Epson TW 9400 Owners Discussion Thread

[unwritt3n]

9 minutes ago, RCADees said:

 

How many hours does the lamp currently have?

Based on the instructions manual, blinking blue and steady orange seems to be a lamp issue:

 

Yeah this is what the LEDs are doing, so a lamp error/failure... I tried all those things.
I can't remember how many hours it had (can't check as no picture comes up now), but it was probably about ~500ish hours. I've ordered a replacement lamp from Epson in the meantime, see if that fixes it.

 

I'm just worried it's something else. I've seen a few posts on reddit (different model) that ended up being a lamp 'driver' issue...?

[RCADees]

3 hours ago, unwritt3n said:

Yeah this is what the LEDs are doing, so a lamp error/failure... I tried all those things.
I can't remember how many hours it had (can't check as no picture comes up now), but it was probably about ~500ish hours. I've ordered a replacement lamp from Epson in the meantime, see if that fixes it.

 

I'm just worried it's something else. I've seen a few posts on reddit (different model) that ended up being a lamp 'driver' issue...?

 

Good move, I would start with the lamp replacement and go from there. 

Other members here have more experience and they may be able to give you a few more ideas.

Failing that contact Epson.

[unwritt3n]

46 minutes ago, RCADees said:

 

Good move, I would start with the lamp replacement and go from there. 

Other members here have more experience and they may be able to give you a few more ideas.

Failing that contact Epson.

Yeah, hopefully it's just the lamp.

I was surprised for it to be dead as I swear I recently checked and it was around that 500 hr mark so should've had more life and it's picture/brightness was still really good.

But yeah, guess I'll find out soon enough if it's the lamp or something else

[RCADees]

1 hour ago, unwritt3n said:

Yeah, hopefully it's just the lamp.

I was surprised for it to be dead as I swear I recently checked and it was around that 500 hr mark so should've had more life and it's picture/brightness was still really good.

But yeah, guess I'll find out soon enough if it's the lamp or something else

I am just guessing that there is something wrong with that one lamp and it is shutting itself down as a protection.

With lamps that cheap I always keep an extra one just in case.

Out of curiosity, were you running the lamp in high, medium or low?

[unwritt3n]

Great news, the replacement lamp arrived from Epson already (very pleased with that fast free shipping!) and it's working again!

Just checked, my original lamp had only 1640 hours use on it. They are expected to have approx 3500 hrs according to the manual... I use the 'Standard' picture mode 99% of the time, but I recall changing the fan speed to Low/Eco to reduce the noise, perhaps that was detrimental to it's life..?

 

My projector hangs upside down, I had to take it down to replace it. Once I get it back up and realigned I'll double check my settings and reset the lamp hours on the new one.

[RCADees]

31 minutes ago, unwritt3n said:

Great news, the replacement lamp arrived from Epson already (very pleased with that fast free shipping!) and it's working again!

Just checked, my original lamp had only 1640 hours use on it. They are expected to have approx 3500 hrs according to the manual... I use the 'Standard' picture mode 99% of the time, but I recall changing the fan speed to Low/Eco to reduce the noise, perhaps that was detrimental to it's life..?

 

My projector hangs upside down, I had to take it down to replace it. Once I get it back up and realigned I'll double check my settings and reset the lamp hours on the new one.

 

Fantastic news. Great to hear. 

My projector calibrator did say that although on low lamp mode Epson says that you can get up to 5,000 hours from it, he did say that to maintain proper performance, to consider replacing the lamp at around 1,000 hours.

I am guessing that he wasn't just talking about colour accuracy.

At A$150 per lamp it does make me think that these lamps are probably not built like the $800 ones from JVC and others. Good idea to keep a spare one around!

[Ars Paart]

I just replaced my lamp after 3800 hours. Because they seem to degrade slowly, I didn't really notice it other than to think that some HDR was a bit too dark. Changing it opened my eyes, at which point I closed them again to avoid retina damage.  Seems to me that for the price of the lamps it makes sense to change them more frequently. 

