Dumb Mistake

mongo36

Junior Member
Apr 28, 2009
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OK so we had our ceiling projector making some noise. I figured it was a dirty fan, so late last night (like an idiot) I sprayed the compressed air can into it. Well heard a very loud pop. I am assuming it's the bulb that blew, could it have been anything else? I am going to order one, but wanted to make sure it's nothing else. I can plug power into it, and the power light just flashes, there again, I assume it's doing that because of the bulb. HELP
 

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
35,059
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It could have been any component that would suffer catastrophic failure from a sudden temperature change. If it uses a halogen light source, that would be one of them because it also contains a vacuum. You're not even supposed to get fingerprints on the halogen bulbs used in your headlights so yes, it's a very good candidate to be the component that failed.

Next time you want to blow out something that hot, turn it off and let it cool, first.

If you want to know for sure, get help from a qualified repair tech.

Good luck.
 

jamesbond007

Diamond Member
Dec 21, 2000
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We have a Mitsubishi HD DLP projector and the power light also flashes when the bulb is toast.

As others have said, you cooled the bulb too fast from spraying cooler air on it and it likely broke. Expensive mistake! Bulbs for our projector are around $300 each.
 

jtvang125

Diamond Member
Nov 10, 2004
5,399
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Canned air sprayed at certain angles will blow out freezing cold air (instant frost on anything it touches). The extremely rapid temperature change is going to be deadly to many electrical components.
 

jtvang125

Diamond Member
Nov 10, 2004
5,399
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Canned air sprayed at certain angles will blow out freezing cold air (instant frost on anything it touches). The extremely rapid temperature change is going to be deadly to many electrical components.
 

krotchy

Golden Member
Mar 29, 2006
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As mentioned canned air can change temperature quickly, but the general cause of death it creates is from condensation shorting something out when it comes to electrical components. Bulbs can blow up from rapid temperature change for sure, but if you made a condensation short, you could have taken out something electronic. I have personally also seen/heard capacitors and large power mosfets explode in the lab and it can be really loud.