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There's a certain mystery to projector lamps. Read on to find out whey they are so expensive (and some other info!)

 What different types of lamps are there?

Most LCD projectors use a metal halide source, which offers a very white light. Older models tended to use halogen lamps - this type of light source has a yellower light. Although halogen lamps are less expensive, they have a much shorter life expectation.

Philips manufactures a special type of metal halide lamp, known as UHP (Ultra High Performance). UHP lamps require lower wattage for equivalent brightness, which results in a longer lamp life. The lower wattage required by UHP lamps has other benefits. They allow for smaller and lighter projectors, because the power supply is smaller and lighter. They are also cooler running, quieter, and less expensive-to-operate, because of the lower wattage.

 Why are projector lamps so expensive?

If you think the cost of a projector lamp is comparable to a standard 60-watt lightbulb, think again. Projector lamps are relatively expensive, ranging from £120 for low lumen projectors, to over £350 for high lumen projectors. The average projector lamp cost is £250. There are good reasons that the price is what it is. Projector lamps are highly sophisticated instruments that produce amazing brightness. In addition, the assembly process is complicated and supply is somewhat limited - with a few models being on backorder for several months.

Consider purchasing a spare projector bulb when you buy a projector. That way, you will have a spare in case of emergencies, and you can get a good discount on the lamp by purchasing at the same time as the projector.

 How many hours will my projector lamp work?

Just like any light bulb you would use for another purpose, projector bulbs have an expected operating time, called lamp life. This value is expressed in number of hours - typically around 2000 hours. Newer models are achieving 4000+ hours of lamp life. With metal halide, total lamp life is not a very useful measurement, they typically do not burn out, but gradually grow dimmer. The lamp will continue to function long after they're so dim you won't want to use them. So manufacturers' offer a peak rating—and peak lamp life is the time the lamp will last at 80 - 90% of total brightness. The lamp's success rate is based on a bell curve, so that a majority of (but not all) lamps will meet the lamp life hours specified. Some lamps will fail sooner and this is part of the acceptable operating range of the rating.

For projectors that are used under normal operating conditions (no more than three to five hours per day in a clean, relatively dust-free environment) the lamp will have the greatest likelihood of lasting through its entire rated lamp life. Projectors that are used more often or are exposed to environmental contaminants are more likely to show a decrease in lamp life. Projectors that are operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week are at the highest likelihood of lamp failure before the end of the rated hours.

 The projector image seems dimmer than usual - what does this mean?

It may be time to replace your projector lamp. The brightness of metal halide lamps decreases during lamp life. With metal halide (high pressure mercury) lamps, you'll notice a dimming of the image brightness as the lamp loses power. Some projectors allow you to check the number of hours your lamp has been used through the built-in menu system. Check your user guide for information about this feature.

Do not allow the projector to become overheated. The number one cause of lamp failure is excessive heat. Follow the instructions in the user manual for powering down the projector to ensure that the projector has had an adequate cool-down period.

Operate your projector in a clean, relatively dust-free environment. Clean air filters regularly.

Utilize the "economy mode" if it is available with your projector model.

 How can I tell how many hours a lamp has been used for?

Almost all projectors have a built-in lamp hour counter that starts at zero when new, and should be reset once you change the projector lamp. You should be able to find the total projector lamp hours used within the menu system of your projector. Consult your users’ manual for instructions on how to check projector lamp hours on your model of projector.

 What warranty do lamps have?

Projector lamp warranties can vary between manufacturers so consult your users’ manual or manufacturer’s warranty information. The typical projector lamp warranty is 60 or 90 days from receipt of projector.

 Allow the projector lamp to cool

What is the most common reason for projector bulbs with shortened lives? Not allowing the projector bulbs to cool. Most projectors have a feature where they power down themselves, just make sure that you don’t move the projector while it is in this mode. Some older model projectors may also feature a hard on/off switch as well as a projector lamp on/off switch. For those, turn the projector lamp off first and after it powers down, turn the projector off.

 Clean the projector filter

A dirty projector filter will cause it to run hotter and might cause the projector bulb to burn out prematurely. Therefore, we recommend cleaning the projector filter once a quarter with a can of compressed air. If your environment is smoke-filled or dusty, you may need to clean the projector filter monthly.
The result of cleaning your projector filter regularly may result in additional months of use from your same projector bulb.

 Use the projector in Eco-mode

Many digital projectors offer what is called Economy Mode or Eco-Mode. This is a setting that uses less brightness from the projector lamp, yet will make the projector lamp last longer. An example of this projector Eco-Mode is if you have a projector with 2000 lumens of brightness, its lamp hour rating might be 2000 hours. If you put the projector in Economy Mode, the brightness might go down to around 1600 lumens of brightness, but the projector lamp may last 3000 hours. If you go back and forth from the two brightness options, then your lamp hours would be somewhere between 2000 and 3000. A good rule of thumb to save lamp hours is not to use more brightness than you need in any given situation. By sacrificing a little brightness from the multimedia projector, you can add many hours to the life of your projector lamp.

 Don´t move your projector

While the projector lamp is still on (even while it is powering down), the lamp is very sensitive to movement. Moving the projector while the projector lamp is still on could shorten the lamp life, or worse, it could cause the projector lamp to burst.

 Give your projector "breathing room"

Pay attention to where the fan exhaust is on your DLP or LCD projector. All of the heat from the projector lamp must be dispersed away from the projector and exits at the fan exhaust. Make sure that this projector fan exhaust is two to three feet away from a wall or any solid object that could block it. Without “breathing” properly, the projector lamp will be too hot and could burn out much sooner.

 Don´t shake your projector

Be careful not to shake, jostle, bump or move your multimedia projector quickly, especially when the projector is on. A multimedia projector’s electronics are sensitive to these types of movements.

 Changing the projector lamp

For most projectors, installing a projector lamp is simple and usually only involves the turning of a few screws. However, keep in mind that the projector lamp housing and glass are very fragile, so you should consult your owners’ manual or the instructions that came with the projector lamp, before you attempt to install the lamp yourself.

The most important precaution to note is when handling the projector lamp, NEVER touch the glass housing on the lamp. Oils from your fingers can cause the projector bulb to burn out or even burst prematurely. Handle the projector bulb carefully using the metal housing, and your lamp should last thousands of hours.

 Avoid hazardous climates

The most hazardous climate to a projector lamp is extreme cold in the wintertime. If you leave a data/video projector in your car when it’s 40 degrees or below, the data/video projector lamp will have a tendency to explode if you turn the projector on immediately. You must allow the data/video projector to warm to room temperature before turning on the projector to avoid the dangerous scenario of an exploding projector lamp. Most any electronics can also be damaged when left in a car on a hot summers day. Without air conditioning, a car can reach temperatures hot enough to fry an egg – or a projector. Make sure that your projector is always in a room temperature environment.