Quality HDTV capable DLP and LCD/LCOS rear projection prices have dropped considerably in the last few years. Prices have plummeted to well under $2000 for 62 inch sizes with 1920 x 1080 super high resolution. The cost the main internal replacement lamps has recently followed suit. This is a positive development in “light” of the fact that there is a very high probability that you will have to (or want to) replace the projection lamp.

Rear Projection Televisions are not like other televisions that can run maintenance-free for 10 years or more. They need to have their lamps changed on occasion, and most have air filters that need to be cleaned every month or two. Lamps typically last about 8,000 hours on most models high end models, some of the cheaper models last only 1,000-2,000 hours. Newer LED technology based lamps last up to 20,000 hours. Keep in mind however that some lamps won’t make it all the way to their estimated life spans. If you operate your LCD or DLP TV in a warm environment that is not adequately ventilated, or at higher elevations, this can reduce lamp life. Failing to keep the air filter clean may reduce lamp life as well. And some lamps will just fail sooner than others–estimating average lamp life is not an exact science and testing methods vary greatly among manufacturers.

Considering that the average viewer spends four hours per day watching television most lamps in high-end LCD and DLP TV models should last about 5.47 years and the low end models and over 7 years for LED based lamps. However normal DLP televisions could need lamp replacement in as soon as 9 months if you watch a lot of TV. At the end of this article I provide a list of manufactures I have tested and what you can expect as far as lamp life and replacement cost.

How to Get the Most out of Your Lamp:

To extend the lamp life of your rear projection television one recommended action is to change the default color setting (and contrast) you are using to watch TV. Most rear projection televisions are delivered with their color setting on the brightest picture setting, which can reduce the estimated lamp life to less than half. The manufactures set it to the highest contrast and brightness settings because it looks best on the showroom floor of your local electronics store.

Most rear projection televisions come with three presets. For example, the Sony’s LCD rear projection TVs has three presets Vivid, Standard and Pro. Vivid is the preset the KDS-R60XBR1 is set to when first taking it out of the box. The “Vivid” setting will lessen the life of the lamp to approximately 3600 hours because it is the brightest setting. The “Standard” setting will extend to about 5300 hours of lamp life and “Pro” will further extend the lamp life to around 8000 hours. No matter what rear projection TV you own, changing the picture setting to normal or standard will lengthen the life of the lamp. Decreasing the contrast setting to around 50% will accomplish the same.

Here is a checklist of what to do to get the most out of your lamp:

1. Check out the presets and select the setting with the lowest light output.

2. Once you’ve done that adjust the brightness down to your liking. The lower the brightness the long the lamp will last.

3. Check and clean the air filters on a monthly basis. Having a clean air filters means that your lamp has better airflow. Air is what is used to cool the lamp and the cooler your lamp runs the longer it will last.

Warranties and Lamp Replacement:

The manufacturer warranty typically covers the replacement of a lamp if it goes out during the manufacturers standard warranty period, but many only cover the first 90 days of the lamp life. Check your owners’ manual for the specific coverage offered with your TV.

When purchasing an extended warranty on your projection TV be sure to check if it includes lamp replacement in the projection TV during the extended warranty period. Verbal confirmation is not good enough. See it in writing. In many cases there is an additional charge specifically for a replacement lamp warranty though some extended warranties such as the XpresServ warranty do cover bulb replacement.

From our past experience with DLP rear projection TVs over the past several years and all the problems these TVs have encountered repair wise, we definitely recommend purchase of an extended warranty if you can find a reasonable price that includes bulb replacement. Rear Projection TVs need more frequent service than other types of TVs even though the repairs are usually fairly easy. They require a lot of professinal tweaking. For this reason, try to purchase an extended warranty with in home service. If you are in the average among TV watchers, you will likely need to have the lamp replaced within the first 2 to 3 years. A five year extended warranty covering defects and in home repair service usually cost around 10% of your TV.

Replacing a Lamp After the Warranty:

To find a lamp for your television I recommend going back to the company you purchased your TV from or you can usually find good prices at the dealers listed on this site.

If you need to replace the lamp after the warranty period you have two options you can either do it yourself or hire someone to come out a do it for you. Replacing the lamp yourself can seem like a daunting task but it’s usually not that difficult and can be done in less than an hour, with the actual replacement only taking a few minutes.

