What is a Projector Lamp?

A projector lamp is used to transfer an image from a multimedia projector onto a larger screen for an audience to view. The projector lamp has been used in businesses and educational organizations for many years in order to help convey information to an audience. The projector lamp is also used for movie or home theaters, where it sends DVD or film images to a large screen for all to see.The technical description of a projector lamp is that it is an ultra-high pressure mercury vapor ARC lamp. Projector lamps are scientifically categorized as metal halide lamps and Philips has trademarked the name "UHP lamp" for their projector lamps.

1、How Does a Projector Lamp Work?
A projector lamp operates by sending an electrical current accross an ARC gap that is full of ultra-high pressurized mercury vapor. The electricity lights the mercury vapor which then causes the lamp to emit a light with an extreme intensity or brightness. The bright light created by this process shines onto an LCD (Liquid Crystal Diplay) or DLP panel which then in turn produces the fantastic images projectors are known for.

Projector lamps are a extremely complex technology that are very costly to manufacturer, therefore the price of projector lamps tends to be pretty high

2、what is the projector lamps made of?
A projector lamp is made up of several components including the ARC tube, ultra-high pressurized mercury vapor, electrical wiring, a quartz globe or reflector, a fastener, a spoke, a bolt, a screw and finally the black plastic housing itself.

ARC Tube - The ARC tube is a piece of blown quartz measuring about 2 inches in length that protrudes up from the base of the quartz globe. The ARC tube is positioned by highly-accurate machines and then set with extra strength plaster.

Mercury Vapor - The mercury vapor inside most projector lamp ARC tubes is ultra-high pressurized. The mercury vapor is sensitive to the amount of current running through it and so projectors have electrical ballasts inside them to regulate electricity flow. The ballasts ignite the mercury vapor at a high voltage and then bring the voltage level down to the apropriate running voltage required to sustain the projector lamp.

Electrical Wiring - The electrical wiring on a projector lamp is fused inside the quartz ARC tube and runs out the top of the tube through the side of the reflector. Electricity from the projector and regulated by the ballast runs in a circuit from the back of the projector lamp through the side and back into the projector.

Quartz Globe - The quartz globe or reflector as it is sometimes called, is the hard exterior skeleton of a projector lamp. The quartz globe is usually lined with a highly reflective metal material on the inside that reflects light generated by the ignition of the mercury vapor inside the ARC tube. The quartz globe also holds the ARC tube in place and is usually filled with extra strength caulking in its base to complete this task.

Fasteners, spoke, bolt and screw - Projector lamps are connected to wiring that runs current to and from the projector. The wiring is attached to the projector lamp by way of a fastener, a spoke, a bolt and a screw.

The fastener is a small metal piece that is either glued, sodered or clamped onto the side of the projector lamp. The fastener receives the screw that in turn holds one of the wires in place against the fastener .

A spoke is connected to the ARC tube and is usually cemented in place at the back of the lamp. The spoke usually protudes about an inch and a half and receives the bolt which holds the second wire in place, enabling the projector lamp to complete the circuit.

Plastic Housing - The plastic housing is the piece of molded plastic that holds the projector lamp in place when it is sitting inside the projector. Projector lamps are usually locked into the plastic housing using a retaining clip. The attached wiring easily screws into a slot at the back of the plastic housing.