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Budget vs. Cost of Ownership

Budget vs. Cost of Ownershipphoto credit:which.co.uk

There are probably a hundred and one budget projector models available in the market and it is not uncommon for users to jump straight into the cheapest offer. Understandably, users who sought for budget projectors wanted the lowest possible cost with the highest possible performance. But so often because of the ‘budget’ mentality, the users have overlooked many important considerations.

Apart from the cost of the projector, one must not overlook other important aspect of costing, like operational cost. Operational cost includes maintenance cost and replacement parts cost (i.e. Lamps)

A simple checklist to help users consider all aspects of budget projector selection:

  1. Projector Price
  2. Lamp Durability
  3. Replacement Lamp Price
  4. Ease of Maintenance
  5. Warranty Coverage

It is also a common practice for manufacturers to throw in freebies during occasional promotions/ events which users can keep a look out for to grab a good deal.

So to keep a long story short, do not just simply jump for the cheapest offer but view it as along term investment and consider factors like operation cost and maintenance. This should help user make better decisions in the long run.

Preserving Lamp Life

One of the setbacks for using a projector is, having to purchase replacement lamps when the image becomes too dim to view comfortably. Projector lamps are not exactly very cheap, ranging from a few hundred to even thousands, depending on the model and type. Although we cannot avoid the inevitability of having to change lamps but there are certain pointers you can adopt to help prolong the life of these expensive lamps.

1. Do not keep spare lamp for excessively long periods
Condition of spare lamp may deteriorate even when not in use. Try to purchase the lamp(s) only when nearing the expected lamp hours on the current lamp. Note that most lamps warranty is only 3 months/ 500hrs, so keeping a spare lamp beyond that period will only be wasting the warranty. If purchasing a back-up spare lamp is really necessary, it is advisable to test the lamp and ensure it is working prior to keeping it in storage.

2. Do not touch the lamp glass during installation
Use a clean dry cloth during handling of the new lamp to avoid leaving residue on the lamp glass. Residues/ dirt left on the glass surface will cause concentration of heat during its high temperature operation, which may cause the glass to crack prematurely.

3. Normal & Eco Mode
Since new lamp condition is at its best, you may opt to operate the projector on ECO mode first, which takes lesser toll off the lamp. Switch to Normal mode only when the image becomes too dim for viewing comfort.

4. Clean filter regularly
Filters tend to be clogged with dust after some time. Cleaning helps to prevent excessive heat building up in the projector, particularly in the lamp housing. Overheating may cause lamp to crack and fail.

5. AV Mute Slide Lens Shutter
This is a function limited to certain projector models, which allow a user to slide a shutter across the lens to block the projection. User will usually find something to block the lens when they want to divert the audiences’ attention away from the projected image. This lens shutter not only fulfill the objective of blocking off the screen, when closed, the lamp is actually turned off hence saving unnecessary wastage of lamp hours.

6. Shut down projector properly
This means pressing the Power Off button and wait for the beeping sound to prompt users to turn off the hard switch. This is to allow the projector’s internal fans to sufficiently cool the lamp after use. Inadequate cooling will cause lamps to fail prematurely. Some projectors however supports instant off function, as there is an in-built mechanism to cool the lamp even after instant power off. This is especially useful for areas prone to power outage or users who do not have the patience of waiting for the cooling down time.

Ensuring the above will surely help conserve the life of your projector lamps and saving unnecessary expenditures.

Projector Maintenance

Projector Maintenancephoto credit:adtechsystems.com

Operating a projector might put many non IT/ AV users off with all the new features and functions, let alone maintaining one. But it is really not that difficult in doing a simple routine cleaning to help prolong the efficiency of the projector.

As long as the projector is within reaching distance, you might want to adopt the following steps in maintaining your projector:

  1. Allow the projector to cool down before cleaning

–       Wait for at least 2 hrs after use prior to cleaning

–       As you might shake the projector during cleaning, internal optical engines and lamps which is still hot might easily results in cracks or damages

  1. Remove Air Filter

–       Most projectors have an Air Filter to prevent dust from entering the optical engine

–       These filters are usually easily accessible from the side of the projector to allow easy maintenance

–       Do note that a projector without an Air Filter does not equals to no need for cleaning

  1. Vacuum clean filter and surrounding of the whole projector

–       Use a vacuum cleaner to clean the air filter

–       Some Air Filters are sponge like (enable for washing) but vacuum clean will suffice

–       Vacuum the whole projector for any dust/ dirt resting on it

–       A damp cloth can be used to clean the casing of the projector but make sure it does not drip water into the projector

  1. Clean the lens with a soft damp cloth

–       Use cloth that does not drop fine furs during cleaning

–       Use a clean dry cloth to wipe the lens dry after cleaning with the damp cloth

  1. Checks

–       Routine checks on the lamp hours to prepare for lamp replacement when current lamp is running dim

–       Project some test pattern to ensure focus and sharpness, usually easily adjusted from the lens/ menu

–       Ensure that all connected ports are secure

With the 5 easy steps, everyone should be able to DIY a projector maintenance.

