How to Check Projector Lamps

A projector's vibrant lamp, its light bulb, does not last forever and eventually needs to be replaced. Projector manufacturers simplify this by offering people two ways to check on the lamp: by checking the lamp's hours and life in the projector's menu or by physically inspecting the lamp to check for a burnout.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Screwdriver (Phillips head)

Checking Lamp Life

1. Plug your projector into a power outlet and turn it on. Give the projector a few seconds to warm up.

2. Press your projector's "Menu" to launch the on-screen menu. Navigate to the "Setup" or "Options" heading.

3. Navigate through the menu and select "Lamp Life" or "Lamp Hours" to view a summary of the hours left on your bulb or the hours it has been on.

Physicallly Checking the Lamp

4. Turn your projector off and place it on a soft surface, such as a bed or couch. Allow the projector to cool for about half an hour before opening the lamp cover.

5. Remove the projector's lamp cover. The lamp cover can be located by finding its caution sticker (where it warns you to allow the projector to cool before opening the lamp cover). Remove the screws securing the lamp cover to the rest of the projector.

6. Set the screws aside and remove the lamp cover. Remove the screws securing the lamp to the projector; there will be two to four screws along the sides of the lamp. Slowly remove the lamp from the projector and inspect it for burn damage.

References

• http://www.projectorcentral.com

Resources

• Projector Lamps - FAQ