Runco Vx 3c Projector User Manual

							2-5
INSTALLATION AND SETUP
Figure 2.2. Poor Screen Placement
Ideal Room Lighting!
The high brightness output of this projector is certainly well suited for locations where ambient
lighting is less than optimum for projection, yet there are still many simple things you can do to
optimize your installation.
Visiting a movie theater can give you an idea of what makes an ideal projection environment.
Walls, floors and furnishings are dark and have a matte finish. A projection room should not have
white reflective ceilings or non-directional lighting, such as fluorescent lights. The white ceiling
spreads light, making the room appear brighter. Keep lighting and reflections to a minimum.
If it is not possible to eliminate fluorescent lights, consider using incandescent spot lighting or
parabolic reflectors (“egg crates”) to direct light down to the floor. Light dimmers or rheostats
allow further control.
Outside windows are undesirable in any projection room. A small crack between curtains on a
sunny day can wash out a projected image. If you do have windows, make sure that window cov-
erings are opaque and overlapping - some window coverings are designed to provide up to 100
percent blockage of outside light. Ideally, the material should have a matte finish.
To minimize the effects caused by unwanted light from door and aisle ways, carefully choose the
position of your projector and screen. Figure 2.2 shows an installation where poor screen place-
ment allows too much unwanted light to enter the screen. In Figure 2.3, screen and the projector
are positioned so that unwanted light is minimized.
Figure 2.3. Better Screen Placement 
						

							2-6
INSTALLATION AND SETUP
Even with all lighting removed it is still possible that room reflections within the room can slight-
ly degrade the image. Light from the projection screen should be absorbed by the ceilings, walls
and floors so that it will not be reflected back to the screen. Again, keep reflective surfaces to a
minimum.
Other Considerations!
Here are some other considerations and tips which can help you improve your installation:
!Ventilation is an important factor when preparing a projection room. The ambient temperature
should be kept constant and below 35°C (95°F). Keep the projector away from heating and/or
air conditioning vents. Changes in temperature can cause drifts in the projector circuitry that
may affect performance.
!Keep the projector away from devices that radiate electromagnetic energy such as motors and
transformers. Common sources of these are slide projectors, speakers, power amplifiers, ele-
vators, etc.
!For rear screen applications, less space is required if a mirror is used to fold the optical path.
!Choose the right screen size for the application:
!As screen size increases, magnification increases and reduces brightness. Select a screen
size which is appropriate for the venue, but not larger than that required.
!Installing a large screen in a small room is similar to watching television close up; too
large a screen can overpower a room. A good rule of thumb is to be no closer than 1.5
times the width of the screen.
!Larger screens require greater attention to lighting conditions.
!When laying out the projection room, consider positioning the projector and screen in a man-
ner that will achieve maximum audience coverage and space efficiency. For example, placing
the screen along the larger wall in a rectangular room will reduce audience coverage. Figure
2.4 shows two examples of how audience coverage is maximized. 
						

							2-7
INSTALLATION AND SETUP
Figure 2.4. Screen Locations for Maximum Audience Coverage
2.3  Projector Position and Mounting
Installation type, screen type, and lighting all affect where the projector is positioned. In addition,
both throw distance (the distance between the projector and screen) and vertical position (the
height of the projector in relation to the screen) must be determined for every new installation.
Both depend on the screen size and lens type you are using. Make sure that the room can accom-
modate the required position of the projector for the chosen screen size.
Throw Distance!
Throw distance is the distance between the projector’s front feet and the screen. For any installa-
tion, an accurate throw distance must be determined in order for the image to be of the right size
for your screen-the farther the projector is from the screen, the larger the image.
NOTE: If your projector is tilted in relation to the screen, as is sometimes the case for large ven-
ues or elevated installations, throw distance still represents the smallest measurement between the
screen and lens.
Throw distance is roughly equal to the hori-
zontal width of the screen multiplied by the
type of lens you are using. For example, if
you are using a 0.8:1 lens, proper throw dis-
tance will be approximately 0.8 x the screen
width. Once you know your screen size and
lens, you can estimate throw distance needed
(see example in Figure 2.5).
IMPORTANT: For proper placement in an
installation, always refer to the throw dis-
tance formula and/or graph for your lens as
listed in Appendix E. Keep in mind that due to lens manufacturing tolerances for lens focal
length, actual throw distance can vary ±5% between lenses described as having the same throw
ratio. 
6 ft.
7.2 ft.
6 x 1.2 = 7.2
1.2:1 lens
Figure 2.5. Estimating Throw Distance
(SEE APPENDIX D)
Screen              x  Lens Type = Approx. Throw Distance 
						

