This stuff bugs me so much I probably will end doing reviews here. I don't need the agrevation in my life.
Doing "reviews" is not what people have an issue with.

It's the blatant Optoma homerism you exhibit, and turning a blind eye to problems such as this.

Doing "reviews" is not what people have an issue with.

It's the blatant Optoma homerism you exhibit, and turning a blind eye to problems such as this.
Apparently, he is an Optoma dealer Link (http://cgi.videogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?projdlpa&1149187181) (this link has been posted before, he does use that handle, and has yet to deny a connection), so his bias is just par for the course.

Enough already on the Tom bashing!!! It's getting old.
I understand your gripe, but your points have been made over and over!

Scott

Enough already on the Tom bashing!!! It's getting old.
I understand your gripe, but your points have been made over and over!

Ditto. Personally, I think Tom's reviews are fine. I also think that anyone who believes they will actually get 3000 usable hours out of any projector bulb ( or even 2000 hours ) is fooling themselves, despite what the sales claims say. Doesn't matter who makes the projector. If I get 1000 hours I'm giddy.

i don't see real bashing (just comments stemming from the self-induced pity parade post) but FULL DISCLOSURE is long overdue.

agreed that 2k hours is unrealistic but 1k is something that customer should expect if not demand.

Hai,

What supprises me is the level of 'lets not check so we can claim its just projector x,y,x' ive been following several threads (ruby for example) that seem to tell us to expect the same amount of bulb reduction. Sure im upset over the numbers (and i think my bulb is acting normal!) but what is suprising me more is the huge amount of threads over bulbs and the little time people spend trying to find out the facts. Im still shocked why there is no huge mountain of datapoints for all the popular projectors.

Also i very dislike the fact that everytime i post new numbers this is turning into a cat fight please open a new thread if you must this one is for 'unhappy people who want to learn more or be able to check if their bulb is weirder than others that might lead to better support'.

Daniel.

I don't see any cat-fight, danielo. I do see checks and balances, and holding to account. All people want is honesty. And I too, am surprised that so few are taking measurements. I think it is that few see what good it would do, as we all believe from experience that it would make little difference. Optoma knows about the problem, and knows the reason. The problem is thus a political one, not a technical one, as I've described above.

And Craig Peer, for some reason you see it as self-evident that bulbs should only last half as long as represented in the specs! This is peculiar. I think most rational people tend to believe what they're told by a big company, sometimes even in the face of countervailing evidence. People on this forum know to expect less than 3,000, but it does not make sense to think that Joe Sixpack would.

Just because there is misrepresentation, does not make it right. Don't just flop over and give up. I know you do not want to hear it, but it is the truth.

this horse is dead. Can we please stop beating it :rolleyes:

And Craig Peer, for some reason you see it as self-evident that bulbs should only last half as long as represented in the specs! This is peculiar. I think most rational people tend to believe what they're told by a big company, sometimes even in the face of countervailing evidence. People on this forum know to expect less than 3,000, but it does not make sense to think that Joe Sixpack would.

Just because there is misrepresentation, does not make it right. Don't just flop over and give up. I know you do not want to hear it, but it is the truth.

Fact is I'll bet you 75% of projector owners try and run their projector on TOO BIG A SCREEN to begin with and their bulbs are too dim long before the stated bulb life anyway, due to ignorance. Whether the projector works perfectly or not.

Hey - regarding Tom's reviews - there is no way to see these problems either. That's like saying the guy doing the new car review should have anticipated the drive train failure at 140,000 miles!!

Hey - who makes a decent light meter that is easy to use danielo ( one more time please )?

Help - Sharp 10K lamp replacement
Folks, need some help. My ~3 year old Sharp 10K's lamp popped last week. I don't think it has more than 500-600 hours on it but can't prove it because the unit won't turn on. Sharp gave different answers, once saying that they will replace the lamp for free if it had less than 1500 hours and other time saying that it is out of warranty, so take it to a service location . The service guy is interested in well, servicing the unit - clean, calibrate, adjust. I told him that all I need is a check on how long my dead lamp lived, but to no avail.

