CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

ArchmasterDragon · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Finland

I have recently bought Electrohome ECP 3100 wit ACON from my vocational school only for 300€, because it was non functional damaged CRT projector. but only problem was that the red tube had it's glycol escaped and the green tube video output module was causing shortcut against the remote control holder, so it was easy repair when found the problems why projector refused to start and the best part in this projector is that the tubes looks kind of new and the projector has been slightly used.

In the end there were NO major damage in the whole system, but it has been out of service several years, so I need to reset and tune it for my purpose.

I have heard rumours about using ECP 3100 as HD projector up to 1080p, but I'm not tech wizard in this subject so I wish to know is that true or a someones wet dream ?

I have also heard about modifications to Electrohome ECP 3100, concerning about power supply, capacitator changing to much more precise ones and something about HV leads, so I wish to know what modifications can be done to ECP 3100 projector and is there DIY schematics. I have education of electronic automation and do DIY works, so I know what needs to be done and can read schematics.

I hope I could find modification schematics and stuff, but I won't do the modification immedietly, but test run and watch movies for couple months before even trying to update my projector.

Thanks in advance

Dragon

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:52 pm Post subject:

I would not change caps at all, I would only replace the focus resistor if you're finding that the focus controls are turned all the way to one side. THe 3100 will not do 1080p, and even if the chassis could lock to that, the tubes would never handle the resolution. This set is best run at 1080i or 720p.

Cheers!

ArchmasterDragon · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Finland

So the max resolution is 1080i in the ECP 3100, but what about other ECP models ? Does the full HD resolution start at the 3500 or 4100 ? Also what modifications do exists to the ECP 3100. I once heard that someone has replaced the tubes for full HD, but I doubt that's possible, because I think the hardware in the projector and tubes that could handle 1080p picture are non compatible and the software and frequency are also which prevents the changing of different tubes.

Thanks for the help

Tim in Phoenix · Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 4409 Location: Phoenix

Hello

The 3100 tops out around 55khz so you would fall short of 67khz needed for 1080p. Within the ECP series, 4500 is a better choice as reliability issues of the 4100 were addressed in the 4500. A minty 8000 from 1994 is better still, the tubes will not go soft with age.

ArchmasterDragon · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Finland

Good to know, but in here the CRT projectors are few and it was pure luck that I got ECP 3100 with so minor damage, but I really wonder who and why someone has said about getting 1080p pic from 3100, but maybe it must have been a minor mistake and meant the 1080i picture.

In next week I'm going to start to run the projector and tune it so I could get some image from the projector, I have been lacking place to mount my projector, but I will get new working station so then I have place to keep that projector and I have GE digital energy match 3000VA UPS which I use for my computer and soon my projector to filter any spikes in the electric grid. I got that UPS free and it has been in good usage now.

I hope I could find somewhere projector which could give Full HD picture, but I doubt I could find anywhere which would be as cheap as this one was.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject:

You need to read the FAQ here:

http://www.curtpalme.com/CRTPrimer.shtm

Read the part about the projector 'sweet spot'. THat will put it into perspective.

ArchmasterDragon · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Finland

It's good to know that still my projector can display HD picture even though it's not full HD, but it's enough for me and my screen is small and the projector is in small room, but that's all that I have in disposal, I'm going to use my computer to feed the image to my projector, so no TV or anything like that.

I'm still interested in modification that i have heard what has been done to ECP 3100 and I wonder does anyone have knowledge about them and are they worth of time and money ?

I'm happy that I have been supplied information about my questions.

Rdean · Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 258

I would not be hung up on whether it can do "full HD" or 1080p. That set will do 1080i just fine and put out a pretty nice picture for the $.

If you heard of someone modding one for performance upgrades that would be news to me. There are maintenance actions you can take, such as the focus board that Curt mentions in an earlier post.

If you are really anquious to mod I would play around with this unit for awhile, get to know the basics of a CRT projector and setup. Then get a Marquee, they are very mod-able.

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

ArchmasterDragon · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Finland

That's interesting to know, but in here I can say that you can't buy anything "special" with 50 USD, thanks to the European union and the things here are handled, but I can say that was quite cheap and to think that it wasn't broken, it was just having a silly shortcut, but I hope I could find 8500, but importing one of those in here as a new costs the amount it costs there plus 30% tax as it is brought out of European union and that's why I was actually lucky with this one

I start the configuration at this weekend and I'm already having my thumbs up that the time wouldn't have "killed" Dallas chip, but if it is, I guess it shouldn't cost so much in here either.

when that was in markets in here it costed more than 20 000+€ (we didn't have euros back then), so as you can see I have saved a LOT, I know that brand new projector (small portable ones) costs around 1000€, but I have heard that the quality between LCD and CRT is big (depends the brand and user taste).

I doubt highly that I would change my CRT, because here the prices are sky high so I think this projector will be my trustworthy companion for years, unless I find another "damaged" CRT projector (hope it would be reality 909 Very Happy

)

ArchmasterDragon · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Finland

Looks like I have major setback, my new workstation parts were not even made and the installation will be in many weeks from now. I hope I could get that projector up and running, because I wish to test how good image I can get from it. I have good program called Nokia Monitor Test, it's a monitor test and set-up tool, which would be great for CRT projectors of all sorts, if you don't have it you can download it from http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Other-VIDEO-Tools/Nokia-Monitor-Test.shtml.

It's easy to use and I bet it's useful if you haven't known this yet, but I guess many already knows this program.

I will inform when I got my projector up and running, but as I said it's a major fallback to me.

I was wondering that I have seen many mods that can be bought, but is there any DIY mod schematics out there ?

