Power Consumtion of projectors

[thesk8nmidget]

im curious as to how many watts a typical RGB 500mw projector uses.

the reason i ask is i am seeing how small of a generator i could get away with using and or is it possible to use those dc to ac inverters(for cars) to run a laser?

the reason i ask is im wanting to take my laser to some private land that is a little to far away from power supplies to plug it in, i was thinking of making either a little laser cart consisting of 2 or 3 car batteries and then wiring up a dc to ac inverter to it and plugging the laptop and laser in.

or just use a small (hopefully quiet) generator.

i have ran my laser off a generator before but it was big so it had no problem so the smaller the better really since it will be just running my laser and laptop.


so any rough estimates for how many watts the laser needs or a way to figure it out myself?

at the moment i just need to run the 500mw laser wave green but later i would like to run the RGB if i ever finish it lol

thanks in advanced

[sbk]

My 1W RGB is eating only 100W

But that depends highly on your lasers, if you a lot of TEC, your power supply efficiency, etc...

I think the best way is to measure it yourself, it isn't difficult.

[Laser Ben]

I would say you need no more then 200W for a 0.5W projector. That leaves plenty of extra power.

[thesk8nmidget]

and how abouts would i measure this myself? im not the smartest when it comes to using my meter lol

[sbk]

Inside your projector, remove the main phase cable (L), connect it to a cable which go to the 10A amp plug of your amp meter. Then from your amp meter common plug, go with a cable where was originally plugged the main phase cable.
Set your amp meter to "alternative amp" mode. Then, measure the main voltage (230V here, I don't know in your country), and multiply it with your amp reading!

Now you have the consumption in VA. To have it in W, you may have to multiply that result with the cos(phi) to obtain the active power, but I'm not sure it's a lot different.

Be very careful and be sure that your cables are right attached and can't touch another things during the measurements

(and if I need to be corrected, please someone can make it, I'm not sure especially on the cos(phi), and explaining that not in my mothertongue doesn't make it easier )

[thesk8nmidget]

wait you dont just hold your hand over the 2 mains wires and multiply the tingling pain by the urge to pull away?

lol seems easy and painless enough



thanks

[sbk]

Another way is you can hold the two mains wires and measure the difference of height of your hairdressing before switching on and after

[thesk8nmidget]

hmm i will have my friend try it out for me and i'll measure his hair for him

[madgadget]

I bet you find its less than 30/40 watts.

[sbk]

You bet? .