HDTV Forum

Apologies in advance if off-topic. New user here.

Toshiba 50HM66, 50" DLP, rear projection , purchased June 2006.

October 06: Light engine failed, warranty replacement. 3-1/2 weeks down.

Viewing habits - extensive: 36-50 hrs/week, estimating 3000+ hrs on lamp since purchase.

Yesterday (4/20): Set turned on, lasted about 5 minutes then picture quit with flashing yellow led (would try 8 times to re-start automatically). No joy. Turned set off and restarted. This time got steady yellow led with flashing red light plus synth voice "lamp not working". Background: noticed a slight increase in red hue over the past month. Unsure if related.

Option No. 1: Fight through the Toshiba service system (bad) with getting a service shop to check it out, contact Toshiba, get authorization to diagnose, pick up set from house and deliver to shop, diagnose, report back to Toshiba, wait for a determination, get authorization for replacement part, fax authorization, order part, get part in, install part, test set, deliver set (whew!)......in about three weeks time!!

Option No. 2: Order a lamp (OEM) and put it in (should be delivered Tuesday). If it works...great! If not, go through the warranty repair hassle suffering a delay of only 2-3 extra days. If not the lamp, I've got a spare.

Studied much on this site about lamps and read at least one article about lamp life. Coupling the hours we've got on this lamp with the slightly less-than-perfect self diagnostics through the set, I figured "what's the harm in ordering a new lamp? Gonna need a new one anyway - and soon!"

Anyway - I'm gambling that the odds of this situation lean toward a burned out lamp and not another light engine failure.

Your thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Clif
Spicewood, TX

Option No. 1: Fight through the Toshiba service system (bad) with getting a service shop to check it out, contact Toshiba, get authorization to diagnose, pick up set from house and deliver to shop, diagnose, report back to Toshiba, wait for a determination, get authorization for replacement part, fax authorization, order part, get part in, install part, test set, deliver set (whew!)......in about three weeks time!!

If you don't think you should have to pay for the repair that is the procedure...

If the lights and your manual indicate a lamp then by all means, start there. Let us know how it works out and Good Luck!

Hi Richard - thanks for the response!

Paying for the repair isn't the issue. It's the potential down time for something that wouldn't be covered by the warranty anyway. In my mind - is/was it worth $200 to see if I can get the set up and running in a few days on my own?

No problem with DIY on this end as I am electronically and mechanically saavy. Just ordered some end-user calibration tools to help setup the Toshiba "properly". Maybe I can put my $10K IFR SA to good use on this project rather than just communications electronics.

Got a bunch of ideas and helpful tips from your articles and reviews on how to better take care of this technology (including lamp life) - thanks!!

Glad you found the information helpful

Paying for the repair isn't the issue.

The only reason Toshiba would play a role in this is if you are trying to get them to pay for it in which case you must use an authorized service center for the process. Otherwise you can use whom ever you want and the only delays would be parts, schedule and getting your OK on an estimate.

Find a NESDA service center
http://www.nesda.com/locator/state_search.php

Richard (All): As promised...here is the follow up: Rec'd the lamp today and installed according to Toshiba owner's manual - took all of 3 minutes. Was very careful and used dacron photo gloves to handle the new lamp. Inspection of all viewable surfaces in the lamp well indicated all was clean with no unexpected dust or debris. The cooling fan was clean with sharp edges on each vane (wished the turbo wheel in my F250 looked that good!).

Interesting that the old lamp (3000+ hrs?) "popped" the instant the picture was lost (the wife forgot to mention this bit of diagnostic trivia). The remains of the lamp were shattered into a powder inside the lexan housing.

After turning on the set, I reset some parameters to either mid-range or lowest setting (contrast, bright, temp, etc). These will stay as they are until I have a chance to play with the DVE-HDDVD I ordered (unk. delivery date).

Question: Brand-new factory lamp. Do I need to "burn" it in for a few hours before attempting an end-user calibration with the DVE-HDDVD? If so - how many hours? Also interested in the physics behind the explosion of the old lamp if available.

BTW: The DVE-HDDVD is a stop-gap until I can locate a cal tech in my area - so far none to be found. I'll inquire in another forum.

Thanks for the support and the feedback.

Interesting that the old lamp (3000+ hrs?) "popped" the instant the picture was lost (the wife forgot to mention this bit of diagnostic trivia). The remains of the lamp were shattered into a powder inside the lexan housing.

That happens or absolutely nothing, the lamp appears just fine but it does not work.

A new lamp does not affect your calibration. It will affect a color temperature calibration from a tech and most prefer over 50 hours before doing that. The only other calibration lamp age impacts is light output and black levels; how bright black is.