# Does anyone make a truly portable (i.e. battery-operated) video/slide projector? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 2, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-make-a-truly-portable-i-e-battery-operated-video-slide-projector/439866 "2008-03-02T18:43:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-make-a-truly-portable-i-e-battery-operated-video-slide-projector/439866/1 "2008-03-02T18:43:15Z")
If I want to do a PowerPoint presentation or play a DVD out in a venue without plug-in power, is there a projector on the market that could do the job? Mind you, I’m looking for something that is entirely self contained, not something that plugs into a car power jack. Also, I won’t need a ton of power; I want to project my image on a modest-sized screen, say, 4’ x 6’. If there is no such animal – and I have not been able to find one browsing through some A/V electronic supply websites – is there such a thing as a generic rechargable battery pack (_not_ a generator) that supplies standard house current? I could use that to power a standard projector, right? Thanks all, in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-make-a-truly-portable-i-e-battery-operated-video-slide-projector/439866/2 "2008-03-02T19:41:05Z")
[QUOTE=stuyguy] …is there such a thing as a generic rechargable battery pack (_not_ a generator) that supplies standard house current? [/QUOTE] This is pretty much the definition of a UPS. You’ll need to figure out how much power your projector and associated equipment is going to draw and factor in how long the presentation is in order to select one with sufficient capacity. I doubt anyone makes a battery-powered standalone projector; it would suck down batteries like a frat boy chugging a beer bong. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-make-a-truly-portable-i-e-battery-operated-video-slide-projector/439866/3 "2008-03-02T19:53:14Z")
[QUOTE=stuyguy] I won’t need a ton of power… [/QUOTE] Some quick Googling suggests that even modest video projectors consume several hundred watts, which means you’ll need a serious (i.e. car-sized) battery for a program of even an hour. > [@](#): > > is there such a thing as a generic rechargable battery pack (_not_ a generator) that supplies standard house current? You can buy [inverters](http://www.donrowe.com/) that produce AC from any 12v battery. You need to be careful of the demands of your projector - some (most?) are likely to require a proper sine wave, which only the expensive inverters can supply. And again you’ll need a large battery. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-make-a-truly-portable-i-e-battery-operated-video-slide-projector/439866/4 "2008-03-02T19:57:03Z")
Here’s one, but it’s only suitable for close viewing and very dark rooms: [http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/09/samsungs-1-5lb-led-projector-makes-it-stateside/](http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/09/samsungs-1-5lb-led-projector-makes-it-stateside/) ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-make-a-truly-portable-i-e-battery-operated-video-slide-projector/439866/5 "2008-03-02T20:15:36Z")
[QUOTE=stuyguy] …is there such a thing as a generic rechargable battery pack (_not_ a generator) that supplies standard house current? [/quote] Yes, [here](http://www.4lots.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1008&HS=1) is an example. > [@](#): > > I could use that to power a standard projector, right? I can’t guarantee it for sure - the projector may require a true sine wave as **Xema** said. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-make-a-truly-portable-i-e-battery-operated-video-slide-projector/439866/6 "2008-03-02T23:16:13Z")
Well you could get a UPS [power supply](http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=BR1500LCD&total_watts=800) which will provide a sine wave. However, the run time at high wattages [sucks](http://www.apc.com/products/runtime_for_extendedruntime.cfm?upsfamily=23). All of the projectors I have seen are in the 800-1200 watt range. Assuming that this unit uses 12V batteries you could jumper in a honking big car battery which would extend the run time to something that is respectable. There are some downsides. first off, you won’t be able to fly with the car battery, and can’t ship it FedEx or UPS. It would have to travel common Carrier. While I think you can fly with the UPS it weighs 31 lbs all by itself. I think that either buying a shit load of extension cords or a generator would be a lot easier in the long run. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2008, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-make-a-truly-portable-i-e-battery-operated-video-slide-projector/439866/7 "2008-03-03T03:07:25Z")
[QUOTE=beowulff] Here’s one, but it’s only suitable for close viewing and very dark rooms: [Samsung's 1.5-pound LED projector makes it stateside](http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/09/samsungs-1-5lb-led-projector-makes-it-stateside/) [/QUOTE] Very dark rooms is right. > [@](#): > > The device features a DLP panel to up the resolution to 800 x 600 SVGA, an LED light source expected to give up 10,000 hours of life at 50 ANSI Lumens, and a 1000:1 contrast ratio perfect for outputting computer displays. 50 Lumens? :eek: That’s like a flashlight. Most normal projectors output 1500 - 2000 Lumens or more.