The service location wants me to take the unit to them to avoid a nasty home visit charge. My projector is ceiling mounted and I don't want to take it down when all I need is a new lamp. I took out the dead lamp and the cage and inside of the PJ is clean. There is some debris inside the lamp. I'm considering ordering the lamp (from where?) and see for myself if my claim on short life of the lamp is even true and then think of the reimbursement option since I will need a lamp in any case.

I found this interesting. Too bad we can't do a world wide projector bulb survey.

Fact is I'll bet you 75% of projector owners try and run their projector on TOO BIG A SCREEN to begin with and their bulbs are too dim long before the stated bulb life anyway, due to ignorance. Whether the projector works perfectly or not.

Hey - regarding Tom's reviews - there is no way to see these problems either. That's like saying the guy doing the new car review should have anticipated the drive train failure at 140,000 miles!!

Hey - who makes a decent light meter that is easy to use danielo ( one more time please )?

Not sure what is decent (in this context :) ). Im not a expert but ive used a velleman dvm1300.

http://www.designnotes.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=DVM1300&Category_Code=tee

But if you search a little there are others. The number i got seem to match most reviews at 0hours so it can't be that bad.

Daniel.

Is the sprinkler system done putting out the flames? Back on topic...

I'm passing emails back and forth with Thomas Brock (Senior Customer Service Rep) and he's offering a $100 off the purchase of another bulb. Is this the best Optoma can do, a $100 off a bulb that only lasted on 196hrs???

Is the sprinkler system done putting out the flames? Back on topic...

I'm passing emails back and forth with Thomas Brock (Senior Customer Service Rep) and he's offering a $100 off the purchase of another bulb. Is this the best Optoma can do, a $100 off a bulb that only lasted on 196hrs???

After seeing your images i think they should just replace it. I would demand that if i was talking to optoma europe. Clearly something went wrong and they should take care of you. Again my dealings with optoma europe has been up and behind the call of duty including replacing my machine with a new one and a free bulb after 1500h. Hope optoma usa awakes to what we feel is important (a fair amount of support) or they will loose my next sale (if it happend at optoma europe).

Daniel.

Is the sprinkler system done putting out the flames? Back on topic...
Hey, if you prefer to not have honesty, that's fine. Don't expect everyone to accept it though.

Hai,

The new numbers, again for what i consider 'normal' on a H78/H79 bulb :

50 normal=429L, bright=569L
80 normal=414L, bright=540L
100 normal=379L, bright=523L
144 normal=362L, bright=506L
157 normal=358L, bright=502L
185 normal=355L, bright=494L
208 normal=350L, bright=485L
240 normal=350L, bright=481L
300 normal=338L, bright=456L
350 normal=329L, bright=431L
400 normal=308L, bright=405L
480 normal=295L, bright=395L
545 normal=287L, bright=384L

so for last interval 0.12 lumens/hour drop for normal and .16 for bright mode. at this 'speed' we will 167 at 1500h for normal and 224 for bight mode. For me (gain included) that would be in bright mode a l/f of about 6 and time to change the bulb.

Daniel.

Hai,

The new numbers, again for what i consider 'normal' on a H78/H79 bulb :

50 normal=429L, bright=569L
80 normal=414L, bright=540L
100 normal=379L, bright=523L
144 normal=362L, bright=506L
157 normal=358L, bright=502L
185 normal=355L, bright=494L
208 normal=350L, bright=485L
240 normal=350L, bright=481L
300 normal=338L, bright=456L
350 normal=329L, bright=431L
400 normal=308L, bright=405L
480 normal=295L, bright=395L
545 normal=287L, bright=384L

so for last interval 0.12 lumens/hour drop for normal and .16 for bright mode. at this 'speed' we will 167 at 1500h for normal and 224 for bight mode. For me (gain included) that would be in bright mode a l/f of about 6 and time to change the bulb.

