I was hoping to someone might have some knowledge on this topic:

I have several Panasonic 5500 (dual lamp) projectors installed in various locations for commercial purposes. Given the fact that they are generally in open lobby style areas and add on that most of these commercial sites crank up the heat to fill the large cavity of space, it tends to be pretty hot in the projector itself (109F). This causes the projector to display a temp error, and no it's not related to the filter, for an extended period of time. I played around and found a "fan control" settings that enables a "HIGHLAND" setting for the fan. I'm curious to know what this means and what exactly it is doing since it managed to solve my temp error problem. The Panasonic manual simply describes it as a setting for projectors above an altitude of 1400'. I'm in Atlanta.

Please any advice on what this setting does, will do to lamp life, and the etc would be appreciated.

My understanding is that high altitude settings just spin the fan faster, since the air is less dense at higher altitudes, so have to push it faster to cool off the bulb (calling all physics professors to tell me how many physical laws I just violated there). It will operate louder, but I don't think in and of itself it would affect bulb life - better than leaving it on normal altitude setting and having the bulb overheat.

Makes sense. I would assume Panasonic would have to put some sort of disclaimer out if high altitudes could effect lamp life and performance.

I dropped the output air temp 30 degrees F on my projector with this simple DIY fan install. I would highly recommend something like this in a commercial setting as you mentioned. Pictures pretty much explain it and there is a link below in my signature.

I started out around 158F and now I’m around 120F. Lamp live was my major concern.

If the projector has a 12v trigger output you could relay control the ext fan.

http://inlinethumb36.webshots.com/35/2995525310068493142S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2995525310068493142jXJHzS)

http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/664/2723389150068493142S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2723389150068493142oLHzJB)

http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/1371/2148831290068493142S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2148831290068493142Zmlnkb)