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

ArchmasterDragon · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Finland

Thanks, but I have already downloaded the full manual (100.1Mb) I that was really good help when I tried to locate the problem but the funny part was that me and my brother noticed the problem by accident, we removed the remote control holder and the projector worked, but when we installed the holder back, the problem came, small clicking sound, the metallic holder and the video output module of the green tube was causing the shortcut, but then we moved the tube forward so it didn't take any contact, I think I will put something backside of the holder, maybe small layer of silicone, that should prevent it further and I adjust the tubes so they would be more out which would increase the space between module and holder.

ArchmasterDragon · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Finland

Well FINALLY I have my ECP up and running but there are still so much to adjust. The cross pattern is ok, but on the left side the cross pattern is horizontally twisted anti-clockwise and the sharpness is still a bit out. I have tried everything and adjusting 2/4 pol magnets which improved the quality of the cross pattern. The downside was that when adjusting the blue tube 2 pol magnets the levers broke. No matter how carefully I tried to adjust they just snapped. Also about the cross pattern dots, they have small flare and even I have read how to get rid of it, I would like someone to explain me a bit more detailed for me. I don't want to mess things up after I got this unit running so great. I think that my overall work in this unit has made it show image of around 50-70%. I wish that I could make all the settings and adjustment perfect.

I found also a small error in the connections, looks like when they have tried to repair it in the vocational they have switched the position of the gnd and 12kV cables, well after that and the cross pattern is near perfect. I have ordered 22Mohm and 33Mohm resistors 2W, 10 pieced of each, so I have enough spare parts. Then there is the green tube it tends to dim while the unit is on and when I tap at the case gently the green will bright up, so I suspect some type of bad connection or bad solder, but after so much of work trying to get my CRT working I'm kind of afraid to destroying whole unit, even I'm so careful.

If someone would know how to fix that twist in the pattern, could I improve the sharpness of the video, I'm not even trying to put 1080p or I, My resolution from the computer is 1280x800, 32bit 60hz. it display it without problem and I can't select lower frequency, my graphic card won't give any and if I use higher resolution it won't lock or even if it would lock the image splits in the middle.

I had to switch the H and V sync cables to make it work on the CRT, I think it's because of the graphic card connector sequence. I watched Wall-E to test how it looks and I do have to admit even if it's not the best possible focus, it's still so great experience to watch with so HUGE (well I bet you guys have bigger screens and high end projectors ) image, at least I'm happy with this, but I'm so damn perfectionist and I DEFINETLY want to have clear and sharp image (well thinking how old CRT I have, it gives really great image).

Well Thanks to everyone and especially 1031 from helping me and Curt for this great site and forum, This site gave me so huge amount of information and helped me to notice some of the problems.

1031 · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 657 Location: Finland

ArchmasterDragon · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Finland

Well, looks like I got the distortion away, it was one of those "let's see what this does " things, I manually converged the cross pattern back to normal, now everything matches. Now I have to build the 55Mohm resistor and then try to focus if that doesn't work then I'll try to clean the tubes, I start to suspect fungus.

I'm so excited about this. Even though I have hard time to fully understand everything (the setup has been made from a diffrent CRT, but at least I figured out something by myself. The image is still not sharp enough, the center looks good, but the edges are bad and blue is still a bit out of the focus, the cross is way too soft and red needs some buffing too.

Well, I hope I can get the resistors from the post office at monday, so I could see was the problem with the faulty resistor. I really can't wait to get that ECP 100% focused and adjusted, I really am eager to start watching movies and test to play some games with it, of course I'm not going to play games where are static images (like statistics or something)

ArchmasterDragon · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Finland

I have been using the ECP 3100 for gaming and either there wasn't or I just noticed that there are horizontal lines like old Amiga 500 game, like scanlines. I don't think that I have configured the image so there would be lines, but I'm not 100% sure. They don't bother me, but I wish to know is that normal and if not, how to fix it. Also I noticed that there's darkening between tubes when not using any output and looking in tubes when the CRT is on, is it the same thing as in this topi/forum http://archive.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=282004 ?. If so Can I use that repair for it, moving the jumper in the waveform board ?

Thanks to everyone, still have enough time to say Happy new year If I'm not around for some reason. Special thanks to Curt, without your site I would have crapped in my pants with the problems and for this site where everyone can ask and give advices to others.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

you might have the G2 set too high for the blue, or try switching neck boards to see if the lines follow.

Athanasios

ArchmasterDragon · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Finland

Well I actually dropped G 1-3, because yesterday tested few things. My plan is to start to refocusing the tubes tomorrow. I'm not happy with the focus. I have problem with that, because R and G are focus in the center, but not at the edges, but B is focused from the edges and is soft from the middle (I used the grid). For some odd reason I can't get them focus better than that. I tried several hours and that was the best I could do. But I have watched the movies and played games and it's ok picture, but I want it to be focussed better.

OT: Athanasios, could you change your dp, it bothers me when I compare that to my image. That's just so cruel Razz

ArchmasterDragon · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Finland

Hi all. I have new problem and I'm not sure is it serious or is it normal. When I turn the tubes off from the switches near G 1-3 trimpots, I see horizontal lines in the tubes. I did the fix for that half bright area in the tube by soldering the W5 jumper to the W4. http://archive.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=282004. I don't know did that cause something, but it fixed the problem for me.

I'm still doing the focus which is pain in the ass. I have managed to get green even better by adjusting the mechanical focus, electronic focus and the tube focus control. It's still too soft all around and hard to get focused. Either it's focused left side of right side, but the sharp focus is still missing. I start to think that the distance is way too short.