							2-8
INSTALLATION AND SETUP
Vertical & Horizontal Position !
THE VERTICAL POSITIONof the projector in relation to the screen also depends on the size
of the screen and the lens type. Correct vertical position helps ensure that the image will be rec-
tangular in shape rather than keystoned (having non-parallel sides) and that image focus and
brightness both remain optimized.
In addition, vertical position of the image can be manually offset-that is, moved up or down-by
turning the top screw on the front of the projector (the bottom screw if the projector is ceiling
mounted). The range of adjustment is roughly 130%, depending on the specific lens you are using
and whether or not you are also offsetting horizontally. See Table 2.1 for the percentage of the
image that can be displayed above and below the center of each type of lens designed for this pro-
jector. These image offsets are also illustrated in Figure 2.6 (fixed lenses) and Figure 2.7. 
Figure 2.6. Maximum Vertical Offsets (FIXED LENSES)
Table 2. 1. Maximum % of Image Offset from Lens Center  
Lens Type Max. Recommended Image Offset 
* 
0.8:1 105% 
#100% 
1.2:1  126% 
#133% 
1.5 - 2.2:1  129% 
#117% 
2.2 - 4:1 129% 
#117% 
4-7:1 137% 
#126% 
* 
 NOTE: This lens is the same as the VX -3 0.8:1 lens   
						

							2-9
INSTALLATION AND SETUP
Figure 2.7. Maximum Vertical Offsets (ZOOM LENSES)
NOTES: 1)If you cannot raise or lower the image enough using
mechanical vertical offsets, try adjusting V-Positionin the Size
and Positionmenu (see 3.6, Adjusting the Image). 2)If the image
becomes keystoned or exhibits uneven brightness, the projector
may simply be too high or low in relation to the screen. 3)
Recommended offset ranges can be exceeded, however this may
affect image quality. 4)Simultaneous horizontal and vertical off-
set limits the adjustment range of each. 
THE HORIZONTAL POSITIONof the image can be offset-that is, shifted left or right of lens center-by 
turning the bottom screw on the front of the projector (the top screw if the projector is ceiling mounted). The
maximum horizontal offsets for the lenses designed for this projector is shown in Figure 2.8. For this projector,
this value expresses the maximum percentage of the image that can be projected to one side of the lens center
(roughly 80%, depending on the lens). 
						

							2-10
INSTALLATION AND SETUP
Mounting!
For typical front or rear floor mounts, mount the projector on a secure table
or cart. Take care with a mobile cart-avoid sudden stops, excessive force and
uneven surfaces that may cause the projector and cart combination to over-
turn.
The table or cart should be reasonably level. Fine adjustments to the projec-
tor level can be made by adjusting the height of the projector legs; refer to 2.7,
Levelingfor details.
Special Mounting
Note that projector can be rotated and mounted at any vertical angle-i.e., you can tilt the face of
the projector up or down as much as desired for your installation. The side-to-side tilt, however,
must not exceed 15° (see Figure 2.9). This limit ensures that the arc lamp in the projector oper-
ates properly and safely. Always make sure that exhaust air from the projector does not vent
towards the lens, otherwise you may detect heat waves in your projected image.
Figure 2.9. Horizontal and Vertical Tilt Ranges
You must use the proper ceiling mount fixture or stacking kit for your projector. For more infor-
mation, contact your Runco dealer. 
Fig 2.8. Maximum Horizontal Offset (ALL LENSES) 
						

