Bulb Life 2006: All Microdisplay owners please vote

c1courtney · 01-10-06, 02:28 PM

I originally posted a poll on this back in March '05. I figure now a lot of people have put more hours on their sets and I figured I'd re-poll.

Here's last years poll http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=516125

CCourtney

EDIT: Corrected URL to point to last years poll instead of a picture of my TV

EDIT: Adding information about Service Menu's so users can find their lamp usage.

Most people can find the hours on their bulb by going into their Service Menu (SM). If people send me a PM I'll post links threads indicating how to get into the SM of various sets.

Instructions for entering the SM of various HDTVs
Samsung DLP Sets: With power off, using the remote Mute, 1, 8, 2, Power will get you into your service menu.

Caution: Before changing settings in the SM it is strongly advised that you write down all the settings in the SM. There have been reports of people damaging sets by making changes in the SM, so if you're not comfortable don't do it. Browsing the SM to find the bulb usage does not require the changing of SM settings.

SM Picturers:
JVC D-ILA
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&&#post6454176

Mitsu 1080p
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&&#post6201460

Panasonic
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&&#post5677129

Hitachi LCD
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&&#post5144531

Samsung DLP
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&&#post3841704

Toshiba DLP
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&&#post4864441

Owner Threads:
HP Pavilion DLP
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=592933

Qualia 006
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=498008

RCA HDxxLPW162
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=474836

Toshiba xxMX195
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=597364

Sony SXRD xxBR1
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=584936

Toshiba 1080p
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=541611

Hitachi LCD V500
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=351829

Samsung 1080p
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=559872

Thanks go out to Videobruce for most of the links here.

CCourtney

jjsmithin · 01-10-06, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c1courtney

I originally posted a poll on this back in March '05. I figure now a lot of people have put more hours on their sets and I figured I'd re-poll.

Here's last years poll http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attac...chmentid=32310

CCourtney

the url is a picture.....no results

c1courtney · 01-11-06, 09:01 AM

Need to bump this back up to the top

videobruce · 01-11-06, 09:59 AM

Needs to be a 'sticky'! Request submitted to the 'powers to be'.

jjsmithin · 01-11-06, 11:01 AM

This is an excellent poll. Can administrators sticky is to always be on top?

A sister poll would be to ask average daily viewing hours or length of time before bulb pops.

kdog044 · 01-11-06, 11:06 AM

There also needs the be the ability to change your vote or at the least vote again. Say, for example, I vote that my lamp is still working on the original from 2-4K at 2500 hours and I vote accordingly. Six months later it goes out at 3500 hours. I would want to change my vote or add an additional one. Just a thought.

videobruce · 01-11-06, 11:51 PM

Quote:

This is an excellent poll. Can administrators sticky is to always be on top?

I tried and it was shot down..............

Alan Wong · 01-12-06, 01:48 AM

Wish this poll was more granular because the ranges are too large to be real meaningful. Big difference between 2000 hours and 3999.

c1courtney · 01-12-06, 08:48 AM

I think we all have lots of wish's for this poll. But with the restrictions of 'vote once - no update', 10 questions maximum, and the potential for abuse if you use the 'multiple choice' option. This was the best I could come up with.

CCourtney

videobruce · 01-12-06, 10:50 AM

Your choices were fine. Too bad more don't vote.

Possible solution is to post 'How Tos' for the SM for the more popular sets.

MrMike6by9 · 01-12-06, 11:52 AM

I just voted; 6K+ on orignal lamp. I've held off fearful that I'd be jinxing myself. (Tomorrow is Friday the 13th afterall).

Anyway, I ordered my replacement lamp already and expect to be swapping it in this weekend. My strategy is to use the new one within its 90 warranty and store the new one, that I am hoping will still work, as a backup should I have bulb failure.

YMMV

EDIT: I have a 42 inch GWIII RP that was purchased in October 2003.

Finally did it with 6,488 hours on the original. Placed it in box and stored it as a spare just in case.

videobruce · 01-12-06, 12:00 PM

Is there a serial number ot a date code on these lamps??

IOW's how can anyone tell when it was bought' made and installed?

Stoopid37 · 01-12-06, 01:49 PM

I find this strange, maybe I'm trolling...

With 52 votes in only 4 of them have replaced their bulb. That's 7.7%. With all the complaining about having to replace our bulbs and the cost and the short life span and 'only people with problems read these forums' and related talk on this board you would think it would be much higher. I also figure 4K-6K hours is reasonable life for these bulbs, I know I don't always treat my bulb well. So less than 4% (so far) have had an early failure, and likely replace under warranty.

