Recently, working with Christie Roadster M Series HD10K projectors, installed in a flown inverted front orientation in a function centre, we observed particularly fierce heat shimmer projected onto the screen.

Heat shimmer seems to occur when hot and cold air mix with each other in the light path of the projected image.

This can be caused where cold air (such as from an air conditioner) is being directed at the projector, mixing with the hot air being generated by the projector itself.

Some projectors include a “high altitude” operation mode, which will often increase fan speeds and may help to reduce the effects of heat shimmer.

There is an “Overheat Protection Mode” in the service menu of the Christie 10K projectors, but upon enabling this feature, I did not observe any change or improvement in the reduction of heat shimmer in this installation.

Our solution was to redirect the air flow from the air conditioners operating overhead of the projectors, reducing the flow of cold air into the projector light path.