How To Take Care Of Your Projectors Lamps?

Multimedia projector lamps are complex, fragile and expensive high-tech devices. A better understanding of their proper care and use is important to extend their life and maximize your investment.

Below is a list of some of the things you should do to get the best use from your lamp:

• Always switch off the projector using the remote control and not by disconnecting the power. The projector will invariably go into a cool down mode where the image is turned off and the fan accelerates to cool the lamp in a controlled manner.
• The temperature of an operating lamp is many thousands of degrees, so if you disconnect the power to the projector, prior to the above process, the glass in the lamp will cool unevenly and will result in stress fracture, causing early lamp failure.
• It is a good practice, which once you turn on your projector, wait at least five minutes before turning it off to allow the fan to properly cool the unit.
• Do not move your projector until the lamp has cooled (about five minutes), because lamp failure can also be due to mechanical shock and vibration. Some of the later projection models support fast cool down where the projector is ready to be moved in a shorter time period.
• Do not obstruct the air intake or exhaust vent. Paper should not be placed on top of a projector, or where vents are located, as blocked filters will cause the lamp to overheat. Keep the exhaust vent at least two feet from any object.
• If the projector is built into a compartment, wall, ceiling or shelf mount, the minimum distance requirement (usually at least two feet) stated in your owner’s manual must be maintained.
• Clean the projector’s air intake filter every three to six months, or more frequently based on your operating environment. If you are not comfortable with doing this it would be advisable to employ a recommended company to do this for you - it will be a lot cheaper than having to replace the whole unit too prematurely.