Original vs. Compatible Projector Lamps

There are several important terms to be familiar with when buying projector replacement lamps, especially the distinction between original and compatible lamps. Below are definitions along with some advice on what to look for before you buy. Even if you choose not to read what follows, our bottom line advice is to call the on-line store you're considering buying from to confirm that there is a lamp warranty. If a lamp is going to prematurely fail, it will probably do so in the first hours of use. Projector Lamp Source offers a 1 year warranty – the biggest in the industry free of charge.

Lamp Module

Seems obvious, but there can be confusion so we'll start here. Projector illumination comes from a light source that is mounted in a "cage" or "housing" (see diagram below). The light source is technically called the "lamp" but can also be called the "bulb". Electrical current is supplied to the lamp by "connectors" that are also mounted on the cage. The entire assembly, the lamp (or bulb) plus the cage (or housing) and the connectors, is called the lamp module. Most online stores sell the module even if they call it a "lamp" for short. It is very important to confirm you will get a module/housing otherwise you’ll be left with the difficult task of assembling the bare-bulb into your old housing (which is dangerous and tricky). Projector manufacturers assume that when it comes time for a replacement, customers will replace the entire lamp module (not just the lamp or bulb) and that is the procedure they will cover in the projector user's manual. Before you buy, make sure you know what you’re getting - the entire lamp module or just the bare lamp (bulb). Don’t pay too much for a bare-bulb and remember you’ll have to install the bare bulb into your old housing (which is not recommended).

Original Lamps or OEM Lamps

Some online stores will use the term "original lamp" or "OEM lamp". What does this mean? OEM is short for original equipment manufacturer. Epson, Canon, Infocus, Sanyo, etc. These are the companies that make the projectors. They also "manufacture" the lamp module that comes with the new projector. What they actually do is assemble the lamp module from the cage (or housing) that they make and the lamp (or bulb) made by a lamp manufacturer like Osram Sylvania, Philips or Ushio. So when you buy a lamp module that is designated "original" or "OEM" that should mean that the seller is getting the lamp module either from the company that made the projector or from another distributor who gets the lamp modules from the company that made the projector.

When your objective is to replace the old lamp with one that is in all respects identical and one that will give the identical performance as the original, this is your safest purchase. There should be a 60 to 90 day warranty that comes with the purchase of these lamps. Projector Lamp Source offers a 1 year warranty on the original lamps it sells.

Compatible/Copy Lamps

When you see the term "compatible" it means the lamp module has been manufactured by someone other than the manufacturer of your projector or the original supplier of the lamp. The lamp (or bulb) in the module will be manufactured by another company (NOT Osram, Philips, Ushio or other lamp manufacturers who hold patents on this type of lamp). Compatible lamp modules are infringing the Original lamp manufacturers patents (Philips/Osram/Ushio), underperform and can be dangerous. Most copy lamps will invalidate any remaining warranty on your projector. The levels of product testing and quality control during manufacturing are unknown to the buyer. A study of compatible lamps , funded by Philips, found that ANSI lumen values averaged 32% lower (than Philips lamps) in compatible lamps. However, compatible lamp modules may provide good value. You can expect the lamp module to fit into your projector exactly like the original. Even if the lamp optics are not identical to the original, in most cases you will have a projector that performs well even if it does not have the same lumen output of the original. What you won't know is whether the performance will drop off faster than the original and therefore won't give you the same number of hours of top performance as the original lamp.

Projector Lamp Source does not sell copy lamps.

Bare Lamp (Bulb) Only Replacement

Some online stores sell replacement bare lamps or bulbs without the rest of the module. You get only the lamp, not the housing or connectors. You probably won't know who manufactured the lamp, but you can assume it's NOT one of the premium manufacturers like Philips or Osram Sylvania. It's up to you to get this new lamp into the old housing. Once you remove your existing lamp module from your projector and then, normally with a small screw driver, you disconnect the wire connectors and carefully remove the old bare lamp from the cage or housing. Then, just as carefully, replace the new bare lamp and make all the reconnections. What you end up with is a new lamp (bulb) in your original housing.

It is clear the projector manufacturers never intended for the projector owner to disassemble the lamp modules. They don't make it easy. But it can be done. Some stores provide detailed instructions that come with the bare bulb. A couple cautions: Try to avoid breaking the old lamp when you're removing it. The lamp contains mercury which is toxic (you won't die, but the authorities don't want these lamps in the landfill so that tells you something). If the lamp does break, make sure no shards are left in the housing. Finally, the optical performance of the projector is dependent upon a precision mounted lamp. Before you remove the old lamp, carefully note how it is mounted and try to get the replacement re-mounted in exactly the same position.

Projector Lamp Source does NOT recommend bare-bulbs and does not sell any lamps without the original module/housing.