 

Epson still have them in stock, I've already ordered my next replacement. 

[HDobsession]

9 hours ago, Ars Paart said:

I just replaced my lamp after 3800 hours. Because they seem to degrade slowly, I didn't really notice it other than to think that some HDR was a bit too dark. Changing it opened my eyes, at which point I closed them again to avoid retina damage.  Seems to me that for the price of the lamps it makes sense to change them more frequently. 

 

Epson still have them in stock, I've already ordered my next replacement. 

Yeah, I remember replacing the globe with my 9400 and was very happy with the new brightness. Grab a few globes for sure,  last time I was looking for a projector the store  were saying that those type of globes won’t be manufactured forever and may become hard to get. Has anyone else heard this?

[RCADees]

15 hours ago, HDobsession said:

Yeah, I remember replacing the globe with my 9400 and was very happy with the new brightness. Grab a few globes for sure,  last time I was looking for a projector the store  were saying that those type of globes won’t be manufactured forever and may become hard to get. Has anyone else heard this?

These are globes that have mercury and as such the European Union has instructed that new manufactured products that have that type of harmful elements cannot be placed on the market. This does not mean that these type of lamps will not be sold anymore or that new lamps will contain mercury, which is a good thing anyway. But it may spawn a new generation of non-harmful elements lamps or a new generation of laser projectors. 
The European Commission found that there are mercury-free alternatives to current products and this was a while ago. But who knows what the manufacturers are thinking, right?

News article

16 December 2021

Directorate-General for Environment

 

Clean and circular electronics: Commission ends use of mercury in lamps as mercury-free alternatives prevail

The Commission has adopted a package of rules ending a broad range of existing exemptions for the use of mercury in lamps. Under EU rules restricting the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS Directive), electronics that contain mercury cannot be placed on the market, except if time-limited and application-specific exemptions are granted by the Commission. Most of these exemptions for general lighting will be discontinued as assessments conducted by the Commission since 2016 concluded that safe, mercury-free alternatives are widely available for fluorescent lamps. The new rules aim to increase the protection of health and the environment form this hazardous substance, as well as boost innovation and promote cleaner products.

 

https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/clean-and-circular-electronics-commission-ends-use-mercury-lamps-mercury-free-alternatives-prevail-2021-12-16_en
 

[hopefullguy]

epson and others will ask for a 5 year extension in 2025 and get it for pj lamps, then get another after that.

[RCADees]

16 hours ago, hopefullguy said:

epson and others will ask for a 5 year extension in 2025 and get it for pj lamps, then get another after that.

Also this directive is only for the European Union, but as that market is big enough, then it should translate into industry changes for sure. Surely in this day and age it is possible to manufacture the same lamps without mercury?

[betty boop]

Yes it’s only E.U. not rest of world … my projector has gone 5 years on same bulb and not even at half of its half life  so am with spare already have … what 10-20 years life left ?  

[usethe4c]

Hi everyone, apologies if this has been posted already, I saw this linked on the UK av forum:

 

https://www.epson.eu/en_EU/faq/KA-01938/contents?loc=en-us

 

It appears Epson at least already have their act together over this. It looks like being over 2000 lumens might be a factor. I've a few Epson projectors so all the same I'll probably accumulate a set of them over the next couple of years so I'm good for an awful long time.

 

Cheers

 

Steve 

[RCADees]

11 hours ago, usethe4c said:

Hi everyone, apologies if this has been posted already, I saw this linked on the UK av forum:

 

https://www.epson.eu/en_EU/faq/KA-01938/contents?loc=en-us

 

It appears Epson at least already have their act together over this. It looks like being over 2000 lumens might be a factor. I've a few Epson projectors so all the same I'll probably accumulate a set of them over the next couple of years so I'm good for an awful long time.

 

Cheers

 

Steve 

 

This is very helpful and it clarifies the rumours.

Thanks Steve.

 

 

So there you go, no need to worry.

But let's all make sure to dispose of these lamps appropriate as we consumers have a big responsibility too.

I suggest a first contact for disposal in your area is to contact the local council.