View Full Version : New DLP Bulb - Looked Great, flickered, now dim


blacknoi
12-22-07, 02:50 PM
I have a 2 and a half year old Samsung DLP HL-R5667W tv set... . the picture looked a bit dim, and so I bought a new bulb.

It looked AMAZING once I got the new bulb installed (bought from samsungparts.com). It looked, IMO BETTER than the tv set looked on day 1 when I first got it.

I had to actually back off the contrast from like level 99 to about 60 to 70, depending on my input. Brightness was backed off from 80+ to 50 or less on each input.

Then just yesterday, about 9 days after installing the bulb, I noticed some flicker of the picture in light levels.... there were about 3 separate flickering occurances, for about 5-8 seconds each. During these flickering occurances, the picture got really dark, then bright... and then settled at a light level much less than the original operating level had been for the prior 9 days.

It hasn't flickered anymore since yesterday, but I've had to re-increase my contrast and Brightness again... not as much as it was on the OLD bulb, but much more than I had the last few days.

Also, in my opinion, the picture now only looks marginally better than it did than my old bulb.

Is this typical of DLP bulbs? Do they have a honeymoon period of looking AWESOME, then crap out and settle at a less than stellar performance level?

I don't remember this at all with my original bulb.

I was going to call Samsung Parts, but they are closed today, being that its a Saturday... I think I might have gotten a defective lamp....

Any and all opinions and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

blacknoi
12-22-07, 06:31 PM
Update, I removed and reseated the bulb in the housing.

I *think* I perceive the bulb to be a bit brighter now. Is this possible?

Bobcel
12-22-07, 06:34 PM
If it continues to flicker, it may be the ballast is going. Seems others that have experienced this changed the ballast and problem solved. You may want to contact SS and ask....

rnick1976
12-23-07, 01:28 PM
Yep - my money's on the ballast going.

blacknoi
12-23-07, 06:17 PM
Thats for the info guys....

I just wanted to report that since reseating the bulb, I have not had any flickering of the bulb. It also seems be the back to the original brightness.

I'm guessing if it is the ballast, its at least returned to normal operation now. Since I'm out of warranty, I'll ride it out as long as it looks good to my eye (and that I can backup based on contrast and brightness #s).