Replacement Projector Lamps / Projector Bulbs

January 14, 2008 on 10:01 pm | In 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.