Not bad - so far.

videoaddikt · 01-12-06, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoopid37

I find this strange, maybe I'm trolling...

With 52 votes in only 4 of them have replaced their bulb. That's 7.7%. With all the complaining about having to replace our bulbs and the cost and the short life span and 'only people with problems read these forums' and related talk on this board you would think it would be much higher. I also figure 4K-6K hours is reasonable life for these bulbs, I know I don't always treat my bulb well. So less than 4% (so far) have had an early failure, and likely replace under warranty.

Not bad - so far.

Your assessment is fair, and consistent from what I've read on other forums. However, both Sony and Sammy, and others to some extent, had bulb and ballast problems, early on. But I would say 2005 was break in that pattern with those sets being repaired and others acquiring displays since late 2004. Still, not one failure in less than 2000 hours. I am sure there have been a few, but mostly attributed to what I said previously.

AcuraCL · 01-12-06, 02:27 PM

Got less than 3500 on the first bulb, less than half that on the second. Not sure about the third one ... still going ....

AL B. · 01-12-06, 03:46 PM

Um how do people know how many hours are on their bulbs.Do the sets have some counter in there you can reset or something?I can't imagine the average guy would log his hours.I sure don't.And if no counter in the tv then these are all just best guess data and might be very off.

Stoopid37 · 01-12-06, 03:50 PM

Most TV's do log the bulb time, but is usually accessable from the service menu. My number was a guess. Based on 3-5 hours of use per day. Some days are more others are less, but that is pretty close. Works out to about 1275hr a year, for me.

videobruce · 01-13-06, 08:54 AM

Maybe the owner of the thread could edit his 1st post to include mentioning the SM and thread links to some of the more popular models.

c1courtney · 01-13-06, 09:21 AM

videobruce,

If you got the links send me a PM, and I'll post them. I'm sorry but I don't have the time at the moment to do the searching

videobruce · 01-13-06, 11:12 AM

Since I don't have a set to watch

, I guess I can take a look..............

Marky_Mark896 · 01-13-06, 01:20 PM

I voted 4-6K original bulb, but to clarify, I had gotten 4-6k out of my original bulb. Then I only got about 1800 hours on the second bulb at failure. I will also toss out my personal opinion...no projection TV set ever again...has since been replaced with a Hitachi 55" Plasma. I love it.

Good Luck,
Mark

lynns_rich · 01-13-06, 05:19 PM

Have just under 3000 hrs on my Sony 55WF655 and still going strong....hope I didn't just jinx myself.

videobruce · 01-14-06, 09:56 AM

I updated the Samsung link for entering the SM, since it wasn't there orginally.

mattbugz · 01-15-06, 12:03 PM

Over 5000 hours on the original bulb. I need to be proactive and purchase a spare.

videoaddikt · 01-15-06, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattbugz

Over 5000 hours on the original bulb. I need to be proactive and purchase a spare.

Buy a new one, and save the original for a spare. Never buy 'spares' . Warranties are typically only 90 days on replacement lamps.

jschner · 01-15-06, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynns_rich

Have just under 3000 hrs on my Sony 55WF655 and still going strong....hope I didn't just jinx myself.

I put my 60WF655 on low power mode from day one. I have 3500 hrs on it so far.

However, I just picked up a spare off ebay the other day just in case.

videoaddikt · 01-16-06, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jschner

I put my 60WF655 on low power mode from day one. I have 3500 hrs on it so far.

However, I just picked up a spare off ebay the other day just in case.

And if your old bulb goes out at 91 days, the new one would be out of it's 90 day warranty.

jschner · 01-16-06, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by videoaddikt

And if your old bulb goes out at 91 days, the new one would be out of it's 90 day warranty.

Seeing how it's an "unused" ebay bulb from a private party, I seriously doubt the word "warranty" even applies here. Got an excellent price on it though so hopefully it works out.

videoaddikt · 01-16-06, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jschner

Seeing how it's an "unused" ebay bulb from a private party, I seriously doubt the word "warranty" even applies here. Got an excellent price on it though so hopefully it works out.

