What would you do if your projector fails just before an important event? If you turn on your projector during an important meeting or when you are planning to watch a movie with your friends and find out the lamp is dead, the experience will be frustrating. In such a case, you will have to arrange a new projector or replace the lamp. Well, you can avoid such issues by testing if the lamp is bad beforehand. But how to test projector lamp is bad?
In this article, we will discuss the best ways to test if a projector lamp is bad. You can try these methods before an important event to ensure a smooth experience and avoid the above-mentioned problems.
How to Test Projector Lamp is Bad
Check the indicator light
These days, many high-end projectors come with an indicator light that can help you check the lamp’s current status. If the indicator light turns on when you switch on the projector, you should consider it an early warning. However, you may not have to replace the lamp immediately, as the indicator just gives a warning. But you should stay prepared for the worst and have a backup plan before calling your friends or colleagues over.
This is the easiest way of checking the status of your projector lamp. But if your projector doesn’t have such features, you should go for any of the following options.
Increase the brightness
This test is also easy to perform. You will just have to turn on your projector and increase the brightness to the highest level. After this step, you will need to turn off the lights and close the curtains to make the surroundings as dark as possible. If the image quality is up to the mark, it means your projector lamp is likely to serve you for a period of time. On the other hand, if the image is dull and blurry, you should be concerned.
Perform a resistance test
You will need a multimeter to perform this test, and you can easily do it, as multimeters are easy to use. However, if you don’t want to do it yourself, you can contact a professional. Here are the steps that you will need to follow if you decide to do it yourself:
Turn off the projector
You should turn off the projector before starting the process. You should also pull the power cord to ensure that the current doesn’t enter the projector.
Remove the lamp from the casing
After turning off the projector, you will need to remove the projector lamp from the casing. You will have to remove the lid, and you may need a screwdriver to do the job. You should stay careful during the process and ensure that the projector doesn’t get damaged.
If you aren’t confident, you should hire a professional to do the job. There is no point in damaging the projector just to perform a test.
Use the multimeter to get the reading
Now, grab the multimeter and touch its ends onto each terminal. The needle should move upon contact and then register 0 (on an analog meter), and the number should spike on a digital meter. If you notice a movement on the meter, it means the lamp is in working condition.
Well, these are the options that you can choose to test if your projector lamp is bad. In the following section, we will talk about some signs that you shouldn’t ignore.
Read more: How Much Power Does a Projector Use
Signs You Should Be Concerned About
Spots on the screen
If there are spots on the projected image, it could mean something is wrong with the projector. In such a situation, you should clean your projector screen before concluding anything, as a spot on the screen can also be the cause.
Flickering images
A lot of factors can be responsible for flickering lights, and it could also mean the lamp isn’t in the best condition. The flickering may not be noticeable in some situations, so you should check everything carefully from time to time.
Dimming
In most cases, you will have to replace your projector lamp if it loses its strength. Since lamps lose their brightness slowly, it can be hard for a person to notice a huge difference, as some people use their projector only a few times a week/month. But if you notice a difference, you should take action before the lamp stops working completely.
Color shifting
Color shifting is another sign you should be concerned about. If you notice a change in color quality, it means your projector lamp isn’t performing up to the mark, and you may need to replace it.
Lamp hours have crossed the 1,500-2,000 mark
A projector lamp can’t serve you forever, and you will have to replace it at some point, even if you take care of the maintenance part. When we talk about lamp life, the number varies from model to model, but the average duration is 1,500-2,000 hours. If you have a modern device, you can check such details by opening the settings menu. If the lamp has run for more than 1,500 hours, you should stay prepared, as you may have to get a new one soon.
Well, these are some signs that you should look for if you are concerned about your projector lamp’s performance. If you notice any of these things, you should perform any of the tests mentioned above. You shouldn’t wait for the lamp to completely die out.
Also read: How to Choose a Projector
Conclusion
We hope you found this article helpful and understood how to test projector lamp is bad. All the tests that we have mentioned in this article are easy to perform, and you can choose the option that suits you the most.
If your projector isn’t performing well and you aren’t able to diagnose the issue, you should hire an expert and let them do the job. If you have to replace the lamp, make sure to choose a good-quality option, as it will serve you for a long time.