Frequently Asked Questions
| Q. How should I dispose of used projector lamps? |
| Certain projector lamps contain mercury. Some states have laws that require projector lamps to be disposed of as a hazardous material if they contain mercury. Check with your audio-visual sales associate to find out what the projector lamp disposal laws are for your state. |
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| Q. How can I get the most hours out of my projector lamp? |
| Don’t shake your projector. Be careful not to shake, jostle, bump or move your multimedia projector quickly, especially when the projector is on. A multimedia projector's electronics are sensitive to these types of movements. Allow projector lamp to cool. What is the most common reason for projector bulbs with shortened lives? Not allowing the projector bulbs to cool. Most projectors have a feature where they power down themselves, just make sure that you don't move the projector while it is in this mode. Some older model projectors may also feature a hard on/off switch as well as a projector lamp on/off switch. For those, turn the projector lamp off first and after it powers down, turn the projector off. |
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| Q. What can harm my projector? |
| Do not get projector wet. Do not expose the multimedia projector to moisture, excessive dust or smoke. This will harm the screen image as well as shorten the life expectancy of the multimedia projector lamp. |
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| Q. How do I make sure my projector has proper ventilation? |
| Ensure that you have adequate ventilation around your projector so that heat can dissipate. Do not cover the vents on the side or the front of the projector. |
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| Q. How do I know if the ROI is worth buying a DLP projector? |
| ROI on a DLP projector depends on how much use you get for the money. If ROI is particularly important to you, consider any of the following: Get a portable projector – It will get much more use than a projector that sits in one room permanently. Get the brightest projector you can afford – That way it can be used in more places and won't always require a dark room. Make lamp life span a consideration – Try to get a rating of at least 2,000 hours. Also, remember that DLP projectors can be used longer and do not run as hot as LCD projectors, potentially giving them a longer overall life. |
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| Q. Why should someone choose a DLP projector over an LCD projector? |
| • High reliability – Unlike some LCD projectors, DLP is virtually immune to color decay (a yellowing of the image after extended periods of usage. • Lower total cost of ownership – Many DLP projectors feature a filter-free design. With no filters to clean or replace, your maintenance costs could be less. • Innovation – From 3D-ready projectors, built-in interactivity, and projectors that fit in the palm of your hand, to lamp-free designs, DLP is famous for re-inventing projection technology. • Wide selection - Dozens of projector manufacturers use DLP technology to power their projectors, unlike LCD where only a handful of brands available. This broader selection of DLP projectors gives you more choices, more features to choose from and a better variety to fit any size budget. |
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| Q. What is a semiconductor used for DLP? |
| DLP, short for Digital Light Processing, is powered by a single semiconductor called a digital micro-mirror device (DMD). This semiconductor, invented by Texas Instruments, contains almost 2 million tiny, hinged mirrors. Red, green and blue light is filtered and directed onto the DMD, which switches on and off up to 5,000 times per second. The various streams of light are reflected by the 2 million mirrors and onto a screen, which creates the image. Some high-end DLP devices use three DMDs, one for each stream of light. DLP offers a high-contrast, high-quality image that clearly beats traditional CRT and rivals LCD. |
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| Q. How do I know I'm choosing the correct projector screen? |
| Choosing the correct projection screen is as important as choosing the right projector for the presentations you make. The following four steps are a guide to choosing the right screen: - Choose the mounting orientation of the screen. Do you plan on installing the screen to a permanent location, or do you plan to use a portable screen? - Select a screen surface. Think about all aspects of the use your screen will serve. What images will you be showing? Also keep in mind the location of the screen, and the light source the room will use. Most manufacturers will specify viewing angles to help you decide which screen surface is right for you. - Choose an aspect ratio. Will you be using HDTV therefore presenting in widescreen, or using standard display images? - Finally, determine the screen size. It will all depend on the room you have and on other specifications you may require. After having an answer or solution for the above points, you can take the information you have with you when choosing a projection screen. You should be able to find a screen that meets all of your needs. |
