If you’re like most projector users, you probably don’t give your lamp much thought. However, when that bulb explodes, it can be a terrifying experience. A faulty inverter, overheating in the lamp housing, or an electrical short are all likely causes of the explosion but What causes projector lamps to explode?
High-pressure mercury bulbs are used in the majority of projectors. In the bulb burner, an electrical arc is formed between two tungsten electrodes to produce light.
The burner is made of quartz glass and contains a gaseous mixture with an internal pressure of up to 250 atmospheres and temperatures reaching 1,300 degrees Celsius.
The burner in the bulb may explode under certain conditions. Fortunately, projectors have been designed with this possibility in mind, so bulb explosion should not damage the projector. Nonetheless, such explosions should be avoided.
What causes projector lamps to explode?
Life expectancy
A projector lamp should not be used indefinitely, so it should be replaced as soon as the projector indicates that the end of the lamp’s lifespan is approaching.
We strongly advise against simply resetting the operating time counter and continuing to use the old lamp, as this significantly increases the risk of a lamp explosion.
The lamp loses material on the main electrodes in the lamp’s burner during operation, increasing the distance between them. The greater the gap between the electrodes, the greater the electrical voltage required to form and sustain the electrical arc.
At the end of the lamp’s operating life, the voltage required to create the arc between the main electrodes is so high that the ballast in the lamp (the device that regulates the power supply to the lamp) may be unable to supply the required voltage.
The starting electrode, on the other hand, will continue to heat the gaseous mixture contained in the lamp’s burner to the point where the burner may explode.
Manufacturing flaws in bulbs
An explosion could result from an inverter malfunction. Most projectors have a metal housing that protects the lamp and filters out harmful UV rays to ensure safe viewing.
This protective plating, when properly cooled, protects both users and equipment.
If an inverter fails or is subjected to physical stress, it may overheat and send more current through the lamp than it can handle.
This stress can cause a wire inside the lamp to break, completing an electrical circuit capable of igniting the gases within the bulb.
In some cases, inverter failures are caused by poor design or manufacturing flaws in which wires connecting components do not provide adequate insulation.
Lamp housing flaw
During operation, poor-quality lamp housings can break and shatter.
These faulty housings can cause lamps to explode while in use, which is especially dangerous if the projector is dropped or mishandled.
Inadequate operating conditions
Even if the bulb does not have a manufacturing flaw, weak spots on the glass burner of the bulb may appear if the projector lamp is used in less-than-ideal operating conditions. These could be the result of:
- The lamp should be used continuously or on a regular basis
- a mechanical vibration that interferes with operation or causes a hot lamp
- when the projector is turned on, low temperatures
- frequently turning on and off the projector
- not allowing enough time for the lamp to cool down after turning off the projector
Error during installation
When a projector is turned on, it can cause a power surge that can cause a lamp to explode if the installation is not done correctly. When a projector is turned on, the lamp housing is literally connected to mains power.
This results in a massive surge of power that can easily destroy the lamp’s electrical components. When a projector is turned on, it can draw power from one of two sources:
- Electrical power from the mains (wall outlets) (wall outlets)
- DC power supplied by the battery pack
The main power in many projectors is initially used to light a pre-charge lamp. This pre-charge lamp’s light is used to heat the metal elements in the main arc lamp, which produces plasma that can then be used.
Defective projector
Bulb explosions are frequently caused by projector flaws, especially if the lamp’s ballast fails.
The ballast may supply the lamp with an incorrect voltage, fail to turn off the power supply, or prevent the bulb from overheating due to a projector defect.
If a new bulb explodes in your projector for the second time, you should definitely have it serviced. A combination of factors is the most common cause of lamp explosions.
For example, it could be a combination of a worn-out bulb, a frequently handled projector, and dust or grease in the filter.
Also, see why are projector bulbs so expensive
How do avoid projector lamps exploding?
Purchase High-Quality Lamp
The best defense is still prevention, so invest in a high-quality lamp from a reputable brand. There are still some cases where lamps explode during the shipping or installation process; therefore, users can follow related instructions to avoid danger.
