Replacement Projector Lamps / Projector Bulbs

Projector bulbs, usually called projector lamps, are one of the few user replaceable projector parts. Unlike a car headlight or standard light bulb, a projector replacement lamp module varies by model. With metal halide lamps, you’ll notice a dimming of the image brightness as the lamp loses power.  Projector bulbs typically last about 2,000 hours. Some of the newer projectors offer extended lamp life of 3,000 hours, and a few are up to even as much as 5,000 hours. Keep in mind however that some projector bulbs won’t make it all the way to their estimated life spans. If you operate your projector in a warm environment that is not adequately ventilated, or at higher elevations, this can reduce lamp life. Also, failing to keep the air filter clean may reduce lamp life as well. And some lamps will just fail sooner than others–estimating average lamp life is not an exact science. The main causes of premature lamp failure are excessive heat and inadquate ventilation.  Therefore, we recommend the following: 1. Do not unplug your projector from the wall in order to turn it off.  Use the remote or keypad on top of the projector to turn off the unit.  Let the projector cool down and shut itself off before unplugging and packing up your projector.  2. Clean the air filters on a regular basis.  Clean air filters allow the projector to maintain a constant flow of air circulating through the unit and keeps the lamp from overheating. 3. Allow the projector to have adequate air flow.  If the projejector is stored on a small enclosed shelf the air flow will be restricted and heat will build up.  Allow a minimum of 2 feet on the top and sides of the projector so that air flow can be maintained.

Things to consider before buying a projector

1. Resolution - What is the main use for the projector? 

If is to show powerpoint presentations for a business, school or church etc. you will typically go with XGA resolution.  This is a 4:3 format you see on most computer monitors.  If you are on a tight budget you can save $100 or so by downgrading to SVGA resolution but in my opinion the loss in image quality is not worth the savings.  Additionally, you can also upgrade to a higher resolution model (SXGA or WXGA) if your presentations contain highly detailed graphics and or wide format images. 

If the projector is going to be used for movies and home theater applications then you would typically go with a wide screen format projector (i.e. 16:9 ratio). Note: there are different levels of wide screen format projectors - Low End (854 x 480 pixels), Mid Level (1280 x 720 pixels), High End (1920 x 1080 pixels). The more pixels the better the image and higher the cost.

2. Brightness (measured in lumens) - Again, what is the main use for the projector?

If is to show powerpoint presentations for a business, school or church etc. you need a bright projector.  A standard classroom or conference room with some ambient light would need 2000 to 4000 lumens.  A church or large auditorium typically needs 5000 or more lumens.

If your projector is for a dedicated home theater that has limited or no ambient lights 1000 to 1500 lumens is typically sufficient.

3. Contrast Ratio - The difference in light intensity between the brightest white and the darkest black. A higher the contrast ratio is better than a lower one.

 Medium Contrast (400:1 to 1000:1)

 

 

 

 

High Contrast (2000:1 and up)

 

 

 

 

4. Inputs - the connections on projector that enable you to hook it up to other types of equipment (i.e. DVD player, Computer)

If you are doing powerpoint presentations you will need a VGA connection. This is standard on almost all projectors that are not specifically geared towards home theaters. 

 

 

 

If you are buying a projector for a home theater you will want to get a projector that has digital video inputs (i.e. HDMI or DVI).  These inputs will enable you to watch High Definition Television and DVD’s.

 

5. Weight - If you plan on taking your projector on the road for mobile presentations you may want to consider a model with a small footprint.  Typically, 3-6 pound projectors are preferred.

6. Noise (measured in dB’s). 

0 dB is the threshold of hearing

10 dB is barely audible

20-30 dB is a soft whisper (dB levels in this category are usually found on home theater projectors so that projector noise does not interfere with movie experience)

30-40 dB is a whisper or the hum of a refrigerator (most business projectors fall in this range)

40-60 dB is the noise level of rainfall or a normal conversation (some very small projectors and some very large projectors have dB’s in this category, this is due to the fan noise required to keep the unit cool)

 

7. Warranty - projector warranties typically range from 1 to 3 years.  While it is rare that warranty service is needed…it does happen.  If you are comparing models with similar specs the projector warranty should be a factor in your final decision.