You did not explain that before. Good luck with that!

videobruce · 01-17-06, 08:08 AM

View Poll Results: Hours of bulb use on your uDisplay
0-2K hours: Original Bulb	175	29.51%
0-2K hours: Replaced Bulb	50	8.43%
2-4K hours: Original Bulb	100	16.86%
2-4K hours: Replaced Bulb	28	4.72%
4-6K hours: Original Bulb	44	7.42%
4-6K hours: Replaced Bulb	16	2.70%
>6K hours: Original Bulb	52	8.77%
>6K hours: Replaced Bulb	16	2.70%
Don't know how many hours: Original Bulb	101	17.03%
Don't know how many hours: Replaced Bulb	11	1.85%
Voters: 593. You may not vote on this poll

01-10-06, 02:28 PM	#1 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a4ac4393' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:30&n=a4ac4393' border='0' alt=''></a>
c1courtney Senior Engineer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 1,703	[s]Bulb[/s] UHP Lamp Life 2006: All Microdisplay owners please vote I originally posted a poll on this back in March '05. I figure now a lot of people have put more hours on their sets and I figured I'd re-poll. Here's last years poll http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=516125 CCourtney EDIT: Corrected URL to point to last years poll instead of a picture of my TV EDIT: Adding information about Service Menu's so users can find their lamp usage. Most people can find the hours on their bulb by going into their Service Menu (SM). If people send me a PM I'll post links threads indicating how to get into the SM of various sets. Instructions for entering the SM of various HDTVs Samsung DLP Sets: With power off, using the remote Mute, 1, 8, 2, Power will get you into your service menu. Caution: Before changing settings in the SM it is strongly advised that you write down all the settings in the SM. There have been reports of people damaging sets by making changes in the SM, so if you're not comfortable don't do it. Browsing the SM to find the bulb usage does not require the changing of SM settings. SM Picturers: JVC D-ILA http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&&#post6454176 Mitsu 1080p http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&&#post6201460 Panasonic http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&&#post5677129 Hitachi LCD http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&&#post5144531 Samsung DLP http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&&#post3841704 Toshiba DLP http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&&#post4864441 Owner Threads: HP Pavilion DLP http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=592933 Qualia 006 http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=498008 RCA HDxxLPW162 http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=474836 Toshiba xxMX195 http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=597364 Sony SXRD xxBR1 http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=584936 Toshiba 1080p http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=541611 Hitachi LCD V500 http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=351829 Samsung 1080p http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=559872 Thanks go out to Videobruce for most of the links here. CCourtney Last edited by c1courtney; 01-28-06 at 12:32 PM..

01-11-06, 09:59 AM	#4 \| Link
videobruce SelectaVisionSupport Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 9,651	Needs to be a 'sticky'! Request submitted to the 'powers to be'. __________________ Mergers, acquisitions, takeovers; we all lose. Stop taking the side of these mega corporations. All they care about is the top 10%. That's what 28 years of de-regulation has done.

01-11-06, 11:01 AM	#5 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
jjsmithin Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 232	This is an excellent poll. Can administrators sticky is to always be on top? A sister poll would be to ask average daily viewing hours or length of time before bulb pops.

01-12-06, 10:50 AM	#10 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
videobruce SelectaVisionSupport Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 9,651	Your choices were fine. Too bad more don't vote. Possible solution is to post 'How Tos' for the SM for the more popular sets. __________________ Mergers, acquisitions, takeovers; we all lose. Stop taking the side of these mega corporations. All they care about is the top 10%. That's what 28 years of de-regulation has done.

01-11-06, 09:01 AM	#3 \| Link
c1courtney Senior Engineer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 1,703	Need to bump this back up to the top

01-11-06, 11:06 AM	#6 \| Link
kdog044 Toshiba 62HMX94 DLP Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,614	There also needs the be the ability to change your vote or at the least vote again. Say, for example, I vote that my lamp is still working on the original from 2-4K at 2500 hours and I vote accordingly. Six months later it goes out at 3500 hours. I would want to change my vote or add an additional one. Just a thought.

01-12-06, 01:48 AM	#8 \| Link
Alan Wong Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 373	Wish this poll was more granular because the ranges are too large to be real meaningful. Big difference between 2000 hours and 3999.

01-12-06, 08:48 AM	#9 \| Link
c1courtney Senior Engineer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 1,703	I think we all have lots of wish's for this poll. But with the restrictions of 'vote once - no update', 10 questions maximum, and the potential for abuse if you use the 'multiple choice' option. This was the best I could come up with. CCourtney

01-12-06, 11:52 AM	#11 \| Link
MrMike6by9 AVS Special Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Lutherville, Maryland Posts: 1,247	I just voted; 6K+ on orignal lamp. I've held off fearful that I'd be jinxing myself. (Tomorrow is Friday the 13th afterall). Anyway, I ordered my replacement lamp already and expect to be swapping it in this weekend. My strategy is to use the new one within its 90 warranty and store the new one, that I am hoping will still work, as a backup should I have bulb failure. YMMV EDIT: I have a 42 inch GWIII RP that was purchased in October 2003. Finally did it with 6,488 hours on the original. Placed it in box and stored it as a spare just in case. __________________ "Typos are very important to all written form. It gives the reader something to look for so they aren't distracted by the total lack of content in your writing." - Randy K. Milholland Last edited by MrMike6by9; 01-28-06 at 03:26 PM..

