[Sembiance]

So I got my SP4805 projector in the mail.

My first one!

The room has a 'drop ceiling' so I chose not to mount it upside down on the ceiling.

I chose instead to sit it on a rack behind my vieing position.


What I failed to know about ahead of time, was that the screen appears 2 feet above the lens.

By stacking some DVD's (temorary) underneath the rear of the unit, thus 'tilting' it downward, I was able to get the picture framed right, thanks to keystone settings.


Here are some pictures:
http://www.cosmicrealms.com/coolness...ilt/angle1.jpg

http://www.cosmicrealms.com/coolness...ilt/angle2.jpg


Is this safe?

Or should the projector be 'level' even if it is upside down?


Any suggestions on this?

 

[wirwin]

If by 'safe' you mean 'will it fall on the floor?', that would depend on how it is mounted and secured.


Most people will tell you to minimize the use of keystone settings, to avoid losing image quality. Some people will tell you to avoid keystone settings like the plague in all circumstances. In the end it comes down to whether you find the image acceptable.


From your picture, one obvious suggestion would be to put the projector on the top shelf, to get it as close to the ideal height as you can. The manual should have a diagram showing what the ideal height is, relative to the top or bottom of the screen.


Most projectors intended for HT applications are capable of being mounted upside down.

 

[krasmuzik]

You can get suspended ceiling adaptors for most commercial mounts - if you really want to solve the problem properly!


With that much tilt I would worry about the projector crashing to the floor!

 

[[H]RedDog]

Ha thats what my x1 looked like when I first got it. It wont hurt it but I do recomend you figure out a way to level it out. EVen if it means moving that rack.

 

[Sembiance]

Well, I've decided I won't keep it tilted like that.

I want it flat.

From what I can tell that means either closer to the floor, or on the ceiling with the image flipped.


Since putting on the floor means my chair would be in the way, I guess I need to go with the ceiling approach


Now it's time for me to go research ceiling mounts, and how I can get it to hang down 6+ inches or so

 

[krasmuzik]

Check out Premier Mounts PBL-110 - it has the false ceiling adaptor option - as well as comes with an extension if drop rather than flush mount is needed.

http://www.premiermounts.com/product.asp?partID=1053

 

[rlsmith]

Overall I think you will be happier with a ceiling mount. If you can mount it above the top of the screen by a suitable amount, you will eliminate keystoning and can avoid the controversial digital keystone adjustment.


It also makes a less obtrusive and more friendly environment IMHO.


There are many posts about X1 and 4805 mounts.

 

[Sembiance]

Ugh. Ceiling mounts are really expensive, $150+ and for drop ceiling adapters it's another $150.

I can't really justify another $300 at this point heh.


Perhaps in the future, maybe a few months I will pony up the money for a ceiling mount.

But in the mean time, I think I'm just gonna tilt it.

Gonna replace the DVD cases though with wood, or magazines or something.

It feels pretty 'hackish' but I love the picture

 

[bonfigleo]

I WISH I had a drop cieling. Imagine the opposite problem you would have if the top of your screen had to be very close to the cieling. There aren't any mounts I've heard of that all for "above the cieling" installation.

 

[krasmuzik]

Sembiance


Well if you wanted to get real hackish - you could take a bungie cord and strap it on the tbars on your suspended ceiling!


Of course read the fine print about warranty invalid if your substandard mounting causes a projector failure....

 

[krasmuzik]

bonfigleo


If you are in a basement - box in between the joists so you can attach to the floorboard of the upper floor. Just be careful not to screw threw the floor. If you do it right you should be able to clear the ceiling with the lens.

 

[bootron]

maybe you could try checking out this thread.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...er#post4660241


or lately monkey man's mount has been gathering a lot of attention. the upside down wall mount seems like it should work in your situation, it can be done easily and can be picked up at your local wally world

 

[krasmuzik]

That speaker mount makes me nervous - even though DaGamePimp has one like that. Since you will be moving the projector and changing lamps while it is mounted - it is recommended that a mount be rated for 5x the actual load. Those of you with kids that like to hang and swing from things like monkeys would be better served copying MonkeyMan and overengineering as much as they can!

 

[stevecaz]

This is why I don't understand why all home theater based projectors don't have lens shift (and 2x lens for that matter). You should tell the projector where it will go, not let the projector be the boss.

I realize the X1 was not designed for home theater use at conception, and was more a hybrid of an office projector you could bring home on weekends, but still most projectors targeting home theater don't have this. Perhaps with the popularity of the Panny 700, more manafacturers will include these features.

 

[thehuntsouth]

I had the exact same issue with my H31. I even thought something was wrong with it until I learned that most HT Projectors have an Offset. Mine is propped up on the stryrofoam it came packed in for now. Will have to think of or make something a little more permanent. As for the picture it is great. I had to keystone it, but it looks fine to me.


Mine is on almost the same kind of rack only on the top shelf.


TH

 

[Arty13]

When i first got my pj, i tilted it, but was easily annoyed with it, so i got a ceiling mount, its like the same concept of the speaker mount, but stronger i believe, you can easily buy all the parts for it at your local hardware store, i'll try to get some links up or pics up later what it looks like... but it works and is very secure....


Arty


here is a picture that is similar
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=2045622

the side with 2 holes connects to the ceiling with like 3 inch screws, and the other end has a single bolt which then connects to this T shape alluminum that connects to the PJ, so yeah....

 

[scooterboy]

Since you have it backed up against a wall anyway, put up a wall shelf and mount the PJ to the underside of the shelf, like I did:

Link to post with pictures

 

[suffolk112000]

Well, I don't know what the manual for the 4805 says, but my AE-700 says you should not tilt the projector very much. I don't remember what degree the angle limit was, but I can sure say yours would be exceeding Panasonics recommendations.

Maybe you better check it out.


Craig

 

[DanC-P]

I'm actually doing a similar tilt with my 4805 as it's on a hearth at the back of my room (although I only need 1 DVD just behind the rear of the unit to get the right height, not 3 like you ). Since my "installation" is permanent, I secured the unit to the hearth with strong velcro strips on the front -- you might try the same as you don't want your precious PJ to come crashing down if some drunken friend bumps into your shelf. Good luck, Dan

 

[Slink22]

"It wont hurt it but I do recomend you figure out a way to level it out. EVen if it means moving that rack."


I agree with this. The simplest/cheapest approach is put it on the top shelf, upside & level. You can put some cloth or padding underneath the projector so that the top isn't sitting on a hard surface. Theres absolutely nothing wrong with having the projector lay upside-down on a shelf.