Want to check your projector’s lamp life? The lifespan of your projector depends upon the quality of the projector or the lamp because different projectors are available in the market and each one of them offers a different longevity level. Projector lamps are somewhat similar to ordinary bulbs in terms of their functioning i.e. just like bulbs, they also start to dim about half the percentage of their real radiance before they are about to die in the near future. This means that when the projector lamp is dimmed to 50% then it is time to get yourself prepared because the lamp is soon going to die. This entire phenomenon is termed as ‘lamp life’. Apart from that, the lamp of the projector can easily be removed and replaced with a new one whenever you want.
How to Check Projector Lamp Life
Given below are some of the ways that will help you in determining the lifespan of the projector’s lamp:
1. Physical Inspection of the Lamp
This is quite a simple way to determine how long your projector’s lamp is going to survive. This method is simply based on the fact that the more you have been using the projector, the sooner the lamp will become dim. You can outwardly inspect whether the lamp is about to burn out or can it be used any further. This will save you from facing any problems while you are giving a presentation or watching a movie because you already had dealt with the issue.
2. Basic Life Span
Different lamps have different life spans which means that a lamp’s half-life may be greater than the other lamp’s full life. For example, if we talk about halogen lamps then we can say that their full life is approximately 3000 or 5000 but on the contrary, LED lamps have a half-life of about 30000. This means that LED lamps have a greater capacity because they can last for about 60000 hours which is amazing. Apart from that, even the lowest quality lamp has the ability to survive for about 1000 to 2000 hours and by that we mean to say that it can survive for almost about three months even if being used 24/7, which does not sound that bad.
3. Lamp Hours on Display
So, there is another very simple way to come across the number of hours utilized in the lamp usage. In this method, all you need is to turn on your projector and then simply go to the settings option where you will come across another option of ‘lamp hours’ and you just need to click on that. All the information will be displayed right in front of you. However, one thing must be kept in mind that when you turn on your projector, you must give it some time to get prepared, and by that we mean to say that let the projector be completely functional and give it some time to warm up.
4. Quality of the Picture
The life of the lamp can also be determined by the quality of the picture displayed by the projector. You can easily come to know if the lamp is about to die when the image starts to appear a bit blurry with a poor contrast effect. The fading of the color composition can tell you that it is time to replace the lamp of your projector with a new one. One way to check whether the colors have actually changed or not is to play a movie with the best graphics and color scheme that you have already watched earlier. So that you will clearly be able to mark the difference when you first saw it on your projector versus now.
5. Protect your Projector
In order to increase the longevity of your projector and its lamp, protect it from overheating, dust, and various other external factors. The life span of your projector’s lamp can simply be enhanced by taking care of this machine. You need to make your projector dirt-free by cleaning the filters after approximately three months or so. Apart from that, you can also increase the life of your projector’s lamp by lowering the brightness and this can be done with an option available on your projector, known as ‘economy mode.’ Plus, one other thing must be kept in mind and that is, do not forget to switch off the projector’s fan when the project is not being used. Give it some time to rest.
6. Lamp’s Technology
This is another factor that may help you in figuring out the lifespan of your projector’s lamp. Different lamps are constructed upon various technologies, meant for different purposes. For instance, P-VIP-based lamps are compatible specifically with the video projector, xenon arc-based lamps are quite common in cinemas and theatres that are based on advanced technology that provides the audience with the best quality pictures.
Apart from that, NSH technology lamps are usually used in homes and in meetings and their lifespan is almost about 6000 hours. Other than that, there is another kind of projector lamp that is commonly known as ultra-high-performance projector lamp, having a lifespan of about 10000 hours which is quite durable and long-lasting.
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Conclusion
So, these are some of the points related to the lifespan of your projector and you can simply check the lamp by being mindful of these factors. Apart from all this, you can also enhance the life of your projector’s lamp by placing it in a clean environment that is free of dust and other particles. Moreover, you must not run your projector continuously for more than three hours because it may burn it out too soon.
Other than that, do not turn on and off your projector at short intervals because it also damages the device. If you have to use the projector after some time then no need to turn it off, just let it be. Furthermore, the bulb must be handled with extra care because the filament of the bulb is extremely delicate, and poor handling may lead to damage. Lastly, do not haste in turning off the switch. Let the projector’s temperature fall before switching it off and it does not even take much time. So, these little tips can make a lot of difference, if implemented.