Are you wondering how long do laser projectors last? If yes, you’ve landed on the right page.
Laser projectors are a new projection technology and offer the best viewing experience thanks to their consistent brightness, superior color production and longer lifespan.
Hence, buying a laser projector is a better choice out of the numerous types of projectors available in the market.
Therefore, in this article, we’ll discuss how long does a laser projector lasts and the factors that improve and affect its lifespan.
How Long Do Laser Projectors Last?
A laser projector lasts between 15,000-30,000 hours. Thus, a laser projector can easily last more than a decade. Its lifespan also depends on numerous factors like brand, projection technology, maintenance, etc.
Laser projectors offer consideribly higher lifespan. In comparison, most lamp-based projectors only last around 2000-5000 hours depending on the usage.
Also Read: How Long Do Projector Bulbs Last
Now that you know about a laser projector’s lifespan. It’s also important to learn how to increase its lifespan and several things that can reduce it.
How to Improve a Laser Projector Lifespan
Maintaining a laser projector isn’t as complicated as traditional projectors. However, there are a few things to look for to enhance its overall life.
1. Prevent Overheating
Overheating is a projector’s biggest enemy, including laser projectors. While laser projectors don’t emit the same amount of heat as lamp-based projectors, they can get overheated.
In addition, ensure direct sunlight doesn’t fall on the laser projector. It can also overheat the projector and reduce its lifespan or altogether damage it.
2. Ensure Proper Ventilation
A laser projector keeps itself cool by intaking cool air from the environment and releasing hot air from its exhaust vents.
Thus, make sure to place your laser projector in a well-ventilated space. Otherwise, the projector will repeatedly intake the expelled hot air, resulting in excess heating.
3. Regular Cleaning
Dust is another factor that affects a projector’s lifespan. As mentioned above, laser projectors intake cool air and expel hot air. However, if the intake filter is blocked by dust, the projector will have problems intaking cooler air.
The excess dust on the air filter makes the projector hotter due to poor internal ventilation.
Hence, it’s recommended to clean the dust filter regularly and clean dust and grime accumulated around the projector and on the projection lens.
4. Handle with Care
Laser projectors have numerous sets of lenses and mirrors to generate a projection. It includes several thin, thick, small and large lenses and mirrors.
Whenever you move a laser projector, ensure to handle it with care. Never handle it roughly because a slight crack to one of the lenses or mirrors can affect the overall projection.
Also, accidentally dropping a projector from waist height can be enough to damage it permanently.
5. Balanced Usage
Avoid using your laser projector for more than 2-3 hours in one go. And if you do, make sure to turn off the projector for 15-30 minutes after every 2-3 hours before restarting your movie marathon.
6. Consistently Using Eco Mode
Eco mode works wonders for a laser projector. The Eco mode reduces the projector’s brightness, which in turn reduces heating and energy consumption.
The Eco mode reduces the projector’s brightness by 20-40% depending on the projector. Using the laser projector in Eco mode increases its lifespan by a considerable margin.
Things that Affect Laser Projector Longevity
1. Improper Storage
Due to a projector’s size, you can easily store it when not in use. However, after using a projector, let it cool down completely before storing it.
If you consistently store the projector without waiting for it to cool down, the heat dissipation will be excessively slow and damage the projector in the long term.
2. Inappropriate Environment
Using a laser projector in a dusty, hot and humid environment can adversely affect its lifespan.
Make sure to use a laser projector in a controlled environment where you can manage the temperature and humidity.
3. Laser Projector Quality
It’s no secret that an inexpensive laser projector will use cheaper components to help keep the price down.
However, the cheaper components can go kaput anytime, leaving your laser projector useless. Hence, I recommend purchasing a high-quality laser projector from a reputed brand.
3 High-Quality Laser Projectors
Do Laser Projectors Dim Over Time?
Like all projector light sources, a laser projector’s brightness also reduces with time.
Unlike lamp-based projectors, laser light source degradation happens very slowly; hence, you won’t notice it.
You can also prevent brightness degradation by using the projector at 60-80% brightness instead of 100% all the time.
Can I Replace the Laser in a Laser Projector?
Unlike lamp-based projectors, the laser light source in a laser projector is not user replaceable.
It’s because laser projectors have complicated wiring and design. Moreover, direct exposure to the laser can harm a person.
Since a laser projector lasts 15,000-30,000 hours, you won’t need to replace it for at least a year.
Can I Repair My Laser Projector?
Yes, repairing your laser projector is possible if you are handy with it. However, I highly recommend getting an extended warranty while purchasing a laser projector.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Laser Projectors need maintenance?
Laser projectors do not require excess maintenance like their lamp-based counterparts. However, you need to regularly clean the dust filter, exhaust vents and projection lens.
How long do Epson laser projectors last?
Most Epson laser projectors have a lifespan of 20,000 hours.
Why are laser projectors expensive?
Currently, laser projection technology is new and on the expensive side. A laser projector has multiple lenses that increase its size by a big margin. However, you can find laser projectors with excellent specifications as cheap as $500.
Are laser projectors more reliable?
Yes! Laser projectors are more reliable than lamp-based projectors. They last longer, up to 20,000 hours, and provide better picture quality and efficient energy utilization.
Conclusion
I hope this article helped you learn how long laser projectors last.
Laser projectors are currently the most desirable type of projectors in the market. Their long life, better picture quality, and efficient energy consumption make them a better choice.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.
Featured Image Credit: Matti Blume