Tips to Keep Your DLP or LCD Projector Lamp Shining Brightly

Today’s projectors are built to handle the demands of a busy office, political campaign, or school classroom. But that doesn’t make them invincible. The most vulnerable part of the whole apparatus, and usually the first to go out, is the lamp. And, as anyone who’s ever owned a projector can tell you, a replacement lamp is never cheap.

image:projectorscreen.com

Are there any specific measures you can take to extend the life of your projector’s lamp? Each brand will have its own tips and advice included with its user’s guide. But there are some generic tips that can be applied to just about any projection system that will help squeeze a few more hours out of the life of that bulb.

Here are our suggestions, in no particular order:

1. Test the lamp as soon as you get it. A new unit should be run for about 20 hours during the first couple of weeks. If your lamp is a lemon, it will probably fail within that time. Most lamp warranties give you an average of 90 days to report any issues.

2. Keep the vents and air filters clear. All projectors don’t have air filters. If yours does, make sure you keep it clean. Clean the dust filter every three to six months. Clogged vents or filters will cause overheating in the lamp and total failure.

3. Don’t block the vents. The lamp needs circulating air. Don’t obstruct the intake or exhaust vents.

4. Pick your locations wisely. Be mindful of the environment in which you plan to operate your projector. Extreme humidity, temperature, and dust can all shorten the life of your lamp.

5. Let the lamp cool off before unplugging it. Most projectors have fans that continue to run after the projector is shut off. These fans ensure even cooling inside the projector to decrease the chance of lamp failure. Don’t unplug the projector until the lamp is finished cooling.

6. Don’t move the projector until it is cooled. A hot lamp is a fragile lamp. Let the lamp cool completely before moving it. The filaments inside the lamp are extremely sensitive and easily damaged.

7. Keep the on/off cycles to a minimum. Every time you turn the projector on, the sudden influx of power places stress on the lamp filaments. Don’t turn it on and off multiple times in a day.

8. Give it an hour after cooling before turning it on again. If you use your projector for more than 3 hours, then shut it down, and wait at least an hour before you turn it back on again. Turning it back on sooner will send more voltage during the lamp heat-up cycle than the still warm lamp can handle. This will cut a nice chunk of time off you lamp’s life.

9. Wear gloves to handle the lamp. Oils and dirt deposits from hands and fingers can cause “hot spots” on the lamp. These can cause temperature gradient stresses that can lead to premature lamp failure.

10. Cut to “low lamp” mode when possible. Use the “low lamp” or “economy power mode” whenever you can.

About ProjectorScreen.com

With projector screens available in all types and formats, from pull-up screens to tripod screens, ProjectorScreen.com is your one-stop shop for all the fixin’s for a great home theater, classroom, or presentation space. The team at ProjectorScreen.com is comprised of audio visual industry veterans who have pioneered the space of eCommerce projector screen sales over the past 10 years. Call ProjectorScreen.com today at (888) 392-4814 or visit them online at projectorscreen.com. 

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For my late entry Monday Mellow Yellows this week, here are decorative tiles at a restaurant that installed on a part of walls and floors. 

A closer look of decorative wall tiles

 

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Dandelion seeds in black and white. They are ready to fly and spread.

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Why Should You Call a Professional Plumber?

A professional residential plumber can help you with many different issues. You may need to call them if your toilets or drains become clogs. A professional can also assist you with repairing water heaters and faucets. A backflow certified plumbing specialist can test your sprinkler system and water system, and this type of specialist can install a backflow prevention assembly. There are many reasons why you should skip the amateur plumbing repair and call in experts to help you. 

image:francoamericanplumbing.com

Time
If you try to repair plumbing issues yourself, it will take much longer than having a professional do it. Instead of waiting until your plumbing problems get worse, a plumbing company can resolve your problems quickly and easily.

Professional Tools
You may not have the right tools at your home to fix your plumbing problems yourself. You can choose to go out and buy them, or you can call a qualified company that already has them. A professional company will use the most modern tools and technology to make sure that your home plumbing needs are fixed properly.

Knowledgeable Plumbers
Knowledgeable plumbers will be able to find the cause of your plumbing problem. They will be able to easily discover what is wrong and fix it for you. Instead of spending extra money trying to fix problems that may not need to be fixed, experts can come in and repair your plumbing issue correctly the first time.

Prevent Mold
If your are dealing with water leaks or toilet overflow problems, it is is important to get assistance as fast as possible. If you do not fix your plumbing issues fast enough secondary problems can arise. You can end up having mold and mildew in your home instead of just a leaky faucet. Professionals can prevent many problems from ever starting.

If you are interested in fast repairs, a professional plumber is going to be a smart choice. They can work on minor and major problems. By choosing to have professionals assist you, you can be confident that your plumbing work will be done right. Experts have their own insurance, so you feel comfortable allowing them into your home. A professional plumbing repair company can offer you peace of mind.