Specialty and Architectural Lighting — Projector Lamps

While projector lamp modules may fit only one or a limited number of projectors, the bulb inside of the cage may fit dozens or hundreds of projectors from a wide range of manufacturers. This makes bare projector bulbs a popular and versatile product. While it's far easier to replace the entire projector lamp module, bare bulbs are often significantly less expensive. The challenge with buying projector lamps - in housing or bare bulbs - is how...

Learn five signs that it's time to replace your projector lamp. The last thing anyone wants is to be caught with a burnt-out bulb at exactly the wrong time. There are several ways to determine if your projector bulb is reaching the end of its life or is about to fail completely.

Extending lamp life by smart operator use of features provided in the projector settings, can reduce the frequency of buying replacement lamps  - saving on both the purchase price of the new lamp and the staff time and hassle factor of replacement. The major lamp manufacturers - Philips, Osram, Ushio, Panasonic, Iwasaki, Phoenix - have improved the lamp technology such that new lamps can now deliver 4000 hours or more even when operated at full power 100% of the time....

Projector replacement lamp marketing is a circus of confusion for the customer. Sellers of projector lamps stretch the limits of language to present their lamps in the best possible light. "Genuine original lamp" "High quality lamp" "Compatible replacement lamp" "Original lamp inside" "OEM compatible" "High quality bulb inside" "Made from original parts" "OEM lamp" "OEM lamp module" "Factory original module" Each of these phrases may accurately describe what the customer is buying. The problem for...

Ultra-high-performance projection lamps are more than just another component in today’s LCD / DLP digital projector universe. These high pressure lamps, the original invented by Philips in 1994, are the critical factor in the quality of image projected for the viewer. Whether it’s video or data, without a quality lamp, images intended to teach, sell or motivate will fall short - no matter how many bells and whistles come with the projector. Projector manufacturers work...

The language being used to describe the replacement light source for digital projectors is a case study in sales talk often meant to confuse rather than clarify. Here is an example from the web site of a reseller: “We carry 4 versions of the Optoma EW531 Lamp. There are 3 OEM versions: the OEM lamp directly from the bulb manufacturer of the original lamp included with this projector, the same OEM lamp sold by Optoma,...

The UHP lamp (ultra high pressure lamp, usually mercury arc) refers to projector lamps with an internal pressure of over 3000 lbs per square inch. The acronym also stands for ultra high performance. Originally developed by Philips in 1995, it is a common light source for digital data front projection, video front projectors and rear projection televisions because it has very high light output available for the small environments of micro display projectors. The main...

With a glut of non-original lamp modules in the projector replacement lamp market, buyers of these lamps should be aware of potential diminished projector performance issues that may result. According to Philips Lighting, manufacturer of UHP projector lamps, “lamps that are originally installed in a projector are based on co-development activities between the lamp/driver manufacturer and the projector manufacturer”. This co-development helps ensure optimal lamp ignition and brightness performance as well as precisely designed cooling...

All projector manufacturers work with a select group of lamp manufacturers (Philips, Osram, Ushio, Panasonic, Phoenix) who build the lamps installed in new projectors. Each lamp comes from the manufacturer with a “rated lamp life”, usually between 1500 and 3000 hours. While far from the most important factor in selecting a projector, lamp life should at least be understood, because replacement lamp costs can add up. While the most obvious definition of “lamp life” is...

When replacing a projector lamp, we've recommended for years that you don't touch the bulb with your fingers. This is because the oil from your skin can alter the light output or compromise the life of the bulb inside the cage. But let's take a closer look at that recommendation. Should you really never touch a projector lamp? It's important to differentiate the lamp module, usually made of plastic or metal, from the bare bulb....