I’ve been using a refurbished HD65 from Canada Computers about 2 months now.
Mainly I'm using my PC using DVi-HDMI cable to watch movies and play games temporarily (before my basement is finished) in my computer room or living room.
Recently I've noticed flickering (more in a bright scenes), however sometimes I even see it on a blue background without any input coming in.
The settings I'm using are either cinema/user with a std lamp setting. The lamp has about 30hrs on the counter.
The problem seems to go away when I switch the lamp mode to bright for 10-15 minutes and I go back to std lamp setting.

Is there something wrong with the unit or lamp? Or does the lamp needs some break-in time and if it does how long approximately will the flickering continue?

I can live with some noise it produces, but constant flickering will bother me in a long run. I’m just afraid that the workaround to switch to a bright mode won’t work forever (and also it speeds up lamp usage).

Other than that I love the little unit… Last night I’ve watched ‘the black knight’ bluray IMAX special edition, and I cannot believe the PQ out of the little guy….

TIA

one thing to check for is to make sure ImageAI is OFF.

I notice the ImageAI works well but when going from a dark scene to a bright scene, after a couple seconds, there's a noticeable jump in brightness, as the projector is dimming and brightening the lamp according to the dynamics of the displayed image.

Just on the off chance that's what you're noticing, I thought I would point that out. I do not have any flickering problems with my HD65, I got it with 0 hrs on the bulb about a month ago, and now I've got 20 something hrs on it (actually more than 20 because I use it in std mode and that counts like every 1.5 hours as 1 hour on the timer, or 2 hrs as 1 hr, I forget), and i haven't noticed any flickering except for what the ImageAI introduces.

IA is off. I've only started noticing this at 25hrs or something like that (now I sit at around 30hrs at std setting). So you might still experiance this later on. I've read somewhere that it might be normal to have flickering as the bulb is breaking-in. The suggested workaround was to set your PJ to bright mode and switch it back to standard after 10-15 minutes. I just wanted to confirm if this could be the case before contacting Optoma's tech support.


one thing to check for is to make sure ImageAI is OFF.

I notice the ImageAI works well but when going from a dark scene to a bright scene, after a couple seconds, there's a noticeable jump in brightness, as the projector is dimming and brightening the lamp according to the dynamics of the displayed image.

Just on the off chance that's what you're noticing, I thought I would point that out. I do not have any flickering problems with my HD65, I got it with 0 hrs on the bulb about a month ago, and now I've got 20 something hrs on it (actually more than 20 because I use it in std mode and that counts like every 1.5 hours as 1 hour on the timer, or 2 hrs as 1 hr, I forget), and i haven't noticed any flickering except for what the ImageAI introduces.

Keep the bulb setting on full. Its made to run at the maximum wattage, and its flickering because it dos not like the lower wattage. It could also be caused by the ballast, but I would highly reccomend running the bulb on its high setting.

Keep the bulb setting on full. Its made to run at the maximum wattage, and its flickering because it dos not like the lower wattage. It could also be caused by the ballast, but I would highly reccomend running the bulb on its high setting.

Thanks for the tip;), should I run it on full for a little while or keep it always on full?

Thanks for the tip;), should I run it on full for a little while or keep it always on full?
Usually running it is high/normal mode temporarily is enough to wear the electrodes in to where the arc doesn't jump around (which is what causes lamp flicker). A few hours, sometimes more though. Sadly lamp flicker is just part of life when dealing with mercury vapor lamps.

I have found that flickering can occur in either normal or low lamp mode. This is usually because two equidistant points have developed on the electrodes in the lamp, and arc jumps between them.

Switching to the 'opposite' mode ( normal / low ) for a few hours has always cleared it up for me.

Jonathan

Thanks for your explanation guys ;)

I guess I shouldn't panic and I should enjoy this little guy. Today for instance I haven't notice any flickering and I was running std mode for 2.5hrs. I guess I'll switch between std/brt if the problem occurs again... Regardless I did sent a question about it to Optoma's tech support, I wonder what will be official response from them... ;)

Just an update:
Optoma replied saying I should send them the unit so technician will take a look at it under RMA :rolleyes: It is a refurb unit, so the bulb warranty is gone. So I could end up paying shipping for both ways plus cost of diagnosis, and if diagnosis is accepted it might be followed by the labour fees.. :eek: Hmmm... I was hoping they will ask me to perform some tests to try before shipping them the unit. Oh well hopefully the 'workaround' will always work ;)

I wouldn't send it in if I was you. I have a refurb unit from CC as well. I noticed a flicker around the same hour mark as you. I'm now around 100 hours and haven't noticed any flicker in quite some time. I keep mine in eco mode all the time because I can't stand the fan noise in full brightness.

I wouldn't send it in if I was you. I have a refurb unit from CC as well. I noticed a flicker around the same hour mark as you. I'm now around 100 hours and haven't noticed any flicker in quite some time. I keep mine in eco mode all the time because I can't stand the fan noise in full brightness.

Thanks for your reply :D No way I'll be sending them the unit, I'm just a little disappointed with their technical support. Perhaps other vendors are the same and I expect too much. Regardless this unit kicks ars, and I would buy it again ;)

I'm running mine in Eco mode ad well just checked and I'm at 12 hrs...I'll be sure to report back if I detect any flickering etc