One of the main factors that determine the life of a projector bulb is the type of bulb it is. There are currently three main types of bulbs that can be found in projector lamps.

Halogen Bulbs
Halogen projector bulbs are less expensive than metal halide bulbs, usually costing $75 to $100. However, they tend to leave a yellowish tint on the image being projected, so they are less commonly used. These data projector bulbs usually last about 70 hours and burn at a steady rate. This means that they have a consistent brightness and do not fade.

Metal Halide Bulbs
Metal halide slide projector bulbs generally cost between $300 and $400 and last between 1,000 and 2,000 hours. Halide bulbs produce a clearer image due to their white brightness. However, these inexpensive video projector bulbs fade in brightness during the life of the bulb.

Ultra High Performance Bulbs
Ultra high performance bulbs of UHBs are a type of metal halide slide projector bulb that is manufactured by Philips. This movie projector bulb is just as bright as traditional metal halide bulbs but requires less wattage. These DSW projector bulbs require less energy and can be placed in smaller projectors. UHB’s generally last about 4,000 hours.

What You Can Do to Make Them Last Longer
The life of a video projector bulb depends heavily on the life of a projector bulb. Even cheap projector bubs can last a long time if cared for properly. One of the main ways to expand the life of your projector lamp is to make sure that it does not overheat. You should consult your owner’s manual about proper maintenance to assure your projector stays cool.

It’s also important to clean your projector filter. If the filter is clogged it will make the projector become hotter easier. Besides cleaning the filter regularly you should make sure your projector is located in a room that is smoke and dust free.

In addition, if your projector has an economy mode you should use it. This setting helps the projector use less brightness and therefore will extend the life of the lamp. You should also avoid moving your projector often, or shaking it for any reason.

It is also important to give your projector breathing room. In order to extend the life of your overhead projector bulb you should refrain from placing the projector’s exhaust directly against the wall. You should locate the projector at least three feet from any object that may block the exhaust, causing the projector to overheat.