experience, there is no such thing as "sealed optics". All it takes is a tiny crack somewhere, anywhere, for smoke and dust to get in. The imaging chamber of a DLP is supposed to be sealed, yet with the right airflow, say, an overenthusiastic user trying to blow dust out of the lamp chamber with a can of air, dust can be forced in. I've seen it happen time and again.

When you consider that projectors have multiple fans, then ANY opening, however slight, is a pathway for dust and smoke. The case seams, the space around the lens and even the input ports. I had a projector on my bench one time that came out of a smoking environment and had not seen ANY cleaning or maintenance. The accumulation of dust on the OUTSIDE of the projector was so bad that the USB port was completely covered.

Bottom line, if you smoke, it WILL accumulate on the optics. No question. Been there.

Added...banning smoking in that room will help, BUT, smoking anywhere in the house will be picked up through the return air vents of the HVAC and be redistributed throughout the house. It won't be as bad, but it will still be there, just spread out throughout the house.

Unless, of course, you have HEPA filtration on your HVAC.

Mitsubishi HC3000U, in a garage.


2 sometimes 10 heavy drinkers and chain smokers watching football+racing every Sunday and Wednesday.

105 degrees, was the highest temperature recorded inside said garage(with projector on, and smoke going through it)


Still going strong 5 years later. Might have to change the air filter more often though, it was nasty as hell when we pulled that sucker out. On a side note, we tried to test out a friends optoma projector, and it wouldn't stay on for more than 5 minutes in the garage before it overheated. I think it was only like 95 outside, but it wouldn't last, all the while the mitsu was beaming away. The old HC3000's were built like a brick-****-house.

You could always put in on a shelf or ceiling mount it, but create a wooden or plastic box around the whole projector that has a small door that opens on two ends when you need to use it. That way you can keep it protected when not in use, and if you want to use it you drop the front and back doors to the box and tell the people not to smoke while its on. This could help minimize some issues, but in the overall long run it'll affect the unit. The best solution, would be to totally clean your house removing any smoke you can, then tell everyone who smokes to start going out front, or in the backyard to smoke. Good luck.

Have you been in a car of a smoker? Have you ever wondered why their roof always has these dark black stains? It's not because they wipe their dirty hands on it, it's because of the smoke stains. Smoke rises, and since your projector will be mounted it will be an issue like Sheridan1952 said. Try to avoid smoking in that room. I used to smoke, and quit recently. But I never enjoyed smoking in my living quarters. I always went on the balcony, because I hated the smoke that lingers and makes the area feel congested and smoggy

Hey I finally found a solution to this problem, put the projector in an enclosure box, read this article ww.ssidisplays.com/projector-enclosures-bars-nightclubs-and-anywhere-cigarette-smoke-present
it will answer all your questions

Link didnt work but the information is there anyway if you need it