For those projector models where there is the option, we sell both manufacturers original (OEM) lamps and branded compatible replacement lamps.
There are three distinct product categories in the market: Original Lamps, Branded Compatible Lamps and Compatible Lamps.
Original Lamps
These products are generally produced by the original manufacturer of the projector. They are made to a high standard. We sell original lamps for all major projector manufacturers. All original lamps are designated with (Original) in the selection list and description. We also sell Diamond Lamps which use original bulbs identical to those supplied in the new projector and are endorsed and supplied by the original bulb manufacturer.
Branded Compatible Lamps
Depending on your projector model, you may be able to purchase a branded compatible lamp. They are similar to Kingston memory for your PC or ScanDisk memory cards for your digital camera – they are a branded, high quality compatible product you should be able to trust will work flawlessly in your machine. Often slightly cheaper than an original product, however the high quality levels are still maintained.
Branded compatible lamps go through strict quality checks and all the bulbs used are of the highest quality (even some well-known projector manufacturers use these bulbs in their products). The quality checks include: Beam Performance, Ignition, Voltage, Appearance, Connections, and Runtime. All lamps are manufactured to ISO9001 standards. Each lamp is bespoke designed to ensure great performance levels and not to infringe on any copyrights.
We also offer two great manufacturers warranties on these products:
- A 120 day warranty against lamp failure
- A “Peace of Mind Warranty” that means if the compatible lamp proves to damage your projector you will receive a brand new projector of equal performance (Terms and Conditions apply).
Non-Branded Compatible Lamps
Compatible lamps are often supplied in brown boxes with no branding or manufacturer markings. This un-branding can often mean a non-regulated company has produced the goods. Do not expect to see warranties, nor can the quality of the products be guaranteed. Often the products are not manufactured to high standards (such as ISO9001). High risks can be associated with these products (Please see below for a full explanation of risks). We do not endorse the sale of these products.
We are a strong supporter of both original and branded compatible lamps. We believe our customers should be offered the choice of original and branded compatible lamps.
The risks of compatible lamps that are not verified include
- Health and Safety - Projector lamps are made by a highly complex design and manufacturing process. This process uses hazardous chemicals within the glass which are under immense pressure and can generate substantial amounts of heat. Poorly manufactured projector lamps could pose a safety risk.
- Performance - The quality of a projector lamp directly influences a projector’s ability to accurately replicate colours, brightness and contrast levels. It is important that any projector lamp used is designed specifically for that projector to ensure the highest image quality.
Identifying a fake/non-verified lamp
It is not always easy to identify an original lamp from a brand or compatible version. Branded compatible manufacturers make it easy to identify their products from non-verified products. For example, branded compatible products normally have the logo clearly marked on the boxes and sales are serial number tracked so it can be ensured that branded compatible product are not passed-off as original products. This protects all parties.
You need to be aware that non-verified compatible products are on the market. Below are easy ways to identify these products:
- Price - If the price of a projector lamp looks just too good to be true it probably is! Ask if the lamp is an original and check its warranty.
- Module/Housing or Bulb? - Pretty much every original lamp on the market and all branded compatible lamps we sell come supplied as a complete module. This means you can slot the lamp into the projector in seconds. If you buy a bulb that needs to be fitted into an old projector lamp housing then you must be prepared to spend time with a screwdriver to swap the lamps over. This can take considerable time and does not ensure the final product is up to the correct quality standard. Please note that Sharp do provide both lamp modules and bulb-only versions on some of their projector lines.
- Description - Any product that says, “Compatible with” or that has a generic description such as “120 watt” could mean the product is not an original.