Daniel.
Seems that Optoma is not telling us truth about lamp life. My quick calculation based on your current numbers and estimate that lumens/hour drop will be from now on about 0.12 is about 1149 hours when lumens have dropped to 50% of original light output. They claim it is 3000 hours but it will reach only 1/3 in the best case, unless it fails around 300-500 hours like it seems to do in many cases.

Maintenance cost for this projector is way too high (it is actually at least 3 times what is should be). If Optoma cannot solve bulb life problem, they should atleast reduce lamp price 66% to compensate our loss.

Seems that Optoma is not telling us truth about lamp life. My quick calculation based on your current numbers and estimate that lumens/hour drop will be from now on about 0.12 is about 1149 hours when lumens have dropped to 50% of original light output. They claim it is 3000 hours but it will reach only 1/3 in the best case, unless it fails around 300-500 hours like it seems to do in many cases.

Maintenance cost for this projector is way too high (it is actually at least 3 times what is should be). If Optoma cannot solve bulb life problem, they should atleast reduce lamp price 66% to compensate our loss.

Well i don't think this is 'weird' in that only optoma does this the 2000/3000 number comes from only doing long runs if you ask me and not normal use like the lumens number im not happy with it but don't consider it special for optoma most if not all brands are the same with a few exceptions that run them at say 120watts instead of 200+. I allways considered this a 1500h bulb max.

Daniel.

I sent an e-mail to Optoma Canada about my concerns regarding the replacment unit and they called back within the hour. Every one of my concerns was addressed and I have been assured that the unit is brand new. What happened is they opened it and tested it out to make sure it was ok. That's why the connectors looked used and the projector was in a pink plastic sheet instead of the foam wrapping.

It did smell brand new when I hooked it up yesterday. I have no reason to question the Optoma rep's responses. He was very prompt and courteous. I will however check out the service menu to ensure the hours are the same as the bulb hours. But it isn't a priority.

He did confirm my understanding of the serial number encoding regarding manufacturing date.

I consider this case closed with Optoma and am a very happy customer.

Well, my replacement unit has started doing the same thing. Over the weekend, it failed to startup (flashing blue light, red lamp light). After waiting a couple of minutes, it started up fine. I have only 140 hours on it and have sent an e-mail off to Optoma Canada. It'll be interesting to see what they have to say now. I sent that off on Monday and haven't heard back yet.

With the first unit, they said my bulb was starting to age and that was the explanation for the failed startup. However, they replaced the unit. Wonder if this new bulb with 140 hours is also starting to age (sarcastic tone)?

I'll wait to see what they do now before venting.

Hai,

The new numbers, for a bulb of a H78/H79 that is imho on a normal path.

50 normal=429L, bright=569L
80 normal=414L, bright=540L
100 normal=379L, bright=523L
144 normal=362L, bright=506L
157 normal=358L, bright=502L
185 normal=355L, bright=494L
208 normal=350L, bright=485L
240 normal=350L, bright=481L
300 normal=338L, bright=456L
350 normal=329L, bright=431L
400 normal=308L, bright=405L
480 normal=295L, bright=395L
545 normal=287L, bright=384L
659 normal=274L, bright=367L

Greetings,

Daniel.

Surely you don't mean 'normal' normal, but 'Optoma' normal. You're down by 36%, while you are 22% into the bulb's life.

Surely you don't mean 'normal' normal, but 'Optoma' normal. You're down by 36%, while you are 22% into the bulb's life.

O come on do we really need to have this fight everytime i post new numbers ... What i am saying its doing what i expected it to do since the last bulb i change was at 1500h. Ive seen _very_ little proof of other brands/people posting their numbers instead of guessing. please show me the 1 to 1000h numbers of 5 popular brands so we can compare.

Again im not happy at _all_ with bulbs just saying i feel this bulb seems to be working the same as the last one ive used. Also until others start posting results instead of 'feelings' i have no reason to asume optoma is alone in this.

So who has results for popular projectors ? seems with all this bitching on bulbs very few people are willing to track them and post numbers.

Daniel.