01-12-06, 12:00 PM	#12 \| Link
videobruce SelectaVisionSupport Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 9,651	Is there a serial number ot a date code on these lamps?? IOW's how can anyone tell when it was bought' made and installed? __________________ Mergers, acquisitions, takeovers; we all lose. Stop taking the side of these mega corporations. All they care about is the top 10%. That's what 28 years of de-regulation has done.

01-12-06, 01:49 PM	#13 \| Link
Stoopid37 Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 160	I find this strange, maybe I'm trolling... With 52 votes in only 4 of them have replaced their bulb. That's 7.7%. With all the complaining about having to replace our bulbs and the cost and the short life span and 'only people with problems read these forums' and related talk on this board you would think it would be much higher. I also figure 4K-6K hours is reasonable life for these bulbs, I know I don't always treat my bulb well. So less than 4% (so far) have had an early failure, and likely replace under warranty. Not bad - so far.

01-12-06, 02:27 PM	#15 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
AcuraCL AVS Special Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Suburban Baltimore Posts: 3,784	Got less than 3500 on the first bulb, less than half that on the second. Not sure about the third one ... still going ....

01-12-06, 03:46 PM	#16 \| Link
AL B. Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: regina,saskatchewan,canada Posts: 476	Um how do people know how many hours are on their bulbs.Do the sets have some counter in there you can reset or something?I can't imagine the average guy would log his hours.I sure don't.And if no counter in the tv then these are all just best guess data and might be very off.

01-12-06, 03:50 PM	#17 \| Link
Stoopid37 Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 160	Most TV's do log the bulb time, but is usually accessable from the service menu. My number was a guess. Based on 3-5 hours of use per day. Some days are more others are less, but that is pretty close. Works out to about 1275hr a year, for me.

01-13-06, 08:54 AM	#18 \| Link
videobruce SelectaVisionSupport Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 9,651	Maybe the owner of the thread could edit his 1st post to include mentioning the SM and thread links to some of the more popular models. __________________ Mergers, acquisitions, takeovers; we all lose. Stop taking the side of these mega corporations. All they care about is the top 10%. That's what 28 years of de-regulation has done.

01-13-06, 09:21 AM	#19 \| Link
c1courtney Senior Engineer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 1,703	videobruce, If you got the links send me a PM, and I'll post them. I'm sorry but I don't have the time at the moment to do the searching

01-13-06, 11:12 AM	#20 \| Link
videobruce SelectaVisionSupport Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 9,651	Since I don't have a set to watch , I guess I can take a look.............. __________________ Mergers, acquisitions, takeovers; we all lose. Stop taking the side of these mega corporations. All they care about is the top 10%. That's what 28 years of de-regulation has done.

01-13-06, 01:20 PM	#21 \| Link
Marky_Mark896 AVS Special Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Outside Bowling Green, Ohio Posts: 2,132	I voted 4-6K original bulb, but to clarify, I had gotten 4-6k out of my original bulb. Then I only got about 1800 hours on the second bulb at failure. I will also toss out my personal opinion...no projection TV set ever again...has since been replaced with a Hitachi 55" Plasma. I love it. Good Luck, Mark __________________ It's not just a hobby, it's an obsession...

01-13-06, 05:19 PM	#22 \| Link
lynns_rich Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NW FL Posts: 76	Have just under 3000 hrs on my Sony 55WF655 and still going strong....hope I didn't just jinx myself. __________________ I may be slow...but I do poor work.

01-14-06, 09:56 AM	#23 \| Link
videobruce SelectaVisionSupport Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 9,651	I updated the Samsung link for entering the SM, since it wasn't there orginally. __________________ Mergers, acquisitions, takeovers; we all lose. Stop taking the side of these mega corporations. All they care about is the top 10%. That's what 28 years of de-regulation has done. Last edited by videobruce; 01-14-06 at 10:14 AM..

01-15-06, 12:03 PM	#24 \| Link
mattbugz Degenerate Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southern California, USA Posts: 340	Over 5000 hours on the original bulb. I need to be proactive and purchase a spare. __________________ Regards, Matt

01-17-06, 08:08 AM	#30 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
videobruce SelectaVisionSupport Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 9,651	bump __________________ Mergers, acquisitions, takeovers; we all lose. Stop taking the side of these mega corporations. All they care about is the top 10%. That's what 28 years of de-regulation has done.