Lamp Warnings for DLP TVs
You’ve made an investment in advanced TV technology, the HDTV lamp. To get the most life out of your set, here are some important issues to consider.
Heavy Vibrations.
A DLP is sensitive when…
- kids jump up and down on the floor,
- there are heavy footsteps that vibrate the floor where the TV sits, and
- excessive volume comes from a home theater system subwoofer.
The above causes vibration to the display. If your display vibrates, so does your lamp. That COULD cause an instant failure.
Power On/Power Off.
Do not regularly turn your TV on and off. Lamps are arc-based. This means when you turn the power on, it “strikes” the lamp.
This is THE most destructive process to your lamp. It is one of the biggest causes of shortened lamp life. Limit this to 2-3 times a day, at most. Instead of turning the TV off for a few hours, just leave it on. This is also true for old CRT technology.
Give It Air.
Watch out for enclosed settings/rooms without good ventilation. Air movement is key to the transfer of outgoing warm air with incoming cool air.
A Clean Filter.
Not all DLPs have filters. For those that do, the owner’s manual has instructions on how to replace it. This is important, if you want to make your lamp last longer. It keeps the light path cool and at peak efficiency. With LCD projection, it stops debris from getting into the light path, which degrades image performance.
Turn It Off.
Most sets have a 10-60 second delay when starting a power down sequence. This is to prevent unnecessary lamp striking in the case of unintented power down commands.
For Toshiba, they have an “Instant Startup” menu item. Using it is easy. While the set is on, press the power button. In 10 seconds, press the power button again. In just a few moments, the picture returns (at least it should). If it takes a minute or longer, or the power on is being ignored, it means the lamp was turned off. It will not turn on again until the sequence completes. Older displays do this. For Toshiba, they may have a menu item to address this.
Surge Suppressor.
Anything with an electric motor in the same AC outlet, or an outlet on the same circuit, generates spikes. This can disturb the ballast in the TV. This causes a burst of additional current to the lamp.
Some have reported lamps failing as vacuum cleaners or window air-conditioning units are turned on! Your best bet is to get a surge suppressor. If you want protection against lightning, you need an AC Surge or Lightning Suppressor.
Losing Power.
Do not unplug or remove AC power to turn off your TV. Your set requires a typical 2 minute process to turn off so it can cool the lamp. Other electronics, like a cable box or satellite receiver, provide a switched AC outlet. Supposedly, you can “conveniently” turn the TV set off or on.
DO NOT USE IT!
If your electric utility company has problems with the power, get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), the same as for your computer.
On the other hand, Toshiba claims this is unnecessary. Their sets do not need a cool down process. When the lamp is off, so is the fan.
Power Settings.
Generally, displays have two power levels for the lamp. For longer lamp life, set it to low power. However, this produces less light output. In nearly all cases, lamp-based rear projection sets are brighter than necessary. So, lower light output is not as bad as it appears and slightly improves black levels.
Dying Lamps.
With lamp age, light output drops. You will notice it doesn’t seem as bright as it was. To fix this, go in the menu and switch to high power. At this point, getting a replacement lamp is not a bad idea.
When To Replace.
As you continue to use the lamp, light output continues to drop. It will start to change color. You will see a yellowish overcast that is most evident on whites. When this happens, you need a new lamp.
Expect to lose 25% of light output in the first 500 hours of use. By the time you see yellow whites, you have used well past 75% of the lamp’s life. If you want a sharp, bright image, replace the lamp well before it gets to ths point.
Toshiba Exception.
Toshiba has a different view. They suggest ignoring the above. Toshiba recommends the high power setting, since they designed the lamp and calculated its life span for a high power setting.
This seems to go against logic. However, Toshiba claims it is based on experience from customers and electronics stores. They use the lamps all day long, in high power mode, with just one power cycle all day. In some cases, they are never turned off!
Toshiba found dealer demo displays can get 7000-8000 hours from a lamp. It is also claimed ordinary incandescent light bulbs get this kind of life when used with a dimmer. So, it’s something to keep in mind, regarding your lamp.
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Ayden Simmons
Incandescent light bulbs will soon be phased out because they waste a lot of energy.:”"