This article might be one to refer clients to if they balk at paying the price for the factory original replacement of a projector bulb. Irreplaceable treasures of Scotland apparently were lost in the resulting fire. It didn't help that the bulb exploded where students were using expanding foam -- very flammable -- but the point is that a projector bulb exploded.

We don't know now if a bargain bulb was involved, and the students' description is not at all technical. But bargain bulbs are not likely to be as safe as factory originals, and this is what can happen when a projector has a problem.

[Link: dailymail.co.uk]

I only recommend the OEM's, and if clients choose not to purchase the manufacturer OEM product I no longer install the replacement lamps.

I've had multiple clients use 'cheap' bulbs in projectors, and I know of at least 2 that exploded and broke the projectors (one BenQ and one Optoma). I know of no OEM's that have exploded and broken projectors.

Replacement bulb sample size is about 20 projectors, probably 15 OEM's and 8 knock offs. Not a great ratio. The knock off's also usually only last about 2-300 hours, where as I've seen OEM's double the projector life span (rated for 2000 but have gone over 4k).

After reading the article...its probably good to know/remember that expanding foam can be VERY flammable.

One of the last clients who bought what he THOUGHT was an OEM bulb paid $425 for the lamp, and it wouldn't even power up. Of course they would not take it back either!

Major fail!

Hey, maybe non-function was its built-in nonexplosive guarantee.