8. Replacement lamp price.  Most replacement bulbs are estimated to last 1500 - 3000 hours (sometimes more…sometimes less).  That means that depending upon how much you use your projector you will periodically have to spend ($200-$500) on a new lamp. Once again, when comparing models with similar specs it should be a factor in your final decision.

Da-Lite Projection Screen Fabrics

One of the most versatile screen surfaces and a good choice for situations when presentation material is being projected and ambient light is controllable. Its surface evenly distributes light over a wide viewing area. Colors remain bright and life-like, with no shifts in hue. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.

Viewing Angle: 60°
Gain: 1.0

Designed for moderate output DLP and LCD projectors. This screen surface is a great choice when video images are the main source of information being projected and where ambient light is moderately controlled. With its specially designed gray base material and reflective top surface, this screen material is able to provide very good black levels without sacrificing the white level output. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.

Viewing Angle: 50°
Gain: 1.1

This screen surface is specially designed with a reflective coating, which provides an increased amount of brightness with a moderately reduced viewing angle. The increased gain of this surface makes it suitable for environments where ambient lighting is uncontrollable and a projector with moderate light output is utilized. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.

Viewing Angle: 35°
Gain: 1.5

A uniquely designed screen surface with a specifically designed silver finish. This surface is perfect for situations where a silver surface is necessary for a polarized 3-D projection. The matte finish of this surface successfully rejects ambient light. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.

Viewing Angle: 30°
Gain: 1.3

A technological breakthrough, providing the reflectivity and optical characteristics of a traditional glass beaded surface with the ability to clean the surface when necessary. Its smooth textured surface provides the highest gain of all front projection screen surfaces with no resolution loss. The moderate viewing angle and its ability to reflect light back along the projection axis make this surface the best choice for situations where there is a moderate amount of ambient light and the projector is placed on a table-top or in the same horizontal viewing plane as the audience. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.

Viewing Angle: 30°
Gain: 2.8

A screen surface with a smooth, white vinyl finish for precise image reproduction that provides an exceptionally wide viewing angle and no resolution loss. It is a highly flexible fabric that may be folded or rolled. Its versatility makes it a great choice for situations with good control over ambient light and where an exceptionally wide viewing angle is necessary. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.

Viewing Angle: 60°
Gain: 1.0

A unique non-supported vinyl fabric that offers a bright, uniform image with no color shift at any viewing angle. This surface is designed to provide a higher amount of brightness for lower output projector types such as CRT. Its increased reflectivity will help enhance the image brightness in situations where a low level of ambient light is present. This surface is a good choice when producing video images. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.

Viewing Angle: 45°
Gain: 1.3

A non-supported vinyl fabric, offering a higher degree of reflectivity and brilliance without loss of image quality or resolution. This surface is a good choice when producing video images with a lower output projector and where there is a high amount of ambient light present. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.

Viewing Angle: 40°
Gain: 1.5

Designed for applications where a more realistic soundstage is desired, this fabric allows for the installation of speakers to be placed behind the surface. With virtually no sound loss and good image quality, this fabric provides the same optical characteristics as the Da-Mat surface with specially designed perforations to allow sound to pass through the screen material. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.

Viewing Angle: 50°
Gain: 1.0

With a special gray surface, this screen material is designed for use with today’s high output LCD, DLP and D-ILA projectors. By lowering the black levels of the projected video image, this surface creates a more film-like image and is a good choice when video is the main source of projected information. This screen surface is best used when there is good control of ambient lighting and a moderately wide viewing angle is desired. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.

