I was wondering how to store a spare lamp for my PT AE1000.
I mean does it affect lamp life depending on conditions? and will it be good in a year or two when it needs to be changed?
I heard that you should replace it right away to make sure its good but I only have 82 hours on the first one and Im paranoid that if I do it now there is a chance of getting a dust blob or two.
I dont want to worry about that but I also dont want to be stuck with a bad bulb when I have to change it later.

Test it in somebody elses projector. Test it in a surgically clean room such as in a chip manufactuing facility. Whatever you do, don't freeze you new bulb and don't store it in an eathquake zone or any place where it could shake a lot. Keep it at nomal room temperature.

Unless you test it to be sure it is working initially, you are rolling the dice. It won't be the biggest gamble of your life.

Here is my procedure for the last 3 bulbs.

1) Open shipping box and remove bulb box.
2) Open bulb box and remove bulb assembly leaving it inside the plastic bag.
3) Examine to make sure it's the right bulb, in new condition and in one piece.
4) Put back in the box.
5) Put the box in my desk drawer.
6) Wait until needed or the super bowl which ever comes first.

Here is my procedure for the last 3 bulbs.

1) Open shipping box and remove bulb box.
2) Open bulb box and remove bulb assembly leaving it inside the plastic bag.
3) Examine to make sure it's the right bulb, in new condition and in one piece.
4) Put back in the box.
5) Put the box in my desk drawer.
6) Wait until needed or the super bowl which ever comes first.

The problem with that procedure is the fact that you don't test the lamp. After the manufacturer's warranty period expires they will not swap the lamp. If you received a defective lamp you've just wasted approx. $400.00. It's a good idea to physically inspect the lamp, but you'll never be sure it works until you test it.

I run 100 hours on each bulb and then store it as spare.

I would not buy a spare until the original lamp is out of it's 90 day warranty by several weeks. Then use the new one in the projector, storing the original as your spare. This way you will not take the chance of either lamp going out without it giving you the full warranty period.

I also store lamps in the box the new one came in and just put them in a cabinet in the family room. Temps and humidity are pretty steady in that room.

My $.02, Cheers!

I would not buy a spare until the original lamp is out of it's 90 day warranty by several weeks. Then use the new one in the projector, storing the original as your spare. This way you will not take the chance of either lamp going out without it giving you the full warranty period.

I also store lamps in the box the new one came in and just put them in a cabinet in the family room. Temps and humidity are pretty steady in that room.

My $.02, Cheers!


Very sound advice.

Thanks for all the great info, I appreciate it!

the bottom line is that you need to test it and hope you don't introduce any dust etc into your projector while testing it. You should be fine.

I'm pretty new to projectors and such. Why would there be a risk of dust blobs when replacing the bulb? Does that expose the LCD panel assembly and optics to the air, so you just have to be careful?