DLP lamps are the most important component of any DLP television or projector. This is the heart of the machine that delivers the fantastic picture that you’ll come to expect. Knowing the facts about DLP lamps can help you prolong the life of your bulb, which also increases the time that your television or projector provides fantastic picture. These can be fairly expensive pieces of hardware, so knowing how to shop to keep costs low, and also when to change a bulb, is very significant.
The way that DLP technology works is by filtering a picture signal through thousands of micro mirrors. The mirrors reflect the light, to provide a more crisp and finely detailed image. Then the light is run through a color wheel to add all of the necessary color depth to any given picture. The final signal then goes through the DLP lamp, and is then projected onto the type of screen that you are using. All of the parts working together will create a true high definition picture that you’ll enjoy just as much as if you were at a movie theater.
The only downside to this process, is the dependency on the bulb in order to make the system work. DLP lamps eventually burn out, and picture quality suffers as they get older, and your device won’t work at all once the bulb is completely gone. This is true for projectors and televisions despite the fact that they use different types of DLP lamps. With a television you’ll need professional repair, for them to take out and replace the bulb. This is a very complicated process, and to avoid any damage to your TV it’s best to let a trained professional handle this. Depending upon the service you use, you’ll have to pay a certain price for the repair, and also for the new bulb. Usually the dealer where you purchased your television can facilitate repairs and bulb replacement.
With projectors, the DLP lamps are much easier to change, and you can save money on professional installation by changing them yourself. Usually this only entails locating the service door on the back of your projector. From there you should be able to easily unscrew the door, and then the lamp to replace your old bulb with a new one. This process isn’t much of a hassle at all, and is much more favorable than paying for a professional to come to your home, and do it for you.
On average, DLP lamps tend to be very expensive, but do have very long lives. Typically television lamps fall into the $100-150 range, but projector lamps are much more expensive. Usually projector DLP lamps cost in the area of $300-500. Make sure you always have a lamp on hand, and try to buy packages that come with two or three, as they tend to cost less per unit. That way you have a backup on hand in case your current bulb burns out. That’s always good to ensure your viewing habits aren’t altered by technological difficulties.