That does sound really strange. Then angle of the projector should not do that. However if a new lamp will fix the issue try relampit.com for a new lamp. I have had a few of mine done there without a problem. Much cheaper then other stores ask for John
-
Our native mobile app has a new name: Fora Communities. Learn more.
Help - My projector turns off when flipped upside-down
I have a Mitsubishi XD300U and it has worked well for me for years. Recently while my kids were playing the Xbox 360 it turned off without any warnings. We turned it back on and the lamp came on and then the projector shut off again in about 30 seconds. Tried different power cords, etc. Never would stay on longer than ~30 seconds.
I started trouble-shooting and eventually took my projector off the ceiling mount and brought it to my office to troubleshoot while on the phone with Mitsubishi's tech support. Well, in my office the projector worked fine.
I take it back up to my Theater and ceiling mount it again and boom, it turns off in 30 seconds again. I tried different power cables, different video cables and eventually something clicked in my brain and I tried running the projector while holding it upright. Worked fine again. As soon as I tipped it a bit past 90 degrees, it turned off again.
So the projector works when upright, but turns off when upside-down.
Here's my question, Mitsubishi says replacing the lamp will fix my problem, but that sounds really fishy to me. And since I don't know of any company that would accept a returned lamp (if that didn't fix my problem) I am really hesitant to spend $400 on a replacement lamp. My current lamp isn't terribly old and I have received no lamp warnings yet.
Does anyone have experience with this type of issue? Does this sound like a reasonable fix?
The tech support guy said he had a document from the parts department saying replacing the bulb fixes the problem, but he wouldn't email me a copy of the report. Since when does the parts department solve technical issues? This sounds like an excuse to sell more lamps.
To me this sounds like something is loose inside the projector. Maybe some sort of a sensor wire. When the projector's controller realizes it isn't getting a signal from whatever sensor is loose (a fan sensor or something?) it shuts off the projector to protect itself.
Any advice for me on this issue?
Thanks in advance.
I started trouble-shooting and eventually took my projector off the ceiling mount and brought it to my office to troubleshoot while on the phone with Mitsubishi's tech support. Well, in my office the projector worked fine.
I take it back up to my Theater and ceiling mount it again and boom, it turns off in 30 seconds again. I tried different power cables, different video cables and eventually something clicked in my brain and I tried running the projector while holding it upright. Worked fine again. As soon as I tipped it a bit past 90 degrees, it turned off again.
So the projector works when upright, but turns off when upside-down.
Here's my question, Mitsubishi says replacing the lamp will fix my problem, but that sounds really fishy to me. And since I don't know of any company that would accept a returned lamp (if that didn't fix my problem) I am really hesitant to spend $400 on a replacement lamp. My current lamp isn't terribly old and I have received no lamp warnings yet.
Does anyone have experience with this type of issue? Does this sound like a reasonable fix?
The tech support guy said he had a document from the parts department saying replacing the bulb fixes the problem, but he wouldn't email me a copy of the report. Since when does the parts department solve technical issues? This sounds like an excuse to sell more lamps.
To me this sounds like something is loose inside the projector. Maybe some sort of a sensor wire. When the projector's controller realizes it isn't getting a signal from whatever sensor is loose (a fan sensor or something?) it shuts off the projector to protect itself.
Any advice for me on this issue?
Thanks in advance.
1 - 20 of 33 Posts
They could be right if the lamp filament is loose it could be causing the issue.
I thought of that, but it turns on and works for about 20 seconds (showing the blue background and menu) when I power it on while upside-down. If the filament was loose, I would think it would flicker or wouldn't show light at all.
What filament? These lamps don't have filaments.
ok the anode and cathode could be loose in the ceramic base doe to thermal cycling
Okay, I can go with that. Interesting notion. That could explain a few similar issues I've had in the past with some units. I'll have to keep that in mind. Is that something you're seen and confirmed?
So if the anode and cathode were loose, what would that do? How would that cause the projector to turn off? Would it reduce or increase the resistance across the bulb in a detectable manner? Would it cause the light to turn off completely?
Those are the leads on the lamp that carry the power to run the lamp. If one or both are loose, then contact is broken, the lamp shuts off and the projector detects a fault and powers down.
Unfortunately, the only way to be sure is try another lamp. If you know someone with the same make/model projector as you, you can try their lamp or try yours in their projector.
Unfortunately, the only way to be sure is try another lamp. If you know someone with the same make/model projector as you, you can try their lamp or try yours in their projector.
