Dramatically Lower Your Operating Costs
By Properly Managing Heat in LCD Projectors

You're running late for church service this morning which normally wouldn't be a big deal except that today you are in charge of the presentation/projector system. You get to church with about ten minutes to spare before service starts. You turn on the projector and immediately see that little warning that reads something like, "Air Filter is Dirty. Please Clean Filter before Proceeding." Arrggh!!! As frustrating as that little message can be, it's there for a very important reason. Let us explain why.

Failing to keep your projector filters clean can be very costly! The "change your filter" warning light or message from your projector may be more appropriately interpreted as: "Pay attention, you are about to start pouring money down the drain!!!" Why? Because heat is a natural bi-product of any operating electronic circuit, and heat is the mortal enemy of projectors. Dust and particles build up in the air intake filters on projectors and start to obstruct the airflow. Without proper air-flow to cool the projector, operating temperatures will rise above safe levels. Many of the components in an LCD projector will not operate properly and will fail sooner if the operating temperature in the projector stays above specified levels. Projector bulbs, individual LCD panels as well as the light filters and any signal processing boards can all be adversely affected by excess heat. And these items are not cheap to replace!

Dust build-up on filters is a primary cause of increased heat, which means that the air filters in a projector must be cleaned and replaced at regular intervals. In a confined space installation, filters must be cleaned and replaced more frequently, as dust accumulates very quickly. The best and most cost-effective way to protect your LCD projector investment is to keep those filters clean, and make sure the projector is well ventilated.

Of course, to make it easier on you, manufacturers are implementing filter systems that require less from the end-user. Some projector companies are using filter systems that need to be cleaned less frequently like Hitachi's new Hybrid filters found in models like the Hitachi CP-X401. Other manufacturers are installing filter cartridges that don't need to be cleaned but instead will automatically advance from the dirty filter to a new, clean filter in just a matter of seconds. Sanyo has implemented this technology and calls it the Active Maintenance Filter System. You will find AMFS in the PLC-XP100L. If you want to learn more about the latest in projector air filter technology call your CCI Solutions specialist.

So why don't projector manufacturers just install bigger fans in projectors you might ask? It's easy to add cooling fans to boost airflow through a projector. The problem is, simply adding more fans also boosts noise levels. The trick is to design an efficient cooling system that maximizes airflow across all sensitive components while minimizing noise. The choice of materials used for the projector's housing also determines its ability to "sink" heat from the lamp and radiate it away from the housing.

Even though projector manufacturers can design a good cooling system, all of that hard work can easily be undone by improper installation and maintenance of a projector, particularly high-brightness large venue and conference room models. The hot air has to go someplace! Make sure your projector is always installed or positioned in such a way that allows air to flow freely over and through it.

To get the most performance out of your LCD projector, follow these "golden rules":

1. Air flow through a projector is its lifeblood. Impaired airflow may result in lamp failure and/or other projector component damage. Keep that air moving!
2. Projector air filters must be cleaned on a regular basis, depending on the venue. For example, an LCD projector used indoors won't need cleaning as often as one used outdoors.
3. Vacuuming the projector's air filters is an efficient way to clean them.
4. When cleaning filters, vacuum all openings on the projector as well.

Check out our video on how to clean side-vent projectors.
5. Portable and installation projectors require adequate space around them for airflow, usually 19 inches or more. Be sure to check your owner's manual and follow their recommendations.
6. NEVER use an LCD projector in the same room as fog machines! The fog fluid can deposit and burn on both the lens and LCD panel causing damage that can cost up to $5000 per projector to fix. If you must use fog, use only video projectors with sealed optical systems and liquid cooling. Talk to your CCI Solutions consultant about the choices available to you.
7. Do not operate projectors in a room while you are using aerosol paints or glues for construction. If possible, keep the projector out of the room until the vapors are completely dissipated.
8. High altitude and thin air make it harder to cool projectors. Make sure you provide greater ventilation of your projector at high altitudes.