Turn it Off when not in use
Please keep your projector turned off when not in use to avoid the risk of explosion from unauthorized dealers or other situations.
If the lamps have been installed and are ready for use, but they are dirty from a long period of storage, please have them cleaned before using them to avoid any potential risk.
Heat Protection
To improve heat transfer between the lamp base and heat sink, as well as the metal part of the lamp base, the best thermal grease or heat conductive paste must be used.
Touching a used lamp will cause it to become extremely hot.
Eye Resistance
Because the temperature ranges between 200°C and 500°C (392°F and 932°F) during the light source’s burning time, the lamps may still emit a small number of toxic gases such as nitrogen oxides, nitrous acid, ammonia, and so on.
Although it is not harmful to the human body when used for a short period of time or only once, it is still recommended that contact with the eyes be avoided as much as possible.
Check Unusual Noise & Smell
If the projector makes an unusual noise or emits a burning odor when turned on, turn it off immediately and allow it to cool.
Do not turn on your projector if it has been dropped or mishandled.
Protective Gears
Please stay away from the lamp when it is broken and the bulb is turned off.
In the event of a lamp breaking or leaking acid or alkali, a protective mask should be worn to protect the eyes, skin, and respiratory system.
What to do after Projector Lamp explodes?
Turn off the projector/RPTV right away. Unplug the power supply.
Allow the projector/RPTV to cool.
To ventilate the room, open a window. Avoid inhaling any dust emitted by the projector lamp.
Check for any broken shards or pieces of glass in the vicinity of the projector lamp or coming from the cooling air circulation vents.
Examine the RPTV’s interior.
Pick up any projector lamp shards or broken pieces with rubber gloves. Because these lamps contain mercury, do not handle any shards with your bare hands.
You can also try picking up small shards with duct tape.
Place the shards of projector lamps in a closed container, such as a box or plastic bag. This will prevent the spread of dust and mercury vapor.
Do not dispose of the container in regular garbage or down the drain. Send the remains to a hazardous waste disposal facility in your area.
If there are a lot of broken parts or dust inside the projector, don’t try to clean it. Bring the projector to an authorized service center.
They will use a mercury vacuum cleaner to thoroughly clean the inside of the projector. Never use a standard vacuum cleaner for this.
Request that the service technician thoroughly inspects the unit, paying special attention to the ballast and color wheel.
Make sure to use a genuine projector lamp. Avoid generic compatible lamps because they explode more frequently than genuine OEM lamps.
Check how to test projector lamp is bad.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes projector lamp failure?
Because of temperature stress, the lamp may occasionally fail completely at the end of its life.
It is less expensive to replace a bulb than an entire lamp, so keep this in mind. Many projectors have a built-in lamp counter that tells you when it’s time to change the bulb.
What caused my projector to blow up?
If you turn on the projector and hear an audible *POP* before the screen goes completely dark, you’ve most likely just heard your projector bulb burn out.
High-pressure discharge technology is used in projector lamps, and a number of components can fail prematurely or as the lamp ages.
How long should a projector lamp last?
Most projector lamps have a lifespan of 1,500 to 2,000 hours, but some can last as long as 5,000 hours. During this time, most projectors will require one to two bulb swaps.
What happens if the projector lamp is not replaced?
The risk is that your current lamp will explode, potentially causing damage to the projector’s blowers, fans, color wheel, and optics. When you replace the current lamp with the new lamp, you must reset the timer.
How can you tell if your projector lamp is faulty?
Signs that a projector bulb needs to be replaced
- Loss of Image. You have a problem if you turn on the projector and there is no image.
- Image Flickering Have you noticed any flickering in the projector’s images?
- On the projector, there is an indicator.
- Loss of color.
Final Words
After reading the article above it must be clear that what causes what causes projector lamps to explode.
Although the exact cause of projector lamp explosions is unknown, it is clear that maintaining your equipment and following good safety practices can help prevent them.
Keep your projector in a cool, dehydrated environment and avoid exposing it to high temperatures.
Handle the lamp housing with care, and never touch the bulb itself. If you do experience an explosion, unplug the projector immediately and contact customer service.