home theater battery backup

[pbarra1]

Hello All:

I want a power conditioner / battery backup unit for new lcd based 60 inch tv. When tv is turned off, the fans typically run for a couple of minutes to cool the bulb. If the power goes out - the fans will not run if no battery backup is in place. The wrinkle is that I can't find a unit that will shut off the tv (like when I use the remote) and allow the fans to run. If it shuts the tv by cutting power to the outlet or allowing the battery to run down the fans will not run for a few minutes after the bulb is shut down causing premature bulb failure. Anyone have any suggestions? TIA

[microchip13]

I can think of one way to do this, but it could(note could) be rather pricy.

You could get a dirt cheep PC and install Linux on it have that hooked up to the UPS and when the power went out it could use an IR module to send the off codes to the TV.


I'd recommend doing a little searching on Engadget, a few weeks ago they had a how-to on using one UPS to shut down multiple computers. They used a linux computer hooked up to the UPS and when the power went out it would tell the other computers(THrough software over IP) that the power was out and they would then shut down.

That's about the only way I can think to do it. Excluding the UPS you could probably get by for around $50, but it would likely require a fair amount of effort.

Best of luck, and please do report back.

[pbarra1]

I am looking for a 1 box solution and could do without yet another computer in the house and the ir blaster wires (and the chore of hiding them) etc. But thanks for the input.

[Grateful11]

I'm running a 425vA Battery Back-up on my 50" LCD Projection which draws 210 watts.
For the most part it's never on unless someone is in the room. So the way I look at
it if the power goes out, shut the TV off manually as quick as possible and allowing
the fan to have plenty of juice to cool down my lamp. I realize this is not going to
do if we're out of the room but I'd say there's a 95% chance we're going to be in the
room with it.

BTW: I've been meaning to check my hours on my set, I suspect it's pretty high.

[Buzz]

IIRC, Harbourmaster posted a link to a good home theatre conditioner/UPS unit fairly recently...

[pbarra1]

Grateful11: It is likely that I will be in the room when the power goes out but the kids also leave the tv on and leave the house so ...

Buzz: I had already been to the site that Harbourmaster posted but I cant determine if those units will shut off the tv and leave the power on so the fans will keep running.

[Grateful11]

[quote pbarra1]Grateful11: It is likely that I will be in the room when the power goes out but the kids also leave the tv on and leave the house so ...

Buzz: I had already been to the site that Harbourmaster posted but I cant determine if those units will shut off the tv and leave the power on so the fans will keep running.
You might try a search over at AVSForum.com

[Mr645]

How often do you loose power?

Not too often here, and how bad is it really to cut off power to the fans? Once or twice should be no big deal. I'm not saying it's a bad idea but is it worth it for a battery back up? Also consider that bulbs today last much longer and cost less then a few years ago.

Another thing to check out, when my source shuts off, the picture goes black. Does the bulb go to low power mode or is it just the lcd panel that goes dark and the bulb is always on full power. I just don't know the technicals on this

Jon

[pbarra1]

The only unit I can find, after searching avsforum, is a monster unit that send a signal to an IRA blaster to turn off the tv when the ups flips to battery power. Its ~ $200 which is about the cost of the bulb and I dont think our power goes out often, especially while watching tv so I guess it is a wash. Spending the cost of a bulb to prevent the chance of losing power while the tv is on but not being watched is pretty small so maybe I dont need anything after all.

[Grateful11]

My screen goes to a dim, no picture mode, for about 15 seconds and then the fan
goes off in about 2 minutes. It's the only time I can hear it running. My bulb is
going for about $160 from an independent and $200 from Sony.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-SONY-XL-2400-LAM...dZViewItem