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General discussion

LCD lamp/bulb question

Jul 12, 2005 12:36AM PDT

I am considering buying an LCD TV for my home. During recent research, i read that Sharp is the only company that manufactures LCD TVs that have bulbs that can be changed out when the lamp expires. I have also read that there are LCD TVs that have lamps that are almost "permanently" built-in and cannot be changed out. is that true? - and if it is i would like to know which manufacturer makes these types of LCD TVs and avoid them. I have mad some calls and asked around but sales folks in general have been very evasive about the "lamp/bulb" changeout question. They keep emphasizing about how it lasts longer than plasma - but that is not my question....

thanks.
jordan

Discussion is locked

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You're onto what may be a billion dollar service industry.
Jul 12, 2005 12:51AM PDT

If you look back in history, color CRT (tubes) had a bad run at first and resulted in many year warranties to get the consumers to buy into color.

Today, you find many thousand dollar TVs with pathetic warranties and the extended warranties that you may be surprised if you try to exercise them.

-> You're right. They may last longer but define "last". The output of the bulbs diminish over time but don't (on average) outright fail. Your bright screen will dim in just a few years but not fail.

Beware that service on these products is turning out to be non-existant, costly and for some a nightmare.

Bob

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which type of LCD?
Jul 12, 2005 7:17AM PDT

are you talking rear projection LCD or active matrix.
All rear projection LCD's have a replaceable lamp that you can get for around 200. They will be around for a long time

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Look around in these forums for ...
Jul 12, 2005 8:57AM PDT

Gateway TV owners. They are the poster consumers about what's wrong with this new industry.

Bob

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lcd/lamp
Jul 12, 2005 11:55PM PDT

Well.. actually each bulb will run from $250 to $350.. sony bein 250 and a panasonic being 350.. go to circuit city to buy it.. they will replace the bulbs for free if you have the service plan.. they also cover burned out pixels.. so even if just one pixel burns out on your 50" inch screen lets say they will come to ur house and put a new screen in for you because you can't repair an lcd screen.. if you watch tv for lets say 8 hours a day your bulb will typically last you 2 1/2 to 3 years.... Don't be a know it all and turn down the plan and try to do it yourself for replacing the bulb you will just break your tv

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LCD Flat Panel TV
Jul 13, 2005 4:10AM PDT

Sorry for the confusion - I was refering to LCD Flat Panel TVs. I really like the Sharp Acquous and noticed that they advertise 60,000 hours lamp life. When I went around asking about lamp life for other brands of LCD TVs, BestBuy and Circuit City told me that there were no lamps to change for LCD Flat Panel TVs..... so I am quite confused. Does the Acquous need a special lamp after 60,000 hours or are the other manufacturers not letting consumers know that there are bulbs to be changed for flat panel LCD TVs? It appears a little suspicious that no one manufacturer really guarantees the life of the product in any way (besides Sharp). Even Sony could not provide me with an answer when I IMed their sales support personnel.

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No bulb
Jul 13, 2005 12:53PM PDT

Flat panel LCDs and Plasmas do not have bulbs. An LCD screen is like a laptop computer screen. There are also LCD rear projector TVs and these use a projector bulb just like the rear projection DLPs.

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LCD pixels
Jul 13, 2005 1:30PM PDT

LCD TV's may be rated to 60,000 hr's (although I would like to see Sharp tell me that, not some sales guy at BB or other). What will typically happen, long before you get to 60 000 hrs, is pixel burn out. Tiny little dots of blue red or green will appear. Eventually there will be a few of them, then more and more. In fact, it's not uncommon to find one or two right away. Not sure about now, but many years ago Sharp had a tollerance of up to 6 dead pixels in their projectors before they would even concider giving a client a new one. I don't install LCD TV's, only use them as computer monitors, so I am not sure how much has changed, but I do know from the monitors that pixel burn out still exists.

What do you do after 60 000 hrs? You buy whatever the latest technology is available, it should be time. In fact after watching 60 000.hrs you could be behind and have to catch up with what is new.

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LCD Flat Panel TV
Jul 14, 2005 6:21AM PDT

LCD flat pannel TVs,computer monitors, laptops DO HAVE lampes it them. They use cold cathode florescent lamps. And they will go bad, but for the most part they last a long time. The down side is that they are NOT easy to replace. Where as the lamps for projection TVs LCD or DLP usualy are. John