Servicing an older projector?

August 2, 2011 9:23 AM

Hello AskMeFi. Please help me replace the bulb in my aging projector (Infocus X1). The lamp is putting out very little light, so I'd like to replace it. Do I need a "lamp" or a "projector lamp assembly"?

Searching ebay for "infocus x1 lamp" yields two results:

Representative sample:

Projector Lamp and projector lamp assembly. The difference is nearly two fold. Which one should I go for? If it's the assembly, I might as well trash this projector and buy a more modern equivalent.

Thanks Mefites!

posted by aeighty to technology (7 answers total)

The two items you linked appear to be exactly the same thing: the bulb, with the housing, so that you don't have to deal with switching the bulb out from the housing you already have.

So, obviously, buy the cheaper one of those.
posted by kindall at 9:41 AM on August 2, 2011

Kindall is right.
posted by fake at 9:48 AM on August 2, 2011

From your first link (the cheaper one):

This lamp is sold complete with Module and Housing included. Others sell only the Lamp or Bulb which requires manual installation involving removing the old lamp and rewiring the new lamp into the existing housing. By purchasing the Complete Module and Housing installation is quick and easy.

So yes, you probably do want the bulb and housing together, as they just slot out and in again - this is generally what is supplied for 'official' bulbs; those just supplying literally the bulb will be more work; it's not mega complicated to do if you're somewhat handy, but it can be rather fiddly depending upon model (don't have hands on with that particular one myself)

Handily, the first link you picked does include both for half the price, so go for that! Looking at the results of the same search - "infocus x1 lamp", almost all of them are actually for the lamp+housing anyway; such as
this, or this for $125 it mentions it in the description as well as the photo.

180 day warranty seems to be universal, so is likely the manufacturers warranty.
posted by ArkhanJG at 1:50 PM on August 2, 2011

Basically - they're comparing themselves to these - a bare lamp bulb only, for $99, which you fit into the housing yourself.
posted by ArkhanJG at 1:57 PM on August 2, 2011

Not so fast---

The description of the cheaper one includes the following:

"Easy Installation - NOT just a bare bulb"

and

"This lamp is sold complete with Module and Housing included. Others sell only the Lamp or Bulb which requires manual installation involving removing the old lamp and rewiring the new lamp into the existing housing. By purchasing the Complete Module and Housing installation is quick and easy."
posted by Maxwell_Smart at 3:52 PM on August 2, 2011

Oh damn, I just said the same thing as absolutely every single previous commenter. Sorry!
posted by Maxwell_Smart at 3:54 PM on August 2, 2011

Thanks guys! Ordered.
posted by aeighty at 8:05 PM on August 2, 2011