8.1 Projector Lamps and Bulbs

Basics

Bulbs don’t last forever. The average projector bulb lifespan is 2,000-4,000 hours. Bulbs can be expensive. Help staff and students understand that projectors should be turned off when not in use to conserve bulb life.

Changing projector bulbs is routine maintenance that is easy to provide. Be sure you have extra supplies on hand, because a teacher who needs a projector for a class that day doesn’t have time for you to order bulbs and have them shipped in a day or several days later.

A projector’s lifespan is expected to be approximately 20,000 hours of use. Consider replacing old projectors as they wear out with lampless projectors that have a longer life span.

You should know the following terms:

  • ECO Mode
  • Lamp Timer
  • Lampless projector

Knowing When a Bulb is Going Bad

You will know a bulb needs to be changed when it:

  • Flickers;
  • Has poor picture quality even after you’ve cleaned the lens;
  • Has a weak or dim projection light;
  • Emits strange picture colors and hues; or
  • The projector starts but the light does not come on 

Some projectors have a status bulb that indicates when the lamp has failed.

Safety Concerns

Be sure the projector and bulb have sufficiently cooled before conducting any maintenance or changing a bulb. Do not touch the glass surface of the projector lamp while changing the bulb. The oil on your fingers affects the life span and can shorten the life of the bulb.

Make sure to replace the cover on the lamp chamber before turning the projector on. The light may shine through and cause safety risks.

Projector lamps can explode if they overheat. Do not use them in direct sunlight or place a barrier directly over the projection lens as both may cause the bulb to overheat. Do not cover the projector beam with a book or folder or anything that might cause it to overheat when using the projector. Such attempts to cover the projector will cause the bulb to overheat and go bad. Staff should know how to dim or turn off the projector without placing anything in front of the lens.

Tip: If students or staff are displaying a PowerPoint presentation, they can press the B key to get a black screen, which essentially dims the projector light. Press the B key again to resume the presentation.

Changing a Projector Bulb

To complete the following steps to change a projector bulb, you will need a replacement bulb, a screwdriver, and a flat surface. When changing a projector bulb, it is usually easier to replace the entire assembly instead of just the bulb.

Before starting, make sure the lamp being replaced and the replacement lamp are exactly the same. Wait at least one hour (or until the bulb has totally cooled) before attempting to take the lamp out. Some manufacturers may require less time so check the documentation. The idea is to let the bulb completely cool before changing. 

  1. Unplug the projector cord of the projector.

  2. If the projector is portable, flip it over on a flat surface to remove the back cover. If it is mounted, be sure you have a stable ladder to stand on to remove the back cover.

  3. Unscrew and remove the lamp cover on the back using your screwdriver. If the projector doesn’t have a cover with screws, you likely can slide it off easily. Some projectors have a back cover and a lamp cover, so remove both in these cases.

  4. Remove or loosen the screws holding the lamp bulb and its module in place. 

  5. Replace the lamp module. Lift the original lamps out of the device. It should slide out when pulled directly up. The new lamp module will slide into the same place and should go in easily.

  6. Put the device back together. Retighten the screws near the lamp bulb. This step should be relatively straightforward. 

  7. Reset the projector's lamp lifetime if there is one. 

  8. Plug the projector into a power source. Then, make sure to reset the lamp timer as the device’s user manual describes. Some devices require a reset before fully turning on the projector; but, the overall process depends largely on the brand.

Resetting a JVC Lamp Life Timer

  1. Navigate to the “Main Menu” screen using your projector’s remote.

  2. Scroll to select the “Function” option.

  3. Scroll down to the “Lamp Reset” option.

  4. Press the “Enter” button on your remote. A second screen will pop up with a prompt to reset the lamp timer.

  5. Scroll down and select “Yes.” 

Tips for Getting More Life out of a Projector Bulb

  • If the projector has an ECO mode, run it for longer bulb life.

  • Turn the projector off when not in use to conserve lamp light hours. 

  • Accumulated dust and dirt can make a projector bulb fail more quickly.

  • If the projector has a filter, clean it regularly.

Here are additional resources you may find useful:

Complete the following task or self-assessment:

If you do not have accurate records elsewhere, record the types of projectors you have in classrooms on your Systems Overview Data spreadsheet, the replacement bulbs they use and the source, and the dates you replace them.