just bought a used projector and want to buy a spare bulb. The price range is really wide from $90 to $256. It’s a friggin light bulb. What am I getting for $256 or not getting for $90.
What are your experiences? I’m only using this for occasional presentations now but it might make a nice big screen projector for movies.
I’ve used digitial projectors as my primary TV since 2000.
Some places sell just the bulb, others the complete lamp assembly with reflectors. For most projectors, replacing the lamp is best. Another ploy for low cost bulbs is non-OEM or even remanufactured.
As with everything, you get what you pay for.
When I buy bulbs, I look for an OEM lamp unit from a reputable source.
The warranty on bulbs is typically 90 days, so I usually buy as the bulb hits its rated hours and replace it, saving the old bulb as a spare.
Well, it’s not just a “light bulb.”
You are looking at a metal-halide arc lamp, and they are expensive. I couldn’t say whether the cheap ones are as good as the expensive ones, but you should feel lucky that you can find one as cheap as $90 - I’ve seen projectors that take $500 lamps…
I can buy an edison based metal halide bulb for $20.00 from Home Depot. Unless projector lamps are expensive because they’re compact it’s due to vendor lock-in, not being metal halide.
I have a DLP TV, the bulbs run around $100 from the manufacturer’s recommend supplier. There are alternative sources, but the less expensive one didn’t last long and may have shortened the life of one of the fans from excess heat. I think the high cost is required for something that lasts without overheating. It also comes in it’s own housing so the whole unit is replaced.
I don’t know what else could get added to make a bulb worth $256.