Projector for outdoor use

[Bmwbball88]

Hey all,

instead of a tv for my back patio I’m leaning towards a projector and screen setup.  
the projector will be covered under my patio so not too worried and well I would bring it in when not in use.  
3 questions. 
1. any ideas for a mount that easily lets me connect, disconnect the projector to bring it in when not in use?

2. best projector in the 5000 lumen range that is ip controlled?

3 screen that can raised and lowered either by ip or by when the projector turns on?  
 

Thanks in advance. 

[anon2828]

I've been thinking about this as well.

Look at Screen Innovations (SI) Solo 2 for the screen element of things.  They have portable mounts that can do everything from suction cup onto a window to allow you to take the screen up and down.  It is wireless and operates for 100s of cycles on a rechargeable battery, so no wires - typically great for outdoors.

Projector-wise - going to have to look at something where the light source is laser-based to get the lumen output you are seeking.  There are trade-offs here as most of the laser based projectors that you'd dare put outside (those less than $10k) are typically DLP image processors as opposed to LCOS, so there are image quality trade offs.

That said, I am looking for a cheap and portable high lumen output projector to go outside, something small that can be taken in and out given weather, etc.  

[daveva]

This may  give you an idea. I have my projector enclosed in a  table on my deck. It was a complete do it yourself other than the  automation through my control4 dealer My screen is hanging on my garage wall with left right and center channel speaker. The screen is a nocturne exterior screen by Draper. Projector is a Panasonic  PT-VZ470 which is rated 4400 lm . I too would like to upgrade my projector because I need to go 4K. The projector never leaves through the summer because the build is waterproof. I also have a fan installed in the cabinet just for air circulation and to help cool the projector bulb when the projector returns to the cabinet The nice part about this is anyone can ask Alexa to turn on the outdoor theater go to the iPad and pick a movie and it plays. Hope this helps

[zaphod]

Very cool.  How usable is the screen during daylight hours?  Can you still see it pretty well?

[daveva]

Unusable in daylight hours we  have to wait till dusk

[ILoveC4]

I use an Optima short throw projector and it’s awesome. I built a cart that contains it, a Roku and a huge speaker. I can take it anywhere, including many locations in my yard. I have a couple spots on the house I shine it on to. Works awesome. With the speaker and everything contained in the cart I have one thing to plug in and it’s live, ready to go. We use it all the time. 

[Bmwbball88]

On 7/5/2021 at 6:00 PM, ILoveC4 said:

I use an Optima short throw projector and it’s awesome. I built a cart that contains it, a Roku and a huge speaker. I can take it anywhere, including many locations in my yard. I have a couple spots on the house I shine it on to. Works awesome. With the speaker and everything contained in the cart I have one thing to plug in and it’s live, ready to go. We use it all the time. 

Does it only work at night?

thinking I’m going to have to get one with a flexible return policy to see how it will work. Since I’ll have it in shade, and the screen in shade I’m hoping it will be usable in daylight with a 5k lumen one. 

[daveva]

Yes it only works at night. I would say the earliest that I could watch a movie is probably 20 minutes before dusk. 

[Cyknight]

On 7/11/2021 at 8:11 AM, daveva said:

Yes it only works at night. I would say the earliest that I could watch a movie is probably 20 minutes before dusk. 

Think he was asking the Optoma user.

For LOW daylight use, you'll want to look at 7k Lumens for a nice bright picture on a 100" screen, though a short-throw can help a lot (less distance to cover, less light bleeding).

 

Oh I know many sites will claim you only 'need' 2500 lumens, and state that 3600 is good for a clear bright view, but if you look at the fine print, they'll have is setup indoors, or are using a smaller screen.

 

In truth there is no singular 'right' amount of Lumens - Lumens technically isn't even what you should be 'measuring'.

Size of screen, effectiveness of the screen material, sun position and throwing distance are all just as important as the Lumens rating of the projector.

 

Just as an example, I not too long ago had an outdoor movie night using a 7500K Lumens projector on a 17f screen at a 10f throw, on the north side of a building with the evening sun blocked by a neighbouring building ... and I still couldn't rightly start the movie more than 30m before sundown.
 

PS for the mount, I would just use a stand vs a ceiling mount.

 

[ILoveC4]

On 7/10/2021 at 7:13 PM, Bmwbball88 said:

Does it only work at night?

thinking I’m going to have to get one with a flexible return policy to see how it will work. Since I’ll have it in shade, and the screen in shade I’m hoping it will be usable in daylight with a 5k lumen one. 

It starts working as the sun gets low in the sky. I can post some pics if it would be helpful.