I have a Sumsung HLP5063W which I got back in March of 2005. It still works fine, but lately it seems like the picture is a little darker and less vibrant then it once was. I was thinking about getting a new lamp to see if it helps, but I thought I'd ask first to see if that is a viable option. Do the lamps in these TVs dim over time? Or do they work full force until one day they just burn out? Could something other then the lamp cause the picture to darken over time? (i.e. the screen, dust on the DLP chip, etc...)

Dan

It is most likely the bulb. Dust can also accumulate, but the dimming is generally the bulb. They can go out quickly or slowly, no specific pattern.

If I do replace the bulb is there a way to clear out the dust while I'm at it? Or is the DLP chip in some sort of sealed portion of the TV that should only be accessed by a technician?

Dan

The first bulb on my HL-P4663 lasted 2 1/2 years.
The symtoms at the end were loss of brightness, at the end I had it all the way up; and occasional problems starting when turned on.
I had allready purchased my new bulb so when it finally failed as indicated by the lights on the frot and by no video it only took me 5 minutes to replace.
I am not aware of anything to clean and there was no evidence of dust on the light bulb frame when I replaced it.

Some people get a computer vacuum attachment which greatly limits the air suction and they clean around where they can see when they change the bulb. Most don't take the tv apart and go into the inner workings because they can cause more problems than fixing anything.

There are some instructions on the web about how to clean DLP tvs, so a seach will bring them up. But I think once you replace the bulb, the tv will look excellent again, and no other work will be necessary.

last weekend the bulb blew in my 24 month old JVC....there were no noticeable warning signs, just a loud POP and a black screen....luckily, my new bulb was delivered just a couple of days later

although i hadn't noticed anything wrong with the old bulb, when i put in the new bulb and fired up the TV, the difference was amazing !!!...it was like having a brand new TV....even after adjusting the settings to my old ones, the picture was much brighter, with much more vibrant colors :D

so yeah, you may not notice the change in picture over time with the old bulb, but when you stick a new bulb in there, you will be pleasantly surprised ;)

I have a Sumsung HLP5063W which I got back in March of 2005. It still works fine, but lately it seems like the picture is a little darker and less vibrant then it once was. I was thinking about getting a new lamp to see if it helps, but I thought I'd ask first to see if that is a viable option. Do the lamps in these TVs dim over time? Or do they work full force until one day they just burn out? Could something other then the lamp cause the picture to darken over time? (i.e. the screen, dust on the DLP chip, etc...)

Dan

Does your picture look a little hazy? Does a dark scene with a bright spot show what may look like an internal reflection? If so, the internal mirror may need cleaning. I have an HLN50W1 with over 12,000 hours on the original bulb. Every two years I remove the front screen to access the mirror for cleaning. You would be amazed at how much film and dust can build up on the mirror after a few years.

I ordered a new bulb which should be here tomorrow. It's easy to replace so I figure I'll give it a try before resorting to anything else. I'll let you guys know if it makes any difference.

Dan