'Optoma' normal, it is.

It does not matter how other projectors compare. Optoma's specs are wildly inaccurate, and that is what I had based my economic life calculations on.

Relativism is a slippery slope.

'Optoma' normal, it is.

It does not matter how other projectors compare. Optoma's specs are wildly inaccurate, and that is what I had based my economic life calculations on.

Relativism is a slippery slope.

yeah commenting each time that it won't make its 3000 hours and 1000lumens too so lets scream at all of them like they will change their PR ******** until someone starts calling them on it with facts. Now slowly we are starting to see some brands adding real cr numbers at D65 how you think that happend ?

Daniel.

I’ve also just joined the H79 lamp issue club. I am currently reading 114 lumens in economy and 167 lumens in bright mode, with 479 hours on the lamp. This is measured with the sensor facing the pj. The picture is still viewable, but you pretty much need to have the room black.
I called Optoma USA today about the issue. I have to say my experience, (so far), has been really good. They offered to swap the whole projector or just the lamp, (I’m 2 weeks shy of my 1st year of ownership). I decided to go the lamp swap route since this seems to be the issue. You do have to pay for the new lamp in advance if you want to hot swap, but they will refund you when you return the old one.
The most annoying part of this is the fact that I just had the pj professionally ISF calibrated a few months ago. Now I get to pay to have this done again, or at least tweaked.
I will post some new lamp output measurements when I get the new one installed.

A decent ISF would offer a service warranty even though not fault of their own just to keep a happy customer so you don't choose another ISFer. New lamps do change greyscale and you best burn it in again - but at least your last ISFer corrected the mismarketed greyscale and your video sources - so should be an easy retweak.

Interesting that danielo has been tracking the numbers - if you further plot on a log-log scale you see that it is an exponential decay (linear in log space). Which means that most of the lamp life is consumed in the beginning not the end. Of course projector design may have an impact on the slope of that decay - but I think exponential decay should be considered normal - rather than being scared off by a steep linear decay at the beginning - one should realize it will spend most of it's design life closer to the 50% ANSI lumens rather than the initial spec. This is not to diminish those whose lamps do die before the 500h mark - but I think one should take notes of the exponential decay inherent in the burn-out process. You cannot extrapolate linearly from early life to end life - but looks like you can do it logarithmically.

http://krasmuzik.home.comcast.net/Lamp.pdf

Hai,

krasmuzik, yes ill add a gfx (and if people want my excel sheet just ask). Im now at 750 and now it becomes tricky since ill be moving from normal to bright mode to keep my lamberts up :). So we will probably see a clear shift now but i guess most people will move from normal to bright about the same time. My guess is it we will see a extra curve now but lets wait and see :)

So here are the new numbers and i also added a gfx...

50 normal=429L, bright=569L
80 normal=414L, bright=540L
100 normal=379L, bright=523L
144 normal=362L, bright=506L
157 normal=358L, bright=502L
185 normal=355L, bright=494L
208 normal=350L, bright=485L
240 normal=350L, bright=481L
300 normal=338L, bright=456L
350 normal=329L, bright=431L
400 normal=308L, bright=405L
480 normal=295L, bright=395L
545 normal=287L, bright=384L
659 normal=274L, bright=367L
760 normal=253L, bright=338L (switched from normal to bright at 750h !!)


Daniel.

I just installed a new lamp replaced under warranty. The difference is quite noticeable both visually and from the numbers:

Old lamp at 479 hrs
Economy: 118 lum
Bright: 174 lum

New lamp at 0 hrs
Economy: 297 lum
Bright: 377 lum

Obviously there’s significant improvement, but the numbers I’m seeing are quite different than what daniello has posted. Can someone please confirm I measured this right? Here’s what I did:
-Using a AEMC CA813 lightmeter I took 9 measurements at different points on the screen for an average of 89/113 Lux (econ/brite modes). The sensor was facing the pj.
-The formula I used was Screen area (in Meters sqr) x Lux ave. = Lumens
In my case the screen is 4.5ft X 8.0ft = 36 sqrft.
36 sqft X 0.0929 = 3.34 Meters sqr
3.34 Msqr x 89lux=297 Lum(econ)
3.34 Msqr x 113lux =377 Lum (brite)

Shouldn’t I been seeing lumen numbers in the 500’s? Maybe I’m not understanding how this all works, (which wouldn’t be the first time…). Help is appreciated.

