Where and when to order new DLP bulb?

[RossMAN]

1) If you've ever had a DLP bulb burn out, was there any indication before it died? What happened and when?

2) Who is the NewEgg.com of DLP bulbs?

This is our TV.

 

[spacejamz]

the picture gets noticeably darker...when this happens, your bulb could go that day or last another week or so...

www.lamps-dlp.com shipped a bulb to me a few weeks ago without any problems...

here is a link for your bulb...

Text

edit: Just noticed it was out of stock...

good luck...

how long have you had your set? Toshiba is getting out of the DLP business (along with Sony and Hitachi) because of the numerous bulb and light engine issue alot of manufacturers have had)...

I bought a 62HM116 (rebadged 62HM196) from costco...the set lasted 17 months, which was about 1143 hours on the bulb for me. Toshiba's warranty on the lamp was for one year and since I bought it on my AMEX, they covered it for another year (you may want to check if your card offers extended warranties)...I ordered the lamp from lamps-dlp.com but after reading some of the horror stories on AVS, I was able to return it to Costo (I have no qualms about returning a $2500 TV that only lasted 17 months)...

Here is a link to the AVS thread about the Toshiba lamp failures...you may not like what you see here though

also, there is link somewhere on the Toshiba site to input your serial number of the TV to see if they extended the warranty on it, but I can't seem to find it...

 

[RossMAN]

First of all thank you for the information.

Maybe I'm getting paranoid but I noticed a slight dimming today, it could have been my eyes, the TV program or our DVR. Then I started wondering "OMG what if my bulb does go out and I have to watch TV on a meager 32" LCD????". That prompted 2+ hours of Googling and AVSForum reading.

I wish there was an easy scientific method to see my bulb's current life/brightness.

I thought the majority of the Toshiba DLP problems affect 2005 models?
http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/ta...es/notices/dlplamp.asp

IIRC our 50HMX96 is a 2006 model and was purchased around June 2006. So it's a little over 1.5 years old. We have it on the "low" power bulb setting.

 

[Apex]

Unfortunately, there are a lot of variables that affect both life and brightness, so there isn't a great yardstick.

Thankfully, the bulb isn't too costly though. Toshiba recently cut the price of the Y67-LMP (75007091) down to $239.99:

http://ceaccessories.toshiba.c...roduct.asp?sku=3631954

You can save another $50 or so going through a Toshiba authorized reseller like the ones on Ebay. Always double check the warranty policies though. We just had a projector bulb go in less than 3 months (was RMA'd with no problems).

 

[RossMAN]

Thanks Apex

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

I wish there was an easy scientific method to see my bulb's current life/brightness.

on avs, they have the procedure for accessing the TV's service menu so you can see your bulb life..it will also tell you how many times you have turned the TV on/off(called start or power cycles or something) which also affects the bulb life...


here are the instructions to view your bulb life:

With TV turned on:

1. Press "mute" on the remote - 1/2 mute appears on the screen
2. Press "mute" on the remote again - mute appears on the screen
3. Press "mute" on the remote and hold the mute button -
4. Press the "Menu" button on the TV's front panel. "S" will appear in the upper right corner of the screen.
5. Press the "Menu" button a second time and the "S" will disappear. On the left side of the screen you will see "RCUT" followed by two numbers.
You are now in the service mode (this is where you can scroll through the options using the up and down channel keys shown above).
6. Press "9" on the remote and you will access the diagnostics page. In the right hand corner is the lamp time in hours.
7. Press "power" button on remote to exit the menu and power off the TV.

CAUTION: Do not use the up and down volume keys on the remote in this menu as it can alter the data and can be dangerous.