Mitsubishi HC5000 Projector - Flickering

[heisthegaffer]

Dear all

My trusty PJ was flickering earlier when I turned it on, it was only on for a few minutes.

Any ideas on what could cause this?

I googled it and whilst I couldn't see anything specific to my model, owners of other PJs mentioned that they experience this and it could be caused by dust.

Cheers

[cjs]

Could be the lamp, how many hours has it done?

[OldSkoolRS]

Could try running the lamp in high power mode for a while to see if the flickering goes. It can be down to the arc point wandering, so a few hours at high power (or low power if you're already using the high power setting) can cause the arc to stabilise.

[heisthegaffer]

Thanks guys, will check the hours but also leave on for a while.

[heisthegaffer]

OldSkoolRS said:

Could try running the lamp in high power mode for a while to see if the flickering goes. It can be down to the arc point wandering, so a few hours at high power (or low power if you're already using the high power setting) can cause the arc to stabilise.

Hi mate

I have used the PJ again and it makes a wierd squeak when I turn on (I literally thought my cat had brought a mouse in. Felt a right tw@t when I realised it was the PJ), and flickers so I turned it off and on again and the flickering disappears. Would this be the arc point? What is an arc point? Reckon it can be repaired?

It has done around 2500 hours. It said it was on Standard mode so I have now turned to Low mode, there is no high power so assume the standard mode is high power.


Thanks for all your help by the way.

[OldSkoolRS]

I think you just need a new lamp. 2500 hours is pretty good going and you'll probably find it has dimmed quite a bit anyway. The arc point is inside the lamp (imagine something not unlike a spark plug) and the arc forms between two points in the lamp. It isn't something you can repair.

I know you are trying to fault find, but generally it isn't a good idea to turn a projector off then back on again in a short time: A 'hot strike' is harder for the projector's power supply and not good for the lamp's life. I usually leave mine on if I intend to watch it again within an hour or so for example as an extra hour of running is less stress on the lamp than a restart.

[heisthegaffer]

OldSkoolRS said:

I think you just need a new lamp. 2500 hours is pretty good going and you'll probably find it has dimmed quite a bit anyway. The arc point is inside the lamp (imagine something not unlike a spark plug) and the arc forms between two points in the lamp. It isn't something you can repair.

I know you are trying to fault find, but generally it isn't a good idea to turn a projector off then back on again in a short time: A 'hot strike' is harder for the projector's power supply and not good for the lamp's life. I usually leave mine on if I intend to watch it again within an hour or so for example as an extra hour of running is less stress on the lamp than a restart.

Thanks for the advice mate, I suspected it would be the lamp. It's had a good innnings as you say. I must admit, when I have it on, I have it on for a while to avoid the hot/cold cycle where possible. Thanks again mate, really appreciate it.