I think most people just measure the center - despite ANSI lumens being a 9pt measure as you did to counteract lens uniformity...

I think most people just measure the center - despite ANSI lumens being a 9pt measure as you did to counteract lens uniformity...

Thanks for the feedback. The center point readings are 92 lux/307 lum (econ) and 114 lux/383 lum (brite).

One other thing I noticed is that readings fluctuate up to 10+ lum based on the angle the sensor is to the screen. My readings are based on keeping the sensor face parallel to screen. If I angle it up, say 20 degrees, the readings might go up. I’m not sure I’m doing this the right way.

Thanks for the feedback. The center point readings are 92 lux/307 lum (econ) and 114 lux/383 lum (brite).

One other thing I noticed is that readings fluctuate up to 10+ lum based on the angle the sensor is to the screen. My readings are based on keeping the sensor face parallel to screen. If I angle it up, say 20 degrees, the readings might go up. I’m not sure I’m doing this the right way.

yeah i do them only at the center and there is atleast a 10% flux over the screen i did take more points at some stage in this thread but its just too much work.

my numbers at 50hours (no screen gain, only center) are

102lux in normal and 135lux in bright.

Daniel.

My Optoma had major dimming at 400 hours and it finally konked out as the red light would not stop flashing when turned on and no picture. I then shipped it to optoma for a hot swap and they called me yesterday to let me know they have no more H79's and that I would have to accept a refurbished unit with a new bulb. I was disappointed and I asked if I could just wait for the HD81 and pay a fee, which they responded with no as well. So today I'm getting my "refurbished unit" back. Just wanted to let everybody know that they are no longer making the H79.

Hai,

The new numbers at 890hours, remember we switched to brightmode at 750.

50 normal=429L, bright=569L
80 normal=414L, bright=540L
100 normal=379L, bright=523L
144 normal=362L, bright=506L
157 normal=358L, bright=502L
185 normal=355L, bright=494L
208 normal=350L, bright=485L
240 normal=350L, bright=481L
300 normal=338L, bright=456L
350 normal=329L, bright=431L
400 normal=308L, bright=405L
480 normal=295L, bright=395L
545 normal=287L, bright=384L
659 normal=274L, bright=367L
760 normal=253L, bright=338L (switched from normal to bright at 750h !!)
890 normal=224L, bright=300L

So we are at about .3 lumens per hour loss and we are _very_ close to 50% loss point that at will probably happen at say 1100h.

Daniel.

Hai,

The new numbers at 890hours, remember we switched to brightmode at 750.

50 normal=429L, bright=569L
80 normal=414L, bright=540L
100 normal=379L, bright=523L
144 normal=362L, bright=506L
157 normal=358L, bright=502L
185 normal=355L, bright=494L
208 normal=350L, bright=485L
240 normal=350L, bright=481L
300 normal=338L, bright=456L
350 normal=329L, bright=431L
400 normal=308L, bright=405L
480 normal=295L, bright=395L
545 normal=287L, bright=384L
659 normal=274L, bright=367L
760 normal=253L, bright=338L (switched from normal to bright at 750h !!)
890 normal=224L, bright=300L

So we are at about .3 lumens per hour loss and we are _very_ close to 50% loss point that at will probably happen at say 1100h.

Daniel.
Optoma specs say 2000 hours in low mode and 3000 hours in high mode. Seems that they have pulled those specs out of the hat. Real life numbers are almost 50% lower in best case (large number of lamps fail in 0-500 hours).

Anyone got any news from Optoma what they are going to do about this?

