[Jules]

Family and visitors do not know or care how to look after projectors, so I'm looking at ways to prevent unauthorised use without moving the power cord.

One step I have already taken is to remove the original remote, and programme my touchscreen remote so that a PIN is required before the projector can be used.
That works fine, except a visitor today casually turned on the projector with the units power button, not knowing that it was still in its 'cooling down' state!! As we all know on here, 'hot starting' is bad for the lamp.

So, any ideas on how you can prevent the power button on the unit from being pressed without making a cosmetic mess of it.

[jimbobaggins]

Attach it directly to the mains supply and anyone touching it will be killed immediately.

[Oakleyspatz]

ceiling mount it , a lockable plate that covers the power button or a sticker close to the button which states " DO NOT TURN OFF UNTIL UNIT HAS COOLED"

Other than that, tell everyone ! Touch my pj and you're mine !!!"

[jimbobaggins]

Or place a large stone ball, in a tunnel, through a secret passage, that will thunder towards them on start up and kill them immediately.

[Comer]

A visitor actually came in and touched your projector...oooh, the thoughts of it make me feel dirty all over

That is amazing, my kids are too young to get near the pj at the ceiling and the wife is half afraid of the thing to turn it on. But there is no way that a visitor would even dream of touching the projector, apart from it being really stupid to touch an expensive piece of electroncs that they would know nothing about, it would be just unbelievable bad manners.

I always have the front cover closed on the Z3 or the pj powered off in case the kids start playing with the remote while I'm not there. playing laser-gun with the power button for ten minutes would surely make short work of the lamp and my kid's chances or reaching their next birthday.

Please note that that was a joke about harming my kids, I never make threats on my kids lifes (in public)

[Cool-hand]

Connect the pj into an unswitched single socket outlet and cleverly hide a switched fuse spur to control the socket somewhere descrete. Remove the fuse everytime you go out. It will take them ages to click!?!

Or just bash there ******* brains out!

CH

[nwgarratt]

Bit of a wacky idea.

If the PJ is on a shelf of some kind. Create a box that goes over the PJ and then padlock through the box and shelf.

I had to do something with my DVD's as they kept on going missing. I ended up putting my DVD's in a cupboard. I then wrapped a chain around the door and padlocked it shut.

[Jules]

The projector is ceiling mounted, but where the PJ is mounted the ceiling is very low... it is no higher than head height!

I wondered if there is anyway to cover up the button with some kind of raised sticky pad with a hole in it to effectively make it a deep recessed button that fingers cannot reach.

[Oakleyspatz]

I think you've answered your own question !!..You can get small sticky pads which you can build up into a 'wall' around the switch. How about some velcro adhesive which you can remove and replace when needed.

[Cool-hand]

Well its a bit exteme but why not just open the case up and by-pass the switch thus rendering it dead and only use the remote control.

CH

[noel-pilot]

Depending how installed your system is a modification to the fused spur above would be to use a lockable switch, I'm sure I have seen these somewhere whereby the power only comes on when you have inserted a key into the lock and turned it! Also be a cool touch, like arming a rocket system or something!!!

[Cheddies]

you could have it so you had to press two buttons at exactly he same time... onlt the buttons are on opposite sides of the room and if they are not pressed simultaneously it will trigger the 'wall of spikes' which will close in against the grubby fingered projector presser.. or just get polite friends... not even my family would turn my projector on/off without my knowlege

[Gary Lightfoot]

Who are these people that mess with your gear without asking? Family is one thing, but ill mannered visiters are another. Tell them that you will need a new lamp soon and that they will have to pay for it as their meddling has shortened its life.

How about a label over it saying do not touch or something?

Can't you take the mains lead with you so that it can't be powered up?

If not, what about something like this:

http://www.mkelectric.co.uk/news/news.asp?newsid=1024

Gary.

[Too Tall]

Use a plug with an easily removed fuse. Then just remove the fuse and take it with you (or hide it).

If your friends are cheeky enough that they would replace a fuse in a plug to try and turn your PJ on they need a slap.

[Nick_UK]

A sign would be a good idea, something like
"Please do not touch the projector controls, because a smack in the mouth often offends"

Alternatively, consider putting a key-operated switch in the mains feed.

[Cool-hand]

Originally Posted by Gary Lightfoot

If not, what about something like this:

http://www.mkelectric.co.uk/news/news.asp?newsid=1024

Gary.

This is a good one Gary! See if MK make the same outlet but with a square pin or twist-in pins so the mothers don't just unplug it and plug an extension lead in!

CH

[Gary Lightfoot]

Hmmm,

Maybe a keyswitched spur instead then? The flex would be hard wired into the spur and only powered up by the keyswitch.

Gary.

[zombie_donkey]

Install a Spaz shotgun in a hidden recess in your cinema room, Then.. when some rude chav sonofabiatch goes near the PJ, you grab the gun and say something along the lines of " eat lead mother copulator" and remove their head from their torso. Being carefull not to splatter the PJ of course.

If you cannot obtain a gun, great big knives are a good second choice, and are safer for the decor and electronics.

[Cool-hand]

no.

[zombie_donkey]

I know it is harsh, but them bulbs cost a fortune!

[whats_this]

lol, first time I have burst into hysterics ever while reading a thread.

Off topic but I might get one of those key switch plug things just for the picture on my family’s face when they realise they cant use the pj when im not about.

[explicitlyrics]

My brother turned our AE700 on without my permission and I went crazy!!!! I was not impressed in the slightest, the worst thing was he turned it on about 30mins after it had been turned off! I dont think he will ever use it again now... oh well!

[John7]

Buy a bachelor pad, move out and don`t tell anyone where you`ve gone - problem solved!

[jimbobaggins]

Ok I have a new plan.

Place a large rock, propped up by a small stick, at the top of the cliff behind your house. When the button maniac hits the start button, a small laser fires at a mirror placed on your back wall, reflecting onto a converging lens. This in turn, (once it has moved a metre to the left on the pulley system,) triggers an ever accelerating metal ball up the back of the mountain, through the caves and finally smacking a lion up the arse, which runs into the stick, causing the rock to fall and kill the perpetrator almost instantly.

They would be totally unaware as all of these things are silent in operation. (Oh, make sure to put a gag on the lion first.)

What u think, am I getting near??

[DVDcake]

How's this;

Rig up trip wires around the PJ position which when pulled will erect in your window a shop dummy dressed up in combat clothing and holding a supersoaker spray painted black. The local busybody opposite will be on the phone resulting in an immediate armed response from the local plods to your emergency.

Altogether now,

'Rocks won't save your PJ,
neighbores do,
helped by the Police,
woo woo woo'.

[Gary Lightfoot]

I still think the keyswitch idea would be easier.

Gary.

[brain]

Not as bad as the time my mother was visiting and saw some dust on the lens - which she though could be removed with a finger and so attempted to do so! Noooooooooooo.

I have the switched fuse spur feature like "cool hand" suggested which is hidded down by the side of the sofa and rear speaker stand. If needed just pop out the fuse and they will be puzzled!!


PTG

[stripe]

Just break the wifes fingers, and explain to everyone that she shouldn't have touched your projector

[jimbobaggins]

I know.

Smash the projector into loads of pieces with an axe. NO bastard will even bother to touch it then, even if they could find the start button in the wreckage.

That's got to be my best suggestion yet - can't believe I didn't think of that one first...