Each owner’s manual for a rear projection TV comes with instructions on how to replace the lamp. Here are the typical steps for replacing a lamp.

1. Turn your TV off. Let it sit there for about 5 minutes to let the cooling fan help cool the lamp.

2. Unplug your TV from the power let it sit about another 30 minutes. Even with the TV turned off power is still going to the lamp and the lamp receptacle can still be hot enough to burn you. Even if you think that the lamp is cool I recommend that you do not touch the receptacle.

3. Usually the lamp has a cover that you will need to unscrew. Most manufactures use a Philips head screw for holding the cover shut. Unscrew the lamp cover.

4. Unpackage the replacement lamp. Be careful not to tough the glass, as oil from your fingers can damage the lamp’s surface.

5. Pull the lamp out. Most lamps have a plastic tab or hoop on the handle that you can use to pull it out. Follow the owners manual for specific instructions on how to pull the lamp out. Make sure you do not touch the surrounding lamp housing if you just turned off the TV. It can burn you if it is hot.

6. After the lamp has cooled, place it into the empty box of the replacement lamp. Never put the used lamp into a plastic bag.

7. Using the guiding post also called “gutters” by some manufactures slide the lamp replacement lamp in pushing it until you hear a firm click.

8. Screw the lamp cover back in.

Managing the Used Lamp

Do not leave the used lamp near flammable materials or within the reach of children.

Do not pour water onto the used lamp or put any objects inside the lamp. Doing so could cause the lamp to burst.

Here are a few tips to help keep your projector running at its best.

1. Have your equipment powered down before connecting any cables. A signal cable carries a current while powered on and a sudden difference in electrical current can potentially burn out the projector lamp or cause other damage to projector components.

2. Use economy mode whenever possible. If your using a projector that has over 2000 lumens (a term used to describe the brightness of the projector), it usually has some sort of economy mode. If the event does not require full projector brightness use this mode to extend lamp life. Economy mode will lower the amount of lumens to save power and lengthen lamp life.

3. Avoid moving the projector as much as possible while it is powered on. The lamp, along with various other projector components, are sensitive to shakes or bumps. Any significant trauma could damage the projector and or lamp.

4. Do not unplug the projector after powering down. The cooling fan will continue to run in order to cool the lamp after shutting down the projector. It is recommended to keep it plugged in for at least another 3 minutes, doing otherwise could shorten the lamp’s life or even damage the lamp.

5. Clean your projector. Dust is the bane of projectors when allowed to collect in the filter or on the lens. A microfiber cloth works well for cleaning the lens. If dust collects on the filter it will block the filter and decrease air flow which can affect the projector’s cooling and can shorten lamp life.

You will have noticed in these tips that we pay special attention to preserving the life of the lamp. The reason for this is because the lamp is the most crucial part of the projector, and as such, is the most expensive component to replace. Projector costs have gone down significantly in the past few years, but replacement lamps have not. Lamps can cost up to $400 so you can see why it might be important to conserve as much lamp life as possible.

Useful instructions:

1. Wear gloves when you handle lamp. There chances of getting hot spot because of oils and other deposits from hands and fingers. Handle carefully.
2. Always keep projector air filters clean. If it’s not clean then it will not vent heat properly. This may cause damage to the projector due to over heat. Also make sure that you are not keeping anything in front of your exhaust vent. This will also cause over heat.
3. Close your lamp housing properly. If its not sealed properly then there are chances of getting dust.
4. Do not move your projector when your lamp is too hot. Hot lamps are very fragile. Small vibration may affect the lamp filament to break. So move when it’s completely cooled.
5. Do not unplug the projector until the lamp has properly cooled. After the projector has been shut off, the fan will remain on for about 5 minutes. This aids in cooling the lamp evenly and completely and decreases the chance of early lamp failure.
6. Do not turn the projector on and off habitually during presentations. Each time the projector is switched on, the supply of power causes stress on the lamp filament. Try to minimize on/ off cycles.
7. Some projectors offer “low lamp” or “economy mode” options. Use them whenever possible. These options have been developed to extend lamp life.