Hai,

I know i am repeating myself, the reason i am posting these numbers is because nobody else does it. I think there is a gap in testing bulbs it seems almost nobody is willing todo it and share the information. I have no problem with optoma, the support they have given me sofar has been top notch. The first bulb i replaced at 1500h and i fully expect todo the same thing with this bulb at 1500h (it will then be at about 6lft for me. I consider myself a 'good' user in that i allways run the projector for atleast 3 hours and in that sense i should be
able to make the 2000h and 3000h. So yes i do consider optoma usage numbers faulty but imho so are 99% of all the other projector builders providing the same kind of numbers. I hope the H81 with its 300watt bulb will be of a better type but personally i doubt it (unless they tell me otherwise) and i expect it to go even faster since the 100 extra watts will come at a extra price. The only reason the sim2 projectors years ago had 6000 and even 8000h bulb lifes is that they drove them at 100,120, 150 watts max.

Daniel.

thanks for the measurements. i'll probably get a light meter before i change bulbs to do some measurements on my next one. but you are probably getting numbers most owners would be VERY VERY happy with. i also phoned Optoma to see what they will do (nothing most likely).

This thread's been inactive for awhile, but just thought I'd post my H79 bulb measurements for posterity. ;)
I've not taken readings for awile, but then again I've not put that many hours on my PJ, here it is:

New bulb: econ 307 lum, brite 382 lum
121 hrs: econ 211 lum, brite 281 lum

Thats a 32% decrease in econ!!
WTF--at this rate I'll be replacing the bullb at at 400hrs (again)!

50 normal=429L, bright=569L
80 normal=414L, bright=540L
100 normal=379L, bright=523L
144 normal=362L, bright=506L
157 normal=358L, bright=502L
185 normal=355L, bright=494L
208 normal=350L, bright=485L
240 normal=350L, bright=481L
300 normal=338L, bright=456L
350 normal=329L, bright=431L
400 normal=308L, bright=405L
480 normal=295L, bright=395L
545 normal=287L, bright=384L
659 normal=274L, bright=367L
760 normal=253L, bright=338L (switched from normal to bright at 750h !!)
890 normal=224L, bright=300L
1360 normal=120L, bright=160L

New numbers, ive moved and had to redo a ht setup. New screen (bigger, more gain) and then had some time to test to my shock it was down at 160lumens. I got a very good deal on a new bulb so i just put it in to find very weird number they are alot lower than the old bulb :

new bulb

0 normal=395L, bright=521L

Not sure what to think of this...

Daniel.

care to share more details about the great deal on the bulb?

50 normal=429L, bright=569L
80 normal=414L, bright=540L
100 normal=379L, bright=523L
144 normal=362L, bright=506L
157 normal=358L, bright=502L
185 normal=355L, bright=494L
208 normal=350L, bright=485L
240 normal=350L, bright=481L
300 normal=338L, bright=456L
350 normal=329L, bright=431L
400 normal=308L, bright=405L
480 normal=295L, bright=395L
545 normal=287L, bright=384L
659 normal=274L, bright=367L
760 normal=253L, bright=338L (switched from normal to bright at 750h !!)
890 normal=224L, bright=300L
1360 normal=120L, bright=160L

New numbers, ive moved and had to redo a ht setup. New screen (bigger, more gain) and then had some time to test to my shock it was down at 160lumens. I got a very good deal on a new bulb so i just put it in to find very weird number they are alot lower than the old bulb :

new bulb

0 normal=395L, bright=521L

Not sure what to think of this...

Daniel.
I think your numbers with the new bulb are OK. I remember reading that brightness of a new bulbs can vary hugely from bulb to bulb (I can't remember exact percentage, but I think it was something like -20% to +20%). Also projectors optics do deteoriate over time due to a dust buildup and an outgassing vapors causing lower light output.

