Projector lamps are expensive because simply said, projector lamps are expensive to manufacture. This is because projector lamps are made of borosilicate glass and fused quartz. Because quartz is tough to work with and is very hard, special equipment, which is highly expensive, is needed to heat and mold the quartz.
Scarcity of projector lamps drives their price even higher. Manufacturers protect their investment in expensive materials and time by enforcing high quality standards. The highest acceptable failure rate in the projector lamp industry is around 0.4 percent lamp failures per batch.
Projector lamps are expensive because simply said, projector lamps are expensive to manufacture. This is because projector lamps are made of borosilicate glass and fused quartz. Because quartz is tough to work with and is very hard, special equipment, which is highly expensive, is needed to heat and mold the quartz.
Scarcity of projector lamps drives their price even higher. Manufacturers protect their investment in expensive materials and time by enforcing high quality standards. The highest acceptable failure rate in the projector lamp industry is around 0.4 percent lamp failures per batch.
When you buy a projector lamp you buy a complete module. This means a new lamp with a new housing. Usually the lamp replacement procedure is described in your projector's manual. If you don't have it anymore you can try to find it online. Most manufacturers offer the option to download a manual. If you still cannot find the procedure don't worry, replacing a projector lamp is an easy job. Usually you have to turn over your projector, unscrew some screws so that you have access to the lamp compartment. You can now see the lamp itself. This is also held in place via some screws and possibly you also have to detach the power cable of the lamp. You can then gently take out the lamp. In reverse order you can install the new lamp. To make things easier we have also put together a generic guide on how to replace a projector lamp. When replacing a lamp, please take care not to touch the glass of the lamp.
You should not throw away old projector lamps! They contain mercury (Hg), a toxic metal, and must be properly disposed of or recycled. Pleasecontact us if you wish us to recycle your projector lamp properly. If you send the lamp as a complete unit we might even be able to install a new bulb for you and ship it back to you. Just make sure you contact us first so we can give you the details.
You can maximize your projector's lamp life by taking into account a number of rules. We have separately described these rules in "Maximize the projector lamp life".
Unfortunately it's hard to say if a projector lamp has failed, unless of course, it has exploded. But, there are a few things that you can check yourself. When the projected image has become less and less it's a sign the projector lamp has reached the end of its life. When the light output is very low or when there is no image projected at all, you can take out the projector lamp and examine it while looking at it from the front. In the center of the lamp you will see a glass part, the strike stem or burner that contains two electrodes. When the burner is not aligned in the center of the lamp anymore it has failed. When you see white or black spots on the burner it has most likely also failed. If you are unsure you are always welcome to take some pictures of the lamp (and the burner especially) so we can take a look for you. Please also read our tips on identifying an expired projector lamp module.
When a projector lamp needs to be replaced it can usually be recognized by the fact that the light output has become increasingly less. Color problems and pixel problems are not caused by the lamp. LCD and DLP projectors both use their own techniques for producing a final image and therefore also both have their own problems. For example, an LCD projector uses color panels that provide the colors. When one of the panels needs to be replaced you will see color problems in the projected image (for example, one color will dominate). A new lamp will not solve this problem. DLP projectors use a DMD (digital micromirror device) chip. This chip uses microscopic mirrors. If these mirrors stop working the projector produces frozen or flickering pixels. A new lamp does not solve the problem. If you experience any of such problems with your projector you will need to have it checked by a specialist.