							2-11
INSTALLATION AND SETUP
Folded Optics!
In rear screen applications where space behind the pro- 
jector is limited, a mirror may be used to fold the opti-
cal path. The position of the projector and mirror must
be accurately set-if considering this type of installation,
call your Runco dealer for assistance.
2.4 Source Connections The rear panel of the projector provides standard input panels to which \
you may connect a vari-
ety of sources. See Figure 2.10-the lower left area ( INPUT 1) typically accepts an  RGB signal
from an external RGB source (such as the V HD Controller), or it can also be used for YPbPr sig-
nals from DTV sources. The upper right panel-the  Video Decoder Module-accepts only compos-
ite video at  INPUT 3or S-video at INPUT 4 from devices such as VCRs, laser disc players or
DVD players. There are also several optional interfaces available for co\
nnecting other sources at
INPUT 2 . Such an option installs in the upper left area, just below the audio c\
onnectors. For any
input, including the optional inputs, audio with loop through connects a\
t the audio input panel
located between the license label area and  INPUT 2.
Figure 2.10. Rear Connector Panel
l;kjd;flkj;lkasjd;lkjfa;sdff 
;laskdjf;lieuiodmca:LKs
eopedjivncfhasp;rpprgm
oiawoedfpawreoifasjdfl 
						

							2-12
INSTALLATION AND SETUP
RGB Signals!
INPUT 1 provides 5 BNCs (connectors) for linking to a variety of sources. The \
typical connec-
tion would be to an RGB source such as the V HD Controlle r, computers or DTV decoders with an
RGB output. This projector supports multiple sync types with RGB signals\
: sync-on-green, com- 
posite sync, and separate H & V syncs. 
NOTES: Depending on the source, you may need a custom adapter cable that has BNC connec- 
tors at the projector end and a different type of connector at the other (such as a 15-pin “D” con-
nector for computer sources). Contact your Runco dealer. 
Connect the  SYNCBNC input(s) first. Then connect the red, green and blue source output\
s to the
RED , GREEN , and BLUE BNCs on the  INPUT 1panel. If the source uses sync-on-green, only
the red, green, and blue connections are required. If the source provide\
s a composite sync output, 
connect it to the  SYNCinput labeled  HOR/COMP. If the source provides separate horizontal
and vertical sync outputs, connect horizontal sync to the  SYNCinput labeled  HOR/COMP and
connect vertical sync to  SYNCinput labeled  VERT. See Figure 2.11.
NOTE: To connect YPbPr signals, such as from analog HDTV sources, to  INPUT 1, use the red,
green and blue BNCs as described in  YPbPr Signalslater in this section.
Figure 2.11. Connecting RGB Input
AUDIO for INPUT  1: To control audio levels in an audio/visual system, connect pre-amplified (\
line level)
audio inputs to the  “IN 1”left and right channel audio inputs located near the top left corner of \
the rear input
panel. Then connect external audio amplification equipment to audio  “OUT”for sound output. Audio connec-
tion cables require standard RCA type phono plugs. 
						

							2-13
INSTALLATION AND SETUP
YPbPr Signal (COMPONENT VIDEO)!
Connect a YPbPr signal (component video) to INPUT 1as shown in Figure 2.12.
Figure 2.12. Connecting YPbPr Signal
NOTES: 1)If, for some reason, the projector fails recognize a YPbPr signal, specify this Color
Spaceoption within the Image Settingsmenu. See 3.6, Adjusting the Image. 2)Do not connect
digital component signals (known as YCbCr) to INPUT 1. Use the appropriate digital interface
installed at INPUT 2.
AUDIO for INPUT 1:To control audio levels in an audio/visual system, connect pre-amplified
(line level) audio inputs to the “IN 1”left and right channel audio inputs located near the top left
corner of the rear input panel. Then connect external audio amplification equipment to audio
“OUT”for sound output. Audio connection cables require standard RCA type phono plugs. 
						

							2-14
INSTALLATION AND SETUP
Composite Video!
The video decoder input panel provides simultaneous connection of both a composite video
source (INPUT 3)and an S-Video source (INPUT 4).
If connecting a composite video source, use the Composite BNC connector orthe RCA phono
jack at -do not use both as inputs. See Figure 2.13.
AUDIO for INPUT 3:To control audio levels in an audio/visual system, connect pre-amplified
(line level) audio inputs to the “IN 3”left and right channel audio inputs located near the top
left corner of the rear input panel. Then connect external audio amplification equipment to
audio “OUT” for sound output. Audio connection cables require standard RCA type phono
plugs.
NOTE: If you want to loop a composite video signal through to another projector or display
device, see Video Loop Throughlater in this section.
Figure 2.13. Connecting Composite Video