Projector lamp questions
Discussion
I have a budget DLP projector which has recently started telling me my lamp is on its way out. I have ordered a replacement online.
My question is this - Does the projector really measure the state of the lamp for this warning, or is it just based on time in service? Also, will the picture degrade as the lamp fails slowly or will the lamp just go pop one day, leaving me staring at a blank screen?
I guess what I really want to know is, do I replace the lamp as soon as it arrives, or leave it to fail, then replace?
Thanks
My question is this - Does the projector really measure the state of the lamp for this warning, or is it just based on time in service? Also, will the picture degrade as the lamp fails slowly or will the lamp just go pop one day, leaving me staring at a blank screen?
I guess what I really want to know is, do I replace the lamp as soon as it arrives, or leave it to fail, then replace?
Thanks
It just measures the time that the lamp has been turned on, so if it is rated for 2000 hours then on the 2000th hour it will pop up saying the lamp is due to be changed (or a little before that to give warning)
Generally you can continue to keep going, the lamps generally just get dimmer and dimmer but on some models and in some cicumstances they do just go pop and stop working.
You can keep using your current one but keep the new one handy as they are ussually pretty spot on with lamp life on these things.
Generally you can continue to keep going, the lamps generally just get dimmer and dimmer but on some models and in some cicumstances they do just go pop and stop working.
You can keep using your current one but keep the new one handy as they are ussually pretty spot on with lamp life on these things.
ymwoods said:
headcase said:
When they go pop it has been known for them to shatter and kill the projector.
Wow really!!?? have let all of mine go pop in my projector and it's never done that...maybe its time to follow the instructions then 
I'm on my third projector and on all of them it wouldn't be possible for a severely blown bulb to "kill the projector"
OP, the bulb will noticably dim as it diminishes. My projector gives the warning at aroung 1600 hours, I reset this and it goes for normally at least 500 hours more. My new bulb (installed a week ago) was onlyinstalled after two reset cycles on the old one, no noticable dimming either, just gentle phasing between dim and not too dim.
I used a bulb element replacement this time, less than half the price of a normal bulb module and takes about five minutes to dismantle the old and reassemble the new!
freecar said:
OP, the bulb will noticeably dim as it diminishes. My projector gives the warning at aroung 1600 hours, I reset this and it goes for normally at least 500 hours more. My new bulb (installed a week ago) was only installed after two reset cycles on the old one, no noticable dimming either, just gentle phasing between dim and not too dim.
Thanks for the infofreecar said:
I used a bulb element replacement this time, less than half the price of a normal bulb module and takes about five minutes to dismantle the old and reassemble the new!
Interesting - do you have a link?freecar said:
ymwoods said:
headcase said:
When they go pop it has been known for them to shatter and kill the projector.
Wow really!!?? have let all of mine go pop in my projector and it's never done that...maybe its time to follow the instructions then I'm on my third projector and on all of them it wouldn't be possible for a severely blown bulb to "kill the projector"
OP, the bulb will noticably dim as it diminishes. My projector gives the warning at aroung 1600 hours, I reset this and it goes for normally at least 500 hours more. My new bulb (installed a week ago) was onlyinstalled after two reset cycles on the old one, no noticable dimming either, just gentle phasing between dim and not too dim.
I used a bulb element replacement this time, less than half the price of a normal bulb module and takes about five minutes to dismantle the old and reassemble the new!
I guess it depends on the projectors/bulbs... but the majority of the ones we have at work have metal shields built into the bulb to contain a catastrophic failiure..
Having said that.. I do have a budget bulb on my desk which does not have any protection atall... that WOULD make a mess of the colour wheel!
Having said that.. I do have a budget bulb on my desk which does not have any protection atall... that WOULD make a mess of the colour wheel!
HellDiver said:
....The filters clogging up are what usually kill the bulbs in the end.
I read about filters recently and had a look at mine. I don't have any filters! (I did say it was a budget unit)I did partially strip the casing off and hoover it out and the automatic fan runs much quieter now (goes to higher speed less often) so hopefully I have improved the cooling. I think I will leave the lamp in place until the picture deteriorates.
Silver Smudger said:
freecar said:
OP, the bulb will noticeably dim as it diminishes. My projector gives the warning at aroung 1600 hours, I reset this and it goes for normally at least 500 hours more. My new bulb (installed a week ago) was only installed after two reset cycles on the old one, no noticable dimming either, just gentle phasing between dim and not too dim.
Thanks for the infofreecar said:
I used a bulb element replacement this time, less than half the price of a normal bulb module and takes about five minutes to dismantle the old and reassemble the new!
Interesting - do you have a link?If you buy a replacement lamp, then it's a good idea to install it straight away and run it for a couple of weeks. The reason being that the warranty on a new lamp is often only 90 days from date of purcahse. If you buy it and then don't install it the warranty has expired before you've used it and you do occasionally get a duff one.
I always use a UPS with my projector to protect the lamp incase of a power cut.
I always use a UPS with my projector to protect the lamp incase of a power cut.
headcase said:
I didnt realise you could just change the element, arnt they vacume sealed?
Its also worth mentioning that the reflector that is within the glass part of the bulb tarneshes, with a new one the reflector is alot brighter.
Nope, not sealed in any way! Not that made me nervous, much! I just had to remove a couple of clips, pull out a thick glass lens and remove the old element (element consists of reflector, element and wiring to the plug) and install the new one, replacing the other bits as I went.Its also worth mentioning that the reflector that is within the glass part of the bulb tarneshes, with a new one the reflector is alot brighter.
I hope the new one works as it'll be out of it's warranty by now...
I ended up changing mine on my JVC HD350 after 700 hours as it was starting to get a bit too dim (I measure at the screen with a cheap light meter which confirmed the drop). The new one is much brighter of course, but also has a lot more red in it, so I could recalibrate to get to 6500K (measured) with much less dropping on the green and blue channels, which helps keep the on/off contrast as high as possible. My screen is only a 1.3 gain, but 2.8 metres wide so needs a decent lamp even with an anamorphic lens.
I ended up changing mine on my JVC HD350 after 700 hours as it was starting to get a bit too dim (I measure at the screen with a cheap light meter which confirmed the drop). The new one is much brighter of course, but also has a lot more red in it, so I could recalibrate to get to 6500K (measured) with much less dropping on the green and blue channels, which helps keep the on/off contrast as high as possible. My screen is only a 1.3 gain, but 2.8 metres wide so needs a decent lamp even with an anamorphic lens.
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