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Projector (TV) Lamp Life Updated January 2009

How long should a projector (or TV for that matter) lamp last?

The rated hours you see in specifications (i.e. 3000) is an average, it can vary a lot, often towards lesser hours. Manufacturers do not guarantee the rated hours. Unless otherwise written it's safer to assume it's 3-6 months or 500 hours whichever occurs first.

  • If you get a spare lamp remember the warranty starts from the time you purchased it not the time you start using it.
  • Extended projector warranties do not cover "consumables" such as lamps and filters.
  • There are many cases or people going through a lamp per year.
    See bottom of page

ELPLP25 We've added other information you may find useful.

No of movies per week  Lets say 1.5 HRS Each
Lamp Hours  Use "Normal" mode*
Cost of Lamp

 = $ Per Weeks usage

Approx YEARS!
 Depends on several factors*
(C) AIM 2009 - This calculator requires a JavaScript compatible web browser.
We don't guarantee how long any particular model/Lamp will last.

Lamp Life

Power WILL effect the lamp life:

How long your lamp lasts depends on several factors including:-

  • Keeping the fan filter clean
  • Not moving the projector while it's turned on
  • The number of times you turn the projector on and off in a day
  • How much time it's used in "Low Lamp Mode" (more the better)
  • How long you normally use it for (over 4 hours the heat starts to build up)
  • Lamp output falls dramatically towards the end of its life. You may want to replace a lamp after 2,000 hours even though it may run for another 1,000 hours.
    You would do this if unhappy with the the lower brightness level and/or don't have a light controlled room
  • Remember most lamps are warranted for 3 months or 500 hours, some like Sanyo may go to 12 months and have pro-rata options.
  • If you buy a spare lamp, swap to it after your original has done 500HR or within the new lamps warranty period.
    I.E. if you put it in after 2 years and it fails after 1/2 hour it's already out of warranty because of the time that's passed.

    8 A 300 volt power surge can kill your lamp, smaller surges will shorten the life.

    Many homes have safety switches they protect against electrocution, not power surges

MAINS VOLTAGE
Percentage of Light Output
Approx. Hours
(2000HR Lamp)
235
85
3000
240 (Normal)
100
2000
245
115
1300
250
130
600
     

    This table is an approximate guide only.

    Table shows how power surges can effect lamp life, a 300V surge would most lightly kill your lamp..


Organic vs. Inorganic LCD Panels.

Bottom line: Projectors have been using Organic panels for years (i.e. Sanyo Z1 to Z5) and you don't often hear of problems.

It's not a big issue, especially compared to lamps, power supplies, DLP bearings, motherboards.

Some of the newest and yet to be released displays are Organic. |more|


How Noisy is your Fan?

Approximate Sound Levels in Decibels:-

  • Police siren: 118
    Rock band, disco: 115
    Missing muffler: 115
    Hole(s) in muffler: 111
    Tailpipe damage: 109
    Circular saw: 107
    Freight train at 50 feet: 88
    Vacuum cleaner: 74
    Busy street traffic: 70
    Air-conditioning unit: 60
    Interior of a quiet car: 50
    Private office: 41
    Library: 33

Color Temperature.

Colors are produced with differing temperatures the scale is called K or Kelvin.

The range used as the base setting for projectors is often 65,000 Kelvin.

Sunlight K averages:-

Warm

Sunrise of Sunset

2000

One Hour After Sunrise
3500
Early Morning or Late Afternoon
4300
Average Summer Sunlight at Noon
5400
Midsummer Sunlight
5800
Summer Overcast Sky
6000
Daylight Fluorescent Lamp
6300
Average Summer Sunlight
6500

Cool Colours

6500 K, as you can see above is roughly the color of average daylight. For best color accuracy most projectors need to be calibrated to 6500K white point/white balance. (Also known as D65).


Home Cinema
Demo Room

Dispatch/Cinema (Rotation)

Now showing - The latest
Sanyo PLV Z3000 & Z7000 both in stock!
And many others, call

  • More web cameras here so you can see we're really running a business that KEEPS STOCK rather than (as many do) take your money and hope we can get what we said was "In Stock".. |review|

 

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Info with price link on page.. Projectors here

Did we miss one?
  • Check out prices below and please let us know if you find a genuine Aussie & In Stock price cheaper!


We try to offer the lowest genuine price and still provide real support such as colour management, lower running costs and genuine Australian warranties etc. Many prices are not genuine [Examples here] please give us the opportunity to get your business and [let us know] if you find a better deal.

Research Pages

Our cinema room where we do "Real World" testing. See webcam too!

AIM Testing for you!


"If you're serious about home theater you absolutely need this calibration DVD"

HCC reviews the Panasonic AX-100 projector
HCC reviews the Epson EMP-TW700 projector
HCC reviews the SANYO PLV-Z5 projector

3

Did we miss one?

