Projector went BOOM!

Zascar

I bought a second hand projector a few months ago - an Optoma HD65 - it only had 25 hours on the bulb when I got it. I use it for an hour or so most days - and last night while I was watching a movie it suddenly omitted a very loud bang and turned off. Unsurprisingly it would not turn on. When I picked it up I can hear broken glass. Is this what happens when the bulb goes or is this a much bigger problem?

I think the bulb is supposed to last 2500+ hours so I hope it has not gone already - then again I hope its not more than a bulb problem.

No idea where I can get this fixed even. What should I do now?

Soundman

New bulb and housing available HERE

Might be cheaper on Ebay if you can find one. I'd suggest taking the old housing out carefully and giving the entire unit a serious clean. Get some compressed air and blow all dust out from the inside. Sounds like heat did the damage. I have the same projector and have 3000+ hours on it up until when I last used it over a year ago. Was still going strong at last use.

Zascar

Thanks Soundman. Waht is the difference between the ones on that site? I need the bulb and casing yes? I can;t find much on ebay. Anyone?

Is it normal for them to explode like this?

Can I do this myself easy enough?

Soundman

If you buy the bulb and lamp housing it is very easy to replace. Just open up the panel on the projector, slide out the old unit and slide in the new one.

If you went the way of just buying the bulb, you would first need to make sure that the old housing wasn't damaged by the bulb exploding. Then you would need to remove what is left of it and I believe there is a bit of soldering to be done to fit the new bulb to the old housing.

Obviously as well make sure that you have cleaned out the projector completely of any and all broken glass.

Soundman

The difference between the three:

Pink panel: Original Optoma bulb and original Optoma housing

Orange panel: Original Optoma bulb and aftermarket compatible housing

Green panel: Aftermarket Genius brand bulb and Aftermarket Genius brand housing.

Up to you what you go for. Personally I would stick with original parts, there is only a couple of Euro difference in price between Pink and Orange panels, so if it was me, I would go for the Pink panel. Still pretty cheap to the last bulb/housing I bought which was ~€160 in 2008/2009.

Zascar

Thanks a mil. Delivery is expensive from this crew, comes out to over €130 - Are there any other sites I can check?

Is there any point in getting on to Infocus and telling them the bulb blew after only a couple of hundred hours? Perhaps this is a design fault or something that a lot of people have experienced?

Soundman

Infocus? I thought it was an Optoma you had. Not sure what other sites will have this bulb, I had a quick look before posting and that was pretty much all I came up with, though my search wasn't hugely extensive. If it is the HD65 you have, is it being made any more? You said you bought it 2nd hand, so if it is out of production, they may feel you might be telling porkies about the bulb. You'd need to possibly prove to them that you treated it correctly including proper power down procedure and the like.

Soundman

Just checked, and the HD65 is now a discontinued product.

Zascar

Sorry meant Optoma - not infocus.

Might be worth a try anyway - What would be the best way to talkle it? Call them?

Soundman

No harm in it I guess. I would suggest calling them if you can afford the call. Nearest Optoma CS is in the UK.

Tel: +44 (0) 1923 691 800

At least that way it is as close to face to face as you can get and they can judge what type of person you are by the way you hold yourself on the phone. Whether you are being a chancer or genuine.

There is also a CS online:

http://www.optoma.co.uk/supportrequest.aspx

eddiem74

Zascar wrote: »

Thanks a mil. Delivery is expensive from this crew, comes out to over €130 - Are there any other sites I can check?

Is there any point in getting on to Infocus and telling them the bulb blew after only a couple of hundred hours? Perhaps this is a design fault or something that a lot of people have experienced?

Zascar wrote: »

Sorry meant Optoma - not infocus.

Might be worth a try anyway - What would be the best way to talkle it? Call them?

Do you have a receipt for the bulb? Otherwise I think you are wasting your time.

Bulbs generally have a limited warranty even from new from what I have seen.