So then how would one explain the fact that when I power the projector on when upside down it powers up just fine and runs for around 30 seconds (~20 seconds after the light starts hitting the screen) before shutting off? If contact were broken in the bulb I would expect the projector to never really power on. If contact were intermittent I would expect the projector to shut of at different times after power-on. Neither is the case.
No idea. It was just a possible explanation offered by another forum member.
It may NOT be the lamp, your projector may be pooched, but you'll never know if you don't try anything that we're suggesting. No matter who says what, it still comes down to you taking the time to perform some tests and troubleshooting steps.
It may NOT be the lamp, your projector may be pooched, but you'll never know if you don't try anything that we're suggesting. No matter who says what, it still comes down to you taking the time to perform some tests and troubleshooting steps.
I'm just looking for a plausible explanation for why it might be the lamp so I can feel comfortable purchasing a new lamp.
I wish I knew someone with my model projector so I could test out some theories, but I don't know anyone. That was a good suggestion.
I wish I knew someone with my model projector so I could test out some theories, but I don't know anyone. That was a good suggestion.
It is impossible for a working lamp of this type to have "loose" anodes/cathodes. Even further the projector would report it as being a lamp failure if this were the case, which i assume is not being shown after it shuts down (or else the op would have told us). However, it could very well be something in the path of the lamp.
Projectors actually are very touchy with cooling at different angles than they're designed for (think about it, hot air rises, so for it to have an appropriate venting the cooling system needs to be designed for specific angles of operation). If you're operating the projector at a different angle make sure there isn't any specific menu options that deal with different modes of operation. If the projector has a high altitude mode, try turning that on and see if it extends the time to shutoff.
Projectors actually are very touchy with cooling at different angles than they're designed for (think about it, hot air rises, so for it to have an appropriate venting the cooling system needs to be designed for specific angles of operation). If you're operating the projector at a different angle make sure there isn't any specific menu options that deal with different modes of operation. If the projector has a high altitude mode, try turning that on and see if it extends the time to shutoff.
No weird angles. Just upside down (ceiling mount).
Some PJs automatically run with a higher fan speed in ceiling (inverted) mode versus table mount mode - it's part of the design. Is it possible the fan is culprit? Perhaps when it kicks to a higher speed it's triggering an auto shutoff for some reason? Perhaps a short or overload?
Of course this would only be a possible explanation if the PJ has an auto ceiling detect mode - some do. Pretty slim, but I would try letting it run for a while non-inverted to see if it shuts off when the fan speed eventually increases, or try putting the ceiling mode on when non-inverted.
Better yet, switch to high lamp mode while non-inverted to see what happens.
Of course this would only be a possible explanation if the PJ has an auto ceiling detect mode - some do. Pretty slim, but I would try letting it run for a while non-inverted to see if it shuts off when the fan speed eventually increases, or try putting the ceiling mode on when non-inverted.
Better yet, switch to high lamp mode while non-inverted to see what happens.
I will try running it non-inverted for longer than I have (5-10 minutes). I suspect it is some sort of fan issue. I don't think there are any sensors that detects when it is inverted, but I really don't know.
From what I have read here it really sounds like this isn't a lamp issue. I might just take the projector into my local authorized repair shop.
From what I have read here it really sounds like this isn't a lamp issue. I might just take the projector into my local authorized repair shop.
Noticed you replied before I edited my post about running it in high lamp mode while non-inverted. That would definitely tell you if it's fan related.
My last two PJs have had auto ceiling mode detectors, so it's not a complete longshot. If the PJ shuts off consistently after inverting, I would think it's either that or some loose connection that's gravity related when the case is upside down. Since it doesn't happen immediately, but rather 20 - 30 seconds after inversion, my best guess is the auto ceiling/fan speed theory. If gravity was the culprit it would happen immediately.
My last two PJs have had auto ceiling mode detectors, so it's not a complete longshot. If the PJ shuts off consistently after inverting, I would think it's either that or some loose connection that's gravity related when the case is upside down. Since it doesn't happen immediately, but rather 20 - 30 seconds after inversion, my best guess is the auto ceiling/fan speed theory. If gravity was the culprit it would happen immediately.
Okay, so it sounds like the issue could be one of two things. (Please correct me if I'm mistaken.)
1) The projector has a sensor that detects when it is inverted. When the projector is inverted it somehow runs differently than when it is upright. There is something wrong with the projector (probably a fan or a sensor in a fan) that is causing a safety mechanism to trigger when the projector senses it is inverted.