Apart from sharing the pointers on projector maintenance, do you know that projector maintenance actually starts from the moment you choose your projector?

Below are the few features that you can look out for in a projector that will help you in ease of maintaining it for the years to come:

–       Easily access Air Filter and Lamp design even after ceiling mounted installation, which allows the user to change filter and lamp without having to dismount the projector

–       Enhanced Air Filter design to reduce the frequency of cleaning

–       If intention to operate in poor air condition environment (i.e. smoking areas, dusty rooms), look for projectors with internally sealed optical engines (cost more but goes a long way in protecting the projector)

–       Installation away from direct air-con to avoid condensation inside projector during cooling down

–       Longer lasting lamps to reduce the frequency of changing lamps and also translates to lower operating cost

The pointers above serve to help users plan ahead when making purchase for a new projector.

Installation – It’s about Quality, not Cost

Installationphoto credit:epson.ca

So often we found users to spend all their effort in getting the best possible projector with the bulk of their available budget and settle for the cheapest possible installation job without understanding what they are getting.

Installation is not just simply drilling 4 holes and fastens 4 screws and nuts in place; it’s a combination of good craftsmanship, material and experience. Regardless of the level of the cost, understanding what you might be getting for your installation could prove just as important, if not, more important than getting the right projector.

One does not need to be an IT or AV expert to know what to look out for when it comes to installation. Below are a few simple pointers to help you check through the crucial components for a quality installation:

Pre Installation Checks

–       Position of projector, screen and receptacle point

–       Type of cables used based on the length of installation (to minimize signal loss which can result in poor image quality)

–       Any audio system to go along with the projector

–       How the cables are laid and feasibility of future maintenance

During Installation Checks

–       Ensure all cabling are in proper conduits and trunkings

–       Test all connections to ensure the quality of the projection

–       Minimize keystone correction on projector and proper calibration to obtain a clear sharp image

–       Ensure projector is properly secured onto the mounting and no vibration due to outside elements (i.e. air-conditioning)

After Installation Checks

–       Check the ease of maintenance

–       Ensure sufficient security on the projector

Conditions might vary from places to places and it is best to consult a trusted System Integrator to explain through the installation works before the actual installation.

Projector Air Filter – Good or Bad?

Talk to any projector user and he will probably tell you one of the most irritating feature is the constant flashing of “High Temperature” or “Please clean Filter” warning message during the midst of a presentation. This is often caused by clogged air filter, which restricts airflow in cooling the projection engine properly.

If an air filter is such a nuisance, why does the manufactures still incorporate an air filter design in a projector?

As mentioned above, the projection engine in the projector, notably the lamp produces very high temperatures during operation. There are at least 3 to 4 cooling fans within the projector to help direct airflow in cooling these high temperatures. And because the cooling air is drawn from the surrounding of the projector, regardless of it being operated in outdoor, indoor, air-conditioned or not, there is always a presence of dust particles. Hence the air filters to help minimize the amount of dust flowing into the projector.

Dust can be very destructive to the projection engine, especially when the components are operated in high temperature. A dust particle may settle onto the lamp’s surface and induce unnecessary heat concentration, which will ultimately lead to premature failure of the lamp.

In the past few years, we begin to see manufacturers rolling out new solutions to combat this dust problem, namely:

–       Bigger/ Larger surface Electrostatic Charged filters (to enhance capturing of dust particles)

–       Sealed Projector Engine housing (sealing crucial components like the chips and lamp)

–       ‘Filter-Free” Projector (some selected DLP Projector models)

–       Automatic Rolling Filter

–       Active Maintenance Filter

Moving on from the days with a small piece of sponge like material as a filter, manufacturers have developed new and longer lasting ideas to prevent dust penetration in a projector.

One exception is the claim by some DLP projectors, which do not use an Air Filter at all. Claims of the critical components being sealed up to prevent dust have enabled them to do without a filter. But does that means that the user will no longer need to do any maintenance on that projector?

Like it or not, dust is all around us and projectors, with or without an air filter, will have fans cooling the optical engine. As long as there is air flowing through the projector, it is necessary for you to periodically check and maintain the projector.

It’s not about having the filter or not, it’s about being responsible in conducting regular checks and maintenance to help prolong the life span of your projectors.

We can be found at the following address:

Visual Tech Solutions Pte Ltd

Vision Exchange
2 Venture Drive
# 24-01
Singapore 608526
tel: +65 6914 7705
fax: +65 6914 9001

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