Viewing Angle: 45°
Gain: 0.8

Designed for today’s moderate output DLP and LCD projectors, this screen surface is a great choice when video images are the main source of information being projected and where ambient lighting is moderately controlled. With its specially designed gray base surface and a reflective top surface, this screen material is able to provide very good black levels without sacrificing the white level output. With its enhanced black levels and brilliant white levels, this screen surface provides deep life-like colors and greater detail and sharpness to the image. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.

Viewing Angle: 50°
Gain: 1.1

With the same optical characteristics as the High Contrast Da-Mat material, this surface is designed to provide the viewer with a more realistic soundstage by placing speakers behind the screen and allowing the sound to be transmitted through the material. This screen surface is best used when there is good control of ambient lighting and a moderately wide viewing angle is desired. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.

Viewing Angle: 45°
Gain: 0.8

With the same optical characteristics as High Contrast Cinema Vision, this surface is perforated to allow placement of a center channel speaker behind the screen surface while allowing the sound to transmit through the material. Ideal for use in environments with moderate control of ambient light. Screen surface can be cleaned with a mild soap and water solution. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.

Viewing Angle: 50°
Gain: 1.1

This screen surface is uniquely designed with a specially formulated silver finish. This surface is perfect for situations where a silver finish is necessary for polarized 3-D projection. The silver finish of this surface successfully rejects ambient light. It is a highly flexible fabric that must be tensioned. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.

Viewing Angle: 30°
Gain: 1.5

Buyer’s Remorse. What to know and what to consider.

Buyer’s remorse… how do we fight it? Well when it comes to projectors, people are relatively confident in their purchase in the process of buying. But it could be for different reasons. Some people say that,” Instant gratification is key,” and once someone is working up the excitement of buying a projector, they end up forgetting some key aspects that could spell disastrous buyer’s remorse in the future. This is evident with anything you buy obviously, however setting up a home theater isn’t always the easiest of tasks, and once you are ready to get a projector system; whether it is the first time you are considering getting a projection system, or are upgrading your current one, there are many factors that effect your home theater situation.

With the advent of Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, and the already widespread confusion of which to go with, people sometimes forget about taking those two formats into consideration. Back in 1993 MultiMedia Compact Disc and Super Density Disc were in the run to be successors of VHS, and after Sony and Philips had abandoned their MultiMedia Compact Disc for Super Density Disk, “DVD” had been unofficially named in 1995. Now that we have been using DVDs for almost a decade, and VHS being in circulation for about a decade as well (since the ’80s), we are once again in the middle of a format “war.”

Some of you might say,” DVD is not going to die off any time soon, and I already have a large DVD selection so why should I switch to HD-DVD or Blu-Ray? Well, when DVD came out, people were unable to use their VHS movies in DVD players or in one unit that can play both unless you spent more than a thousand dollars. But since we are still using discs for media, the story is different now with the High Def formats. However, unlike DVDs where practicality and enormous differences made the switch from VHS easier to decide upon, the difference with 1080p projectors and moving to a HD movie format has to be seen to be believed. Where the switch from VHS to DVD was features and practicality, the switch from DVD to HD is quality of material. Yes there are new interactive features, and a couple of new additions to the HD formats, but the jump isn’t as significant on the features front. It’s undeniable that either Blu-Ray or HD-DVD will become the standard format in the near future, but the only thing left to decide is, “When should I move to it?”

Well, for most people the logical answer would be to wait until there is only one format. However, if you’re in the market now for a projector; either because your old one has failed, the replacement bulb has become to expensive or unavailable or are considering upgrading their current unit, it would be a good time to consider what it is you should go with. With 1080p projectors now slipping slowly under $2000, it is becoming more feasible to own a 1080p projector. Some may ask why you “need” such a projector. I’m sure we’re all aware that you don’t “need” it. But with HD players becoming cheaper all the time, I would say personally that it is a pretty good time to start “future-proofing” your home cinema experience.

Now, on which format to decide on, that’s a different story…