Overhead Projector Lamps

Many times I am asked what I would presume to be the appropriate tools to have when using an Overhead Projector to make a presentation.
Without stating the obvious I would assume that all of you are aware that you would certainly need to have an Overhead Projector. Ahh, but what type of Overhead Projector should you choose?

If you are traveling quite a bit and use your Overhead Projector to make your sales or training presentations then you should consider using a portable Overhead Projector. Now some of these portables fold to the size of a briefcase making travel through airports easy. Other types of Overhead Projectors have a folding post which makes the projector easy to transport and will easily fit in your car.

Once you have decided on which type of Overhead Projector best fits your needs its then time to put together what I call an "Overhead Projector Survival kit". Keep in mind there is nothing worse than a room fool of students or potential clients and finding yourself caught unprepared.
With all that said, here is what I would consider to bare essentials for an "Overhead Projector Survival Kit"

The spare lamp: Always have a spare lamp with you, even if your Overhead Projector is equipped with the lamp changer feature. Projection lamps are fairly inexpensive and I suggest having several spares on hand.
One more note that I would like to add here. Make sure you carry on your person or noted inside of your Overhead Projector what the ordering code is for the projection Lamp. If for some reason you would need to purchase additional spares while on the road this information could prove to be invaluable to you in a moments notice. It is also very helpful to have the 800 number of your favorite AV Parts supplier on hand for easy access to all your Overhead Projector needs while you are on the road.

Transparency pens: Never assume that the classroom or the Board Room where you will be putting on your presentation will have the proper transparency pens and transparency film on hand. My personal preference are the water soluble pens, there are many instances where I tend to wear more of the marker than my transparencies. Water soluble pens are easy to wash away where the permanent pens require a bit more effort to remove from ones hands! A selection of different colored pens always makes for a nice presentation as well.

Cleaning towels and water: That's right, water. When it comes to cleaning the optics of your Overhead Projector nothing works better than water. I have seen more damage done to the optics of Overhead Projectors by end users using chemicals or even something as simple as window cleaner. Stick with the water; we use it as an optical cleaner everyday in our repair shop. Now in conjunction with your water you will need a quality cleaning cloth. Paper towels will NOT do. They scratch the sensitive surface of your optics. I suggest using a fiber optic towel or something similar. They are specially designed to clean surfaces of Fresnel Lenses and Optical Glass without scratching.

Extension cord and adapter: I can't tell you how many times I hear stories about someone having all the right tools, but no way to get power to their Overhead Projector because the cord will not reach across the room to the only available AC Outlet. I suggest having an extension cord with a minimum length of 25 feet. Now once you have accomplished reaching the AC Outlet, how frustrating is to find that the receptacle does not take a grounded plug. Oh how I share your frustrations. Always and I mean always, have at least two AC Adapters that will allow your grounded AC cord form your Overhead Projector to plug into those old style AC outlets that have no ground plug.

Spare Parts: Now if you are somewhat mechanically inclined, then you may want to consider having a few spare parts available for some simple repairs that could be done either in your hotel room or at home. A simple set of tools will also be required. Your Electronic tools should include wire nippers for cutting and stripping wire, a cordless solder iron with some solder, a small amount of 1/8" heat shrink tubing and a small set of screwdrivers with both flat blade and Phillips type heads. Now needless to say any serious electrical problems should be left to a professional electronic technician, but a change of a lamp socket which requires only a screw driver in most instances or replacing a broken stage glass are simple repairs that can be done in the field if you have the spare parts on hand. This could save you many hours of searching for either a repair shop or rental store trying to find a back up Overhead Projector.

You most likely will have some of your own items you will want to add to your own "Overhead Projector Survival Kit". This article should give you a good foundation to build on and help save you some embarrassing moments the next time you go to make your presentation with your favorite Overhead Projector.

Lamps for Projectors

Like many bulbs, the projector lamp is a delicate object albeit much more expensive than your average household bulb so it is important to ensure your lamps last as long as possible. It is surprising to see how some places only need a new projector lamp every few years and others require them every few months. Here is some advice to help ensure your projector lamps last as long as possible:

Let the projector cool

This is probably the main reason why projector bulbs may need replacing more often when people do not allow the project lamp to cool before they move the projector or switch it back on again. Many projectors power down on their own so do not move the projector whilst in this mode. If you have an older projector model, you might have an on/off switch for the bulb and a separate on/off switch for the machine. In this case, switch the projector off first and once that has powered down, then switch the projector off.

Similarly, do not move, shake or bump the projector whilst the projector is still switched on. They are very sensitive and movement could cause the projector to blow or shorten its life.

Overheating

If the projector bulb is overheating, then it will burn out earlier than it should. The main reason for overheating is when users do not clean the projector filter regularly. It should be cleaned once every three months or so with a can of compressed air but the frequency should be increased to monthly if the projector is in a dusty environment. Another sure way to overheat your projector bulb is to block the fan exhaust so take note where the fan is on your projector and make sure it has a minimum of two or three feet of room to breathe.

Never touch the lamp because your fingers have natural oil on them and this oil can also cause the projector lamp to overheat and burn out prematurely. Only touch the metal housing.

Save projector lamp hours

Most modern projectors nowadays have what is called an economy or eco-mode. This uses less brightness from the projector bulb meaning the projector lamp will last much longer so don't use more brightness than you need.

Keep the projector at room temperature

Projector lamp sales always increase in the spring or after summer holidays. The main reason for this is that people leave their projector in the cold over winter or even in the car for a day or two. The quick change in temperature will cause a projector lamp to blow if you switch a cold projector on so let it warm to room temperature first. Never leave the projector in the car or in extreme heat because the projector lamp will overheat and burn.

Following these tips should give you months of extra use from your projector bulb. This is by no means an exhaustive list of tips to help make sure your bulbs last as long as possible but it does include the main reasons that a projector lamp may have a shortened life.

dlp rojector Lamps

There are two major types of projectors on today's market, LCD and DLP. Both of them have disadvantages and advantages, and you should be aware of each one before making your purchase. LCD stands for liquid crystal on silicon, and is the major type of projector used today in businesses, schools and at home. One of the big advantages LCD has over DLP is it produces a sharper and clearer image. In the past the major problem with LCD projectors was that sometimes you could see individual pixels if the image was displayed on a large surface. This is a largely been gotten rid of thanks to advances in technology.

DLP stands for digital light processing and is primarily a technology that is pushed by a company called Texas instruments. One of the major advantages of DLP is it tends to be cheaper, and these devices tend to be much more portable and lightweight.

It also recently it was announced that DLP projectors can now be all fitted with 3-D technology which is a big advantage over LCD currently. Also some of these projectors now have dual lamps which means that they can last twice as long before having to replace the bulb.

For most every day functions either type of technology will work well. It is only when you get to that extreme use of these machines like using them in a very large room or giving an image intensive presentation that you reach the limits of these technologies.

Lcd Projector Lamps

One of the few LCD projector parts that can be replaced is the projector lamp. LCD projector lamps vary by model, so selection usually depends on the manufacturing company and types such as Incandescent, Compact Fluorescent, Halogen, and HID such as Metal halide and Low/High Pressure Sodium, 3M Projector, Full Spectrum, and Ballasts, to name a few.

The total lamp life is the expected operating time of the projector lamp, which is expressed in terms of hours. Most LCD projectors use a metal halide source with a lamp life of 750 to 4,000 hours or more. Lamp life is not a very useful measurement, since they gradually grow dimmer without burning out and will continue to function even if they are too dim to be considered usable. So the term "peak lamp life" - the time the lamp will last at eighty to ninety percent of total brightness - is commonly used by manufacturers.

In contrast to metal halide lamps that burn with a very white light, halogen lamps burn with a yellowish light, at a steady rate, and have a consistent brightness throughout lamp life; but they only last approximately seventy hours per bulb. Therefore, they are also less expensive.

LCD projector lamps last the longest when the LCD projector is operated in "economy mode," frequently powered down for cool-down periods, and operated in a clean, fairly dust-free environment. Projectors that are subjected to constant use have the highest probability of lamp failure before the end of the rated hours.

Video Projector Lamp

Below are some of the best and most widely-used LCD Video Projectors below $2,000 (except for the Panasonic product, which is a little above $2,000) available on the market.

Epson PowerLite 81p LCD Video Projector -XGA features a 5-watt audio system; high-aperture LCD with 2,000 ANSI lumens with 1,024 x 768 XGA resolution to deliver accurate color, color saturation, and image quality; four input connections; and automatic source selection, setup and operation. It also supports USB connectivity; NTSC, PAL, SECAM, and HDTV signals.

Hitachi CPX275 Video to XGA LCD Projector can project various computer signals as well as NTSC/PAL/SECAM video signals and is specifically designed for mobile professionals and budget-conscious consumers. It features 1200 ANSI lumens with 1,024 x 768 XGA max resolution, UHB lamp, and magnifying for closer viewing.

NEC VT670 Value LCD Video Projector enables you to use a variety of inputs, including video and HDTV. The projector is designed with NEC VT's Vortex and Image Processing Technology. It also features 2,100 ANSI lumens of brightness, 1,024 x 768 resolution, and Simple color-coded connections for all sources.

Panasonic PT-LB10U Video Projector is a super-slim projector from Panasonic's family of ultra-compact XGA micro-portable LCD projectors, offering an XGA resolution of 1,024 x 768, 2000 ANSI lumens brightness and Digital Keystone Correction. It can display 480p, 480i and 625i component video and S-Video signals in either 4:3 or 16:9 widescreen aspect ratios.

Sony VPL-CX1 Superlite LCD Video Projector is the smallest and lightest projector from Sony, featuring a mechanical cooling structure; internal scan converter to display 1024 x 768 resolutions such as VGA, XGA, and SXGA (in addition to its native SVGA resolution); USB hub port for enhanced digital connectivity; and 550 ANSI lumens brightness.

Overhead Projector Lamp

Many times I am asked what I would presume to be the appropriate tools to have when using an Overhead Projector to make a presentation.
Without stating the obvious I would assume that all of you are aware that you would certainly need to have an Overhead Projector. Ahh, but what type of Overhead Projector should you choose?

If you are traveling quite a bit and use your Overhead Projector to make your sales or training presentations then you should consider using a portable Overhead Projector. Now some of these portables fold to the size of a briefcase making travel through airports easy. Other types of Overhead Projectors have a folding post which makes the projector easy to transport and will easily fit in your car.

Once you have decided on which type of Overhead Projector best fits your needs its then time to put together what I call an "Overhead Projector Survival kit". Keep in mind there is nothing worse than a room fool of students or potential clients and finding yourself caught unprepared.
With all that said, here is what I would consider to bare essentials for an "Overhead Projector Survival Kit"

The spare lamp: Always have a spare lamp with you, even if your Overhead Projector is equipped with the lamp changer feature. Projection lamps are fairly inexpensive and I suggest having several spares on hand.
One more note that I would like to add here. Make sure you carry on your person or noted inside of your Overhead Projector what the ordering code is for the projection Lamp. If for some reason you would need to purchase additional spares while on the road this information could prove to be invaluable to you in a moments notice. It is also very helpful to have the 800 number of your favorite AV Parts supplier on hand for easy access to all your Overhead Projector needs while you are on the road.

Transparency pens: Never assume that the classroom or the Board Room where you will be putting on your presentation will have the proper transparency pens and transparency film on hand. My personal preference are the water soluble pens, there are many instances where I tend to wear more of the marker than my transparencies. Water soluble pens are easy to wash away where the permanent pens require a bit more effort to remove from ones hands! A selection of different colored pens always makes for a nice presentation as well.

Cleaning towels and water: That's right, water. When it comes to cleaning the optics of your Overhead Projector nothing works better than water. I have seen more damage done to the optics of Overhead Projectors by end users using chemicals or even something as simple as window cleaner. Stick with the water; we use it as an optical cleaner everyday in our repair shop. Now in conjunction with your water you will need a quality cleaning cloth. Paper towels will NOT do. They scratch the sensitive surface of your optics. I suggest using a fiber optic towel or something similar. They are specially designed to clean surfaces of Fresnel Lenses and Optical Glass without scratching.

Extension cord and adapter: I can't tell you how many times I hear stories about someone having all the right tools, but no way to get power to their Overhead Projector because the cord will not reach across the room to the only available AC Outlet. I suggest having an extension cord with a minimum length of 25 feet. Now once you have accomplished reaching the AC Outlet, how frustrating is to find that the receptacle does not take a grounded plug. Oh how I share your frustrations. Always and I mean always, have at least two AC Adapters that will allow your grounded AC cord form your Overhead Projector to plug into those old style AC outlets that have no ground plug.

Spare Parts: Now if you are somewhat mechanically inclined, then you may want to consider having a few spare parts available for some simple repairs that could be done either in your hotel room or at home. A simple set of tools will also be required. Your Electronic tools should include wire nippers for cutting and stripping wire, a cordless solder iron with some solder, a small amount of 1/8" heat shrink tubing and a small set of screwdrivers with both flat blade and Phillips type heads. Now needless to say any serious electrical problems should be left to a professional electronic technician, but a change of a lamp socket which requires only a screw driver in most instances or replacing a broken stage glass are simple repairs that can be done in the field if you have the spare parts on hand. This could save you many hours of searching for either a repair shop or rental store trying to find a back up Overhead Projector.

You most likely will have some of your own items you will want to add to your own "Overhead Projector Survival Kit". This article should give you a good foundation to build on and help save you some embarrassing moments the next time you go to make your presentation with your favorite Overhead Projector.

Dlp Projector Lamp

I've integrated on this particular page DLP Projector Reviews of many of the primary manufacturers in this specific technological know-how. I have only shown a sample of some of the very best and newest systems that these companies produce. Front projection HDTVs are actually different from rear projection HDTVs in many ways but are actually more sought after these days for home theater enjoyment.

Understanding Front-projection Television sets - DLP

DLP-based projectors are available at several prices, resolutions, and image qualities, so it is tougher than usual to be able to generalize in regard to these products. This wouldn't prohibit me personally from just saying, in general, that a majority of DLP projectors can produce a better image compared to their LCD counterparts, and their black-level overall performance is also often slightly considerably better. DLPs are afflicted by the same rainbow appearance as their rear-projection brethren. This effect is barely detectable, nevertheless in the more current versions. The more highly-priced three-chip choices (which happens to be how many chips are used within the movie theaters) will not. That's mainly because three-chip varieties split the actual color array into trillions of hues.

In the past, 720p resolution DLP units have actually cost substantially greater than the LCD competition, however in more recently available products, a large variety of more affordable 720p DLP projectors have now started to hit the home market. They can still cost a bit more than the LCDs and almost always will not offer characteristics which can include lens shift, but even so, they are destined to seriously increase the popularity of HDTV-resolution DLP models.

Still at the other side of the spectrum, genuine 1080p resolution DLP projectors can be found available that will cost you a little more and perform amazingly well. The increased resolution associated with 1080p is especially obvious anytime any picture is blown up to larger dimensions.

You can find quite a few questions that you must ask yourself prior to shopping for a DLP® projector. Included in these questions are:

* Should I mount my DLP® projector inside a ceiling mount, fixture, or set it on a tabletop?

* Am I able to decrease the lighting within the room at all times of the day so that it's bright enough for my home?

* What important features are included that will make my DLP® projector easy to operate?

* What will be the clearest image obtainable and can this be adjusted?

* What about lamp life? How much time is the lamp expected to keep working and just how much does a replacement cost?

* Is the aspect ratio sufficient?

Of course you'll find other intangibles which you might want to make your projector even a lot more distinctive. Some of these intangibles are such features as picture in picture, an array of video inputs, and widescreen mode. Whatever you decide upon, be assured that DLP® projectors elicit the clearest, most cinematic images for the reason that they originate from today's most leading-edge display engineering.

Robert Bradshaw has found that there is a definite "checklist" of Fundamentals that he must always help his students understand in order to learn and progress along rapidly as they improve their game. He is also a student of Biblical Research and has focused recently on crucial Relationship and Marriage Principles that must be maintained in order to stay together as a couple. Recently, he has taken an interest in the coming revolution of 3D TV technology in the consumer market place.

Proxima Projector Lamps

When you are sitting at an executive level, while buying the professional tools there are many things that needs to be considered and the most important factor is portability. For the purposes of giving or taking presentations, besides multimedia, it is important for one to have a good quality projector at home. Here in present article we are going to emphasis upon the importance of having a good LCD projector at office, as well as we are going to suggest a good LCD projector to our readers that has been made by the Proxima. Generally we call it Proxima LCD Projector. The said projector has been particularly designed to cater the presentational needs in an easy way. Keeping the compatibility factor in mind the size of the projector has been kept quite small so that one can even take it along while being on some business trip.

While producing the proxima LCD projector, the entire focus of the producers was there on the quality that they were going to present to the customers. The pictures, graphs, words or whatever kind of data you tend to present on this projector, you would get a matchless quality. Besides the contrast ratio, there is one watt speaker attached to the projector which helps in giving out a clean and clear sound while giving presentation to the spectators. Making it easy to use, the projector can easily work with all kind of computers. In order to make instant setups, it has been provided with the color coded cables along with multiple onscreen languages that offer international usability.

Making the projector users friendly, all the necessary tools have been provided with it that are necessary for a smooth presentation. These tools contain a serial mouse, lamp, a laser pointer along with a remote control as well as a bag that is soft enough to take care of the projector and all the necessary cables that one may need to use while giving out a presentation. Moreover, the factors that make the proxima LCD projector is the guarantee that is provided upon it. Not only on projector the lamp that is offered with the projector also contains a guarantee of 90 days or 500 hours. The proxima LCD projector is considered among the world's most complete projectors that are fully equipped with all the necessary tools. It is not only fully loaded, it has an amazing look and despite of the fact it is not too expensive, having it shows a status on behalf of the beholder.

Proxima Projector Lamp

As PowerPoint and other programs are becoming more popular many
are looking into ways in which they can expand their
presentations, such as with the Proxima projector. Unlike
projectors that many of us became accustomed to years ago, the
Proxima projector is actually designed to make presentations used
with PowerPoint and other programs very clear and crisp with
bright images. The whisper quiet noise levels of the projector
insure that everyone hears the most important points of your
presentation, regardless of how close or far away they sit from
the projector.

Whether you're interested in designing a presentation for
personal or professional use, the Proxima projector provides a
way to deliver your message with crystal clear clarity. To make
matters even easier, the Proxima project can also be mounted on
the ceiling and well as used with a variety of screens that are
currently available. Those who travel will appreciate the wide
variety of projector cases that make travel with your projector
easy and secure. Special heavy-duty ATA cases are also available
to protect your Proxima projector when transporting it by air.

Well thought out innovations have also ensured that the Proxima
projector is also quite easy to use, such as a one touch instant
projection for truly hassle free operation. Even if you've never
operated a projector before, the Proxima is quite easy to learn
how to operate, right out of the box.

The Proxima projector also offers optional technology upgrades
such as networking with the InFocus module and software that
allows users to manage projectors from a single PC. An optional
InFocus LiteShow wireless solution also allows users to utilize
the option of completely wireless freedom as well. Such features
are perfect for those companies and individuals who want complete
control over their presentations.

Along with the numerous easy to use features and options, the
Proxima projector also ranks unparalleled in terms of quality and
customer satisfaction. The standard two-year limited factory
warranty, including parts and labor along with a 90 day lamp
replacement translates to a greater return on your investment.
Regardless of what your needs are, the Proxima projector will
meet each and every one of them; providing unmatched premium
service.

Viewsonic Projector Lamps

Viewsonic Projector Lamps

Christie Projector Lamps

Christie Projector Lamps

Projector Lamp Bulb

Introduction

Purpose of this white paper

The purpose of this white paper is to provide an overview of the current projector lamp market, including the emergence of UHP lamps, compatible lamps, specialist lamp distributors and the underlying economic conditions.

This paper is divided into sections. The main ones are on projector lamp technology and the economic factors. These are followed by an appendix and glossary.

Lamp technology

Overview

The lamp is the primary component of the illumination system in a projector. It is usually accessible behind a door in the projector so that it can be replaced. Sometimes a projector will have two lamps; they may be used at the same time or one may take over when the other fails.

Most common projectors use metal halide lamps, ultra high pressure lamps (UHP), variants of UHP and, in larger projectors, Xenon lamps. Although the Xenon lamps are smaller than those in film projectors, they use the same technology. Xenon lamps naturally achieve better colour reproduction than metal halide lamps, which are red deficient, but they aren't as energy-efficient and they don't last as long.

What I'm calling a lamp is actually a lamp module. It consists of a bulb and a reflector in a housing, with electrical contacts for receiving power.

The reflector

The reflector projects the light from the bulb onto a component in the projector called an integrator. This takes the form of either a "fly-eye" lens (so named because its surface is composed of multiple lens elements in a rectangular array, much like the compound eye of an insect) or a light pipe, the latter either a rectangular glass rod or a rectangular mirrored tube. Its purpose is to homogenise and shape the light beam to ensure uniform illumination of every pixel with minimal wasted light.

The design of the reflector is very important, as it has to collect as much light from the bulb as possible. It looks like a hemisphere but is usually elliptical or parabolic in cross section.

Reflectors vary in sophistication. For example, a fourth-power parabolic reflector is much more accurate and even in its distribution of light waves emitted from a focal point than a second-power parabolic. Fourth-power parabolic reflectors, however, are more difficult to accurately manufacture.

Then there are the elliptical reflectors. One of the properties of an ellipse is that it has two focuses (or foci). If you have a light source at one focus of an ellipse, the light beams that hit the ellipse are reflected so that they come together at the second focus (see diagram by downloading the actual whitepaper at tekgia.com).

This concentrates the light from a lamp onto a lens so that you get as much light as possible delivered to the screen. If your source is bigger than a single point, some of the beams do not originate precisely at the first focus, and thus end up missing the second focus point and straying. Also, the wider the ellipse (meaning the greater the distance between the two focal points) the larger the beam spot will be at the second focus.

Bulb size and stray beams of light

As you would expect, stray beams cause problems. Light that is not funneled through the optics will strike other surfaces inside the projector, reducing brightness on the screen, and increasing heat in the projector. You may also get annoying and distracting light leaking through vents in the projector.

Furthermore, stray light may find its way back into the optics, and end up striking the screen in places where it should not. This impacts the contrast of the image. Instead of showing solid black, the stray light will lighten the black into gray.

An interesting solution to the problem of stray light beams is to reduce the size of the light source. The ideal source would be infinitely small. Any stray light would be infinitesimally small. There would be no noticeable loss of brightness (or luminance - the amount of light produced).

So the goal has been to make as small a projector lamp as possible.

This takes us to the bulb itself. Metal halide lamps spark across a gas-filled gap to create the light. The gaps are typically 2 mm or larger. Such sizes can cause colour and luminance stability problems. They also tend to deposit materials such as tungsten on the lamp while it is on, reducing brightness early on in the life of the lamp.

In 1995, Philips introduced the ultra high pressure lamp (UHP). These lamps are not metal halide lamps. Instead, they use an arc in a pure mercury vapor under very high pressure. The pressure is typically over 200 atmospheres or 200bar (a car tyre is typically under 3bar).

The arc gap tends to be much smaller than those of the metal halide lamps, typically 1.3 to 1.0 mm across. This smaller light source is much more efficient. A 100 watt UHP lamp in a projector can deliver more light to the screen than a 250 watt metal halide lamp.

Other influential factors

I will briefly cover other factors that are influential in the design and manufacture of a projector lamp.

The reflector has to be engineered to give an even field of light (no hotspot in the middle), the glass of the lamp needs to be as transparent as possible, and the filament as free as possible of impurities (they affect the colour temperature of the output).

Then there is the dichroic coating of the reflector. This allows infra-red light (heat) to pass through while reflecting visible light, thereby reducing the amount of heat shooting through the LCD element (or at the DLP mirrors if your projector is a DLP one).