  • Check out prices below and please let us know if you find a genuine Aussie & In Stock price cheaper!

We try to offer the lowest genuine price and still provide real support such as colour management, lower running costs and genuine Australian warranties etc. Many prices are not genuine [Examples here] please give us the opportunity to get your business and [let us know] if you find a better deal.

  • Projector & TV lamps do blow.
  • I have a Toshiba 52HMX85 that I bought 2 years ago for about $3600 (including a useless $500 5 year Futureshop warranty that doesn't cover lamps). I've already replaced the lamp twice and I don't even use the TV alot. Should I try breaking the lamp before the 6 month warranty so I can get a new one? I usually don't do this kind of stuff, but this is pathetic that I have to buy a $200-250 lamp every year. It is a known problem that Toshiba DLP lamps suck. Also, when they give you a new one, do they give you a new warranty? And I've been using "High Bright" mode, how much more lamp life would "Low power" mode give?
  • I called BB yesterday and they had a technician call me. I discovered (to my shock) that the lamps are not covered under the extended warranty and I will have to fork out close to $300 for a new lamp. Service call is 'free' but why do I feel like I'm getting screwed? |link|
  • As expected my lamp needs replacing, and they have advised as it is a "consumable" it is not covered in their 5yr warranty. They will replace this for me but want a whopping £282.90 for parts and labour which seems a bit excessive. I gave the go ahead to do the repair but they will need to order the part. |link|
  • Sony Australia - The cost of replacement lamps is not covered under the Extended Warranty. In the case of LCD Home Cinema Projectors the Extended Warranty expires (PROJECTOR TOO!) after the Extended Warranty period shown above or after 4000 hours of use, whichever occurs first. |link| This means you're limited to 800 hours per year on the top extended warranty!
  • One retailer that I spoke to had the lamp on his go after about 100 hours, and is currently fighting a battle with Benq's Australian distributor to acknowledge that there is a known fault. From memory, the retailer was of the belief that the lamps generally fail prematurely when the projector is mounted upside down on the ceiling.
  • The lamp on my 7 month PE7700 has just gone. I am unsure how many hours are on it but I would have used it less than 10 hours per week. It is ceiling mounted. I did much research before choosing the 7700 over the pana and the then reported lamp difficulties got focus. The fun begins tomorrow.
  • Im beginning to experience severe flicker with my (BenQ) PE7700!
    After about 10 mins of switching the bugger on, the image degrades substantially to the point where it looks like the lamp is about to blow! All this with about 100 hours on the lamp, running the latest .49 firmware. Funny thing, after about 10 mins of the lamp going crazy, it rights itself and works fine! Can anybody confirm if they notice a very fine flicker throughout the operation of their 7700? From day one I noticed a very fine flicker (never noticed it on me old Panny AE100) but just assumed it was part of the spec being at the lower end of the 720p DLP market.
  • HEY PANASONIC.... ARE YOU READING THIS!?THIS IS HOW CUSTOMER SERVICE WORKS WHEN YOU MAKE A MAJOR STUFF UP IN PRODUCTION.
    (Apologies for the shouting folks. Just seeing if this might help them get the message. And apologies for the broken record in almost all my posts these days. The taste is bitter.) |link| For the above few.
  • Panasonic's advertising, retailer's advertising and the numerous print reviews lead to the customer having an expectation that the lamp was rated for 3000 hours of use. Panasonic took no action to inform customers (before they bought the projector) that this figure wasn't correct and that the lamp was not covered by the 2yr warranty. Getting only 600 hours from the lamp meant it was defective. Excluding the lamp from the warranty was unfair. --- The NSW Sheriffs Department have seized goods from Panasonic after they failed to pay, even though they rang me and apologised with shallow promises. A large flatscreen TV has been seized. It will be auctioned on the 4th of the 8th by some auction house in Sydney. -- Apparently i will be reimbursed once these funds have cleared. |link| (We can't confirm this -- AIM)
  • After 1200 hours, the projector developed a dark line covering about 20%of the left side of projector, the company wants $$$ to fix this, since the 1 year warranty was past, AND they will not send me the part to fix it myself Never again will i buy an INFOCUS, and i wont spend hundreds to fix a projector which obviously has a defection. |link|
  • am going on my 4th lamp in 2 years. I was told when the last 1 was replaced back in March that there was a bad batch of lamps out there and that this 1 that he is putting in should last. HA HA !!!! Here we go again. I purchased a 3 year extended warranty from 6th Ave. Electronics, but I am afraid that they will just keep replacing the lamps until the warranty runs out. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME. I should not have to pay about $300 every 7 months to watch TV !!! I am considering contacting the Better Business Bureau about this. |link|
  • We could fill pages with lamp and repair stories but you get the general idea, get a 3 year warranty that includes the lamp if you can. - AIM

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