I wouldn't worry about those numbers danielo. I think you got lucky on your first bulb. The bulb I'm using now was only 338 lumens in economy at 0 hrs; exactly what you had at 300 hours! I'm right around half of that now at about 475 hours and 170 lumens. I have a HP screen so I'm OK. In fact I'm still running it with an ND2 filter. I do have a hr/lumen list now with about 10 data points on it. I will try to post it soon. Going to watch Ant Bully HD DVD tonight with the fam. You definitely watch more movies than me! My 475 hours has taken 1 year.

Brent

Hello,

Just thought I would let you all know with my H79 I rigged the double fan set up spoke about in this thread. with a lux meter I measured 184 lux in the meter(before any measurement adjustments) with a brand new bulb. At 100 hrs on the new bulb without the additional fans I got 165 lux. I replaced that bulb around 350 hrs(at that point it had less than 100 lux)...then set the fans up for cooling. With a new bulb it once again measured 184 lux. At 125 hours I measured 160 lux...the difference for the first 100 hours or so was not that significant with the additional fans. I am hoping over the next 200 to 300 hours this bulb will not lose at the same pace as the first 100 hours or I may rethink if the extra noise from the additional fans is really worth it.

I don't have an Optima projector. I only have an lowly InFocus X1. On the other hand I have more than 3500 hours on my original bulb. Yes it is getting dim - again. Its therefore time for me to clean the color wheel - again.

After about 1500 hours I noticed that my X1 was getting dim so I opened it up and wiped off the color wheel with tap water on a Q-tip. Miraculously most of the original brightness was restored. Most X1 owners know this trick. Its well documented on this forum. I don't know if such a procedure is possible with an Optima projector but it really does make a remarkable difference. It only takes about a half hour and a little courage.

Apparently the very hot UHP bulb evaporates some of the plastic components and they form deposits on the color wheel. Its as if you develop a Neutral Density Filter in the light path. The net effect is that it looks as if your bulb has grown dim but it hasn't. If indeed the Optima projectors run particularly hot they should be volatizing a lot of internal plastic which must condense somewhere.

I wouldn't worry about those numbers danielo. I think you got lucky on your first bulb. The bulb I'm using now was only 338 lumens in economy at 0 hrs; exactly what you had at 300 hours! I'm right around half of that now at about 475 hours and 170 lumens. I have a HP screen so I'm OK. In fact I'm still running it with an ND2 filter. I do have a hr/lumen list now with about 10 data points on it. I will try to post it soon. Going to watch Ant Bully HD DVD tonight with the fam. You definitely watch more movies than me! My 475 hours has taken 1 year.

Brent

Its not that i am that worried, its more than there is such a huge range. So looks like bulbs are used claim say 1000lumens, only to give about 500 with what a 20% delta ?. Then go down faster than they claim.

I can't wait until we get something better than bulbs... o well for fun ill keep tracking this one too.

Daniel.

Well my bulb died over the weekend. It went out then I got it restarted it worked for 45 min then went out for good. Could not get it restarted even the next day. Put in replacement and it started right up. I got 521 Hours on the lamp all in econo mode. It was still bright enough when it quit working. Always ran it for 2 or more hours when started and never restarted it right after shut down. I hope I get more hours out of this one. At $380 it gets kind of pricey.

I now have 230 hours on my bulb that I have been using the additional fans with and I am getting a lux reading(reading right off the lux meter) of 132 lux as opposed to 144 lux on my old bulb at 212 hours without additional fans. As you can see there is no real difference with the additional cooling fans. On another note.....the question of cleaning the color wheel came up...if the wheelgets a filter like coat on it and the bulb may be able to burn brighter if wheel was cleaned....my question is when I put a new bulb in I get the same brightness on every new bulb which is about 185 lux meter reading. If the wheel cleaning made any difference you would think the new bulb readings would be higher. Does anyone have hope for the H series optoma's in regards to retrofitting a new bulb technology? is it possible to build a top 222 250w bulb that will actually stay bright? or is there another projector out there with a different technology that can maintain a bright picture for long periods of time?

OT - Sorry
Jim - Please stop spamming me with your jim@numberonefunding.com emails. I put in "REMOVE" as subject line as you suggested and you still spam me. Stop the madness.