Replacing a DLP Projector Bulb!!!

[ericlp]

Alright. I got picked up a Optoma h27 last year and the bulb is nearing it's end life got about 1700 hours on it already so I'm looking for spares!

Wattage: 200W

Lamp Life: 2,000 Hrs

Model Number: SP.80N01.001

Part Number: BL-FS200B

Fits the Following Projectors:

* Optoma EP739
* Optoma EP739H
* Optoma EP745
* Optoma H27
* Optoma NOBO X23M
* Optoma NOBO X25M




Every place I go, they want cheapest I can find is about 200 bucks for this ... I know some 200W bulbs go for 50 bucks on some other projectors. Why the big price difference? They still only give you 60 day warranty even if you spend 300 bucks on a bulb.

Is there a place that offers bulbs on the cheap? Ya know with out the housing? Can't I just pick up a CHEAP 200 Watter and pop it into my housing?

How do you guys get the best deal on bulbs? I'd buy up to 3 of them if buying in bulk could save me some funds...

Thanks for your help. If I have to spend 200 bucks I will but I am thinking there has to be a place to get these things cheap!

Cheers and HAPPY VIEWING!

 

[Rio Rebel]

Actually, $200 sounds quite reasonable. I can't find my bulb for under $400, and I think that's common.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I haven't looked for bulbs in quite a while.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I've read that bulbs can age / deteriorate even outside the projector, so it might not make sense to buy more than one at a time.

Outside of an entirely DIY projector, I don't remember seeing people picking out cheaper bulbs and putting them into a projector accepting more expensive bulbs. Maybe I worry too much, but that sounds like a risky idea to me

I know that I'll be buying a bulb warranty on my next projector since the cost of those warranties is currently less than the cost of even one bulb replacement.

 

[ericlp]

yeah... after doing some research ... the problem is the bulbs are almost the half the cost of the machine. I found one for 185 bucks. Cheapest I could find it with a six month warranty to boot.

I figured it was a pipe dream to magically go to some outlet store to get them at half off or something. I still think they are making a racket on these bulbs. I doubt bulbs will deteriorate since a lot of bulbs are sitting on shelves waiting to be purchased right now. A bulb as you know is in a sealed glass tube (vacuum) if that were the case then a lot of MH bulbs at home depot would be going bad as we speak.

 

[Muadib]

This is quite a timely thread for me as my current bulb is fast approaching the 3000 hour mark. ericlp, I'd appreciate it if you can post the store where you found your bulb for $185. That's quite cheap for your bulb, and the warranty is double from the 90 day most places give. I'd like to see if they carry the bulb for my projector.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: ericlp
A bulb as you know is in a sealed glass tube (vacuum) if that were the case then a lot of MH bulbs at home depot would be going bad as we speak.

It's not like you just create a vacuum and that's the end of the story... the seals and stuff weaken over time.

As for your bulb, you're basically screwed. Pay your $200 and consider it a life lesson on why cheaper projectors aren't always better.

 

[Rio Rebel]

I'm not sure where the "cheaper is not always better" lesson comes in.

$200 for a projector bulb is comparatively reasonable - many projector bulbs can't be found for less than $400 or more.

The simple fact is that projector bulbs are an expensive consumable, and must be considered as part of the total cost of ownership of a projector.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: Muadib
This is quite a timely thread for me as my current bulb is fast approaching the 3000 hour mark. ericlp, I'd appreciate it if you can post the store where you found your bulb for $185. That's quite cheap for your bulb, and the warranty is double from the 90 day most places give. I'd like to see if they carry the bulb for my projector.

Same here.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Yep, those bulbs are expensive as hell, I'm hoping for the LED technology to progress by the time I've burned through my original and the free spare that came with my projector.

 

[abaez]

Dang.. and I thought I used my projector alot. It's been about two years now and I only have ~300 hours. If the bulb does burn out I'm not even sure I'd want to pay $400 for a new bulb.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Yep, those bulbs are expensive as hell, I'm hoping for the LED technology to progress by the time I've burned through my original and the free spare that came with my projector.

put that spare in a ziplock with some silicate. Hopefully that will slow the ageing a bit.

 

[ericlp]

Originally posted by: Muadib
This is quite a timely thread for me as my current bulb is fast approaching the 3000 hour mark. ericlp, I'd appreciate it if you can post the store where you found your bulb for $185. That's quite cheap for your bulb, and the warranty is double from the 90 day most places give. I'd like to see if they carry the bulb for my projector.

well, funny, I found my bulb by doing CROSS search for other parts on EBAY. Everyone wanted over 200 bucks but I put in a different projector model that they all fit and bingo! One came up for 180 bucks with free shipping ... I guess Optoma gives you a 6 month warranty! Whoohoo!

 

[ericlp]

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: ericlp
A bulb as you know is in a sealed glass tube (vacuum) if that were the case then a lot of MH bulbs at home depot would be going bad as we speak.

It's not like you just create a vacuum and that's the end of the story... the seals and stuff weaken over time.

As for your bulb, you're basically screwed. Pay your $200 and consider it a life lesson on why cheaper projectors aren't always better.

WTF?

What projector do you have? I've had 3 other projectors but I sold them before the bulbs even made it to half way mark... Sony and Sharp both DLP and LCD.

I happen to really like my optoma PJ other wise I would have sent it packing and for 2500 hour for a bulb ... I use my projector as my main TV. So it's on all the time. I figure I get a year out of it. I got over 400 Channels in HD. So...... Bleah! I'm making really good use out of it and I all I can say is I really enjoy this PJ.

I've been doing some reading up on bulbs and the reason why they are so expensive is because they are short runs. So, to configure a factory to make only 20K or 50K bulbs vs a standard MH bulb where production runs run in the 100's of thousands then the price is considerably cheaper.

And STILL no... There is no frigen mention of ANY MH bulb going bad over time it's frigen sealed in a GLASS vacuum witch is virtually impossible for the it to go bad unless you drop it or your fan burns out and it over heats or your a frigen moron and put your dirty fingers all over the bulb trying to install it.

Other then that! buy as many as your want. Just keep watching for deals on ebay.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/3...498407/in/photostream/

check out my new dish! hehe

sorry only one screen shot of my projector image. more to come.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: ericlp

Originally posted by: Muadib
This is quite a timely thread for me as my current bulb is fast approaching the 3000 hour mark. ericlp, I'd appreciate it if you can post the store where you found your bulb for $185. That's quite cheap for your bulb, and the warranty is double from the 90 day most places give. I'd like to see if they carry the bulb for my projector.

well, funny, I found my bulb by doing CROSS search for other parts on EBAY. Everyone wanted over 200 bucks but I put in a different projector model that they all fit and bingo! One came up for 180 bucks with free shipping ... I guess Optoma gives you a 6 month warranty! Whoohoo!

No, Optoma only gives 30 days on lamps. You better contact the seller though ebay to find out all of the details. I say through ebay so their response is on file, just in case you have to file a paypal dispute.

 

[Muadib]

I also advise against getting more than one bulb. I ordered a bulb for my old projector, and 100 hours in the projector had a problem with one or more of the polorizers. The repair cost was just about half the cost of the new projector I bought, so I got rid of it.

 

[ericlp]

Well, I guess the warranty is through purelandsupply. Dunno who offers it but pureland sells a crap load of bulbs and they also sell on ebay so I trust em when they tell me I got a 6 month warranty.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Optoma-EP7...wItem#ebayphotohosting if anyone is in need of an optoma bulb and don't forget MS cash live back for an extra 11-14% off I got 22 bucks back for buying it now.