Getting the Most out of your Projector Lamp
Welcome to the amateur section! This article is intended for first time projector owners that don’t have all the know-how of the seasoned home theater enthusiast. It’s my intention to tell you how to keep your projector lamp working for the greatest amount of runtime with a few basic tips. Feedback is appreciated from anyone out there who may know more – this page is a discussion, not dogma.
First off, keep in mind that your projector is a very sophisticated piece of engineering and like all electronics can be sensitive to static shock, humidity, and other such environmental conditions. Electronics typically do poorly in extreme environmental conditions such as:
-Extreme (high/low) temperatures
- High Humidity
-Dusty/Sandy/Smoky locations
-Poorly ventilated areas
-Any combination of the above conditions
These are only a few examples, but they cover the main risks. The best bet is to avoid them where possible, but if that isn’t possible then be aware that there may be a loss of lamp (or even projector) function.
As for what can be done about it…there’s plenty and it doesn’t even involve any heavy lifting!
-DON’T turn the projector on and off like it’s a rear projection television. Every single time you turn the projector on, it puts a LOT of strain on the projector bulb. If you put enough stress on the lamp, it can either prematurely burn out, or in a worst case scenario even explode! Projector lamps are expensive and, for some models, hard to locate.
-Keep the air filter in your projector clean and replace it when necessary. The owner’s manual will most likely have a section on how to do this, and failing that then you can call the projector manufacturer (99% of them list a 1-800 number in the manual for customer support; failing that, check out the internet) to find out what needs to be done.
- Don’t run the projector for extended amounts of time. This puts strain on the projector lamp and other components.
-Don’t smoke in the same room as the projector. This is a biggie – cigarette/cigar/pipe smoke can ruin the moving parts in a projector, such as the cooling fans. The same goes for dust, grit, and sand – if you know that the room you plan on projecting in is dirty, clean it a bit before you use it for a home theater.
-This may seem simple, but…run your projector in economy mode. This will use less than the maximum output of the projector lamp to extend it’s operating hours. It may not be worth it all the time – there is some loss in visual quality – but it can save you a lot of money if you are using your projector for things like watching television or business presentations.
Keep in mind that the projection lamp itself shouldn’t need any maintenance. Rather, by keeping the projector in good condition and changing a few viewing habits, you can keep get the most out of your lamp.
It’s also a good idea to know exactly which projection bulb your projector uses. This is a good way to make sure that when it’s time to get a new one, there’s as little confusion as possible. There are many different brands to choose from and some are more expensive than others.
If you feel like I’ve missed anything, please let me know in a response and the I’ll include it in this or another article.
