glow-bee tv

 

The DLP televisions use a projector bulb as part of their “light engine” to show the image on the screen. The projector bulb is similar to the very bright bulbs used in… well… projectors. They have a limited lifespan. I elected to purchase an extended warranty when I bought the TV, just in case the bulb failed within the first few years. 

The bulb failed last week.

 

I called the GE warranty company and they dispatched a contract-repairman within 48 hