The Ins and Outs of TV Replacement Lamps
So, you’re the proud owner of a large screen DLP television. Hopefully you went into the purchase with your eyes wide open, knowing that there is at least one part on this technological marvel that you will have to replace on a regular basis.
If you didn’t already know, you must be prepared for the cost of maintenance and repairs when you buy these high-end televisions. You will have to buy TV replacement lamps at some point in the future, and it might be closer than you think.
Just how long can I expect my DLP lamp to last?
There’s no hard and fast rule, except this: the number the manufacturer told you is almost certainly wrong. These numbers represent estimates, and manufacturers are — of course — going to be extremely, well, optimistic on those estimates.
As a basic rule of thumb, if the number they quote in their sales literature is more than 5,000 hours, divide it by two and you’ll have a better estimate. If it’s less than 5,000 hours, subtract about 30% and you’ll probably be safe. So, short and sweet:
- 5,000 or more: divide by two
- Less than 5,000: subtract 30%
So, if they told you your lamp would go 10,000 hours, expect to replace it after no more than 5,000. At 4 hours of TV time per night, that’s about 1250 days or about 3 and half years. If they told you that you could expect 2,000 hours of use, expect about 1,400 hours, or about one year at 4 hours per day.
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