Mitsubishi HC3000 Flicker

My HC3000 started to flicker at 480 bulb hours. Called Mitsu and they said that my 25' run of Monoprice cables is too long. They said that I need a "line something or another" for a run that long. After searching for what this guy told me I needed I realized that he wanted me to get a HDMI repeater/amp. Anyone ever heard of this before? Needing a repeater for a run this short? He said something on the circuit board within the projector shorted out because of it. I figured it was just a bad bulb. Anyone know what the warranty on the bulb is? The pj is two years but I don't know if that includes the bulb.

The most unfortunate part is I have to send it back for repair. The good part is he said the have a 72 hour or less turnaround time. He was very nice but I question his thinking on the cable run. A 25' run would be a short run for a projector I would think. But he was adamant that this was a long run. Anyone else have a thought? I did purchase a monoprice 5X1 switch but I don't think it should be needed for repeating, just for easy switching of hdmi signals.

mech

Thanks for the reply! That's kind of what I thought about it.

mech

I've read that somewhere else here so I've tried it. The ballast must be part of the bulb package, right? And what do you guys think of the assertion that my cable run was too long?

mech

Thanks Huey! I appreciate it!

mech

Excellent other than the flicker. I've posted alot of picks in the laminate thread. Look here.

mech

Thanks guys!

Fremont,

I've tried the Standard Lamp mode to no avail. Haven't tried it for an hour though. Will do tonight.

Jason,

I thought the cable thinking was nonsense as well. The pj is covered under warranty for 2 years and I was authorized for a return. Now if I can get their company that fixes these things to email me the RMA form. I called once yesterday and twice today. Still no form. Not exactly great customer service! They did say that they guarantee a 48 hour turnaround (from the time they receive it) on the pj.

Ian,

I agree. I'm at 482 today. Was really at 473 when it started. Love the pj, but the flicker is annoying! It seemed to be worse tonight as well.


I'll keep this up to date as it progresses. My money is on the ballast with Huey.

mech

Read FremontRich's post above. Unfortunately mine does not appear to be this problem as it still does it regardless of lamp mode or the amount of time in either mode.

mech

Thought I'd post an update. After faxing my RMA form to Mitsubishi Service Center, I waited about a week for them to contact me. They didn't so I called them. They gave me the RMA number and the address to ship it to. Boxed it up on Monday and 2nd Day'ed it to them via UPS. According to the tracking, they received it on Wednesday AM at 9:41am. Called on Friday am to see what the status was and they said they received it on Thursday and were looking at it now. They said to call back on Monday and they'd have a better idea what's going on with it. According to their 72 hour turnaround time and my tracking tag, Monday am would be 72 hours.

mech

Another update:

As of today, 9:41am Pacific, they will have had my pj for 96 hours.

I hope nobody else has a problem with their projector cause this process has been one of my top five worst experiences! To start it off, it took 4 times talking to them on the phone to email me the RMA form. And when I finally did get it, I filled it out and faxed it back. Didn't hear anything from them at all so I called them after 5 days. "Oh yes. Here's your RMA number." Ummmm can I have an address to ship it to?? Boxed it up and 2nd Day'd it to them last Monday. According to UPS Tracking they received it Wednesday at 9:41am. They "guaranteed" a 72 hour turnaround. According to my phone conversations with them, the tech didn't even look at it until 72 hours. My conversations have been nothing but cordial with them, but with the Super Bowl coming up on Sunday. And me having guests over, things are going to change today!

mech

I've gotten nothing out of them. Still no tracking number. I don't think I will ever buy a Mitsubishi product again!

mech

Well it's finally on the way back. The tech said he couldn't recreate the problem and therefore determined that it was more than likely an issue with the bulb. They replaced it at no charge and the pj will be at my doorstep no later than tomorrow pm.

My impression is that the Mitsu Service Center is poorly run. Service reps have no idea what's going on at all. They always have to run back and talk to the techs - even to find out whether it was shipped and what the tracking number is. That place needs a major overhaul! Maybe it was a bad timing as well - two weeks before the Super Bowl.

My biggest problem was that if you're going to 'guarantee' a 72 hour turnaround on warrantied products, then do it. UPS tracking says the package arrived at 9:41am Wednesday. The projector was in FedEx's hands 5 business days later - that would be a 120 hour turnaround. As stated earlier, the tech didn't even look at it until 72 hours! If they didn't make that guarantee to me (at least 3 times), I would have waited until after the Super Bowl to send it to them.

mech

Chances are the exchange won't have this problem. There are alot of hc3000 owners out there and I can only think of a couple of us who've had the issue.

mech

Mine is back to normal as well. Wierd that it was the bulb and yet the switching back and forth from standard to low mode couldn't fix it.

mech