2) Almost the same as #1, but there is no inversion sensor. Instead there is a loose wire somewhere that disconnects when inverted. It is some sort of sensor wire which doesn't stop the projector from actually working, but instead triggers a safety mechanism. The reason the projector starts and runs while inverted is either because the sensor is only checked once a certain temperature is reached or it isn't checked until X seconds after startup.
If the cause is #1, and there is a way I can get the projector to duplicate the "inverted" running mode while upright, I should be able to get the projector to shut off even while upright.
1) The projector has a sensor that detects when it is inverted. When the projector is inverted it somehow runs differently than when it is upright. There is something wrong with the projector (probably a fan or a sensor in a fan) that is causing a safety mechanism to trigger when the projector senses it is inverted.
2) Almost the same as #1, but there is no inversion sensor. Instead there is a loose wire somewhere that disconnects when inverted. It is some sort of sensor wire which doesn't stop the projector from actually working, but instead triggers a safety mechanism. The reason the projector starts and runs while inverted is either because the sensor is only checked once a certain temperature is reached or it isn't checked until X seconds after startup.
If the cause is #1, and there is a way I can get the projector to duplicate the "inverted" running mode while upright, I should be able to get the projector to shut off even while upright.
Some (perhaps most) projectors are designed to run the fan higher in inverted mode, since heat is more of an issue near the ceiling than on a table or shelf. The fan does not wait for the heat sensor to speed it up, it automatically increases in speed just because the menu option for ceiling mode is selected. That would be the only difference.
Do you have the ceiling (inverted) option checked in the menu? If so, then this theory is probably shot down (the PJ would always use ceiling fan speed no matter what, and you would see the problem always). I think the only way this may be the problem is if you do not have ceiling mode checked, but the PJ has an inversion sensor and is using ceiling mode fan speed even though the option is not selected. That may explain the difference, but it's still a longshot.
The simple way to test if it's fan related is to run the PJ in high lamp mode while upright. High lamp mode will cause the fan to speed up to maximum in a hurry. I'd give that a shot.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheRooster /forum/post/16840914
1) The projector has a sensor that detects when it is inverted. When the projector is inverted it somehow runs differently than when it is upright. There is something wrong with the projector (probably a fan or a sensor in a fan) that is causing a safety mechanism to trigger when the projector senses it is inverted.
...If the cause is #1, and there is a way I can get the projector to duplicate the "inverted" running mode while upright, I should be able to get the projector to shut off even while upright.
Some (perhaps most) projectors are designed to run the fan higher in inverted mode, since heat is more of an issue near the ceiling than on a table or shelf. The fan does not wait for the heat sensor to speed it up, it automatically increases in speed just because the menu option for ceiling mode is selected. That would be the only difference.
Do you have the ceiling (inverted) option checked in the menu? If so, then this theory is probably shot down (the PJ would always use ceiling fan speed no matter what, and you would see the problem always). I think the only way this may be the problem is if you do not have ceiling mode checked, but the PJ has an inversion sensor and is using ceiling mode fan speed even though the option is not selected. That may explain the difference, but it's still a longshot.
The simple way to test if it's fan related is to run the PJ in high lamp mode while upright. High lamp mode will cause the fan to speed up to maximum in a hurry. I'd give that a shot.
In the menu there is an option that selects how the image is displayed. It has four choices. Mirrored, Inverted, Mirrored & Inverted, and Normal. That is the only selection in the menu that would tell the projector that it is inverted. I can test the projector running upright with the image inverted to see if that makes a difference.
I don't remember a "High Lamp Mode" in the menu settings, but I can look for something similar.
There has to be some explanation as to why the projector waits 20-30 seconds before it shuts down when powered up while inverted. It must be some sort of built-in delay of some sort. Either temperature related or just a timer.
I am ordering a long cable so I can use the projector upright. The cable I have routed through my ceiling won't reach to the floor which is where I have to place the projector because it doesn't have lens shift.
I don't remember a "High Lamp Mode" in the menu settings, but I can look for something similar.
There has to be some explanation as to why the projector waits 20-30 seconds before it shuts down when powered up while inverted. It must be some sort of built-in delay of some sort. Either temperature related or just a timer.
I am ordering a long cable so I can use the projector upright. The cable I have routed through my ceiling won't reach to the floor which is where I have to place the projector because it doesn't have lens shift.
1 - 20 of 33 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
AVS Forum
A forum community dedicated to home theater owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about home audio/video, TVs, projectors, screens, receivers, speakers, projects, DIY’s, product reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Top Contributors this Month
View All
WilliamR
882 Replies
BASSAHOLIC
469 Replies
bass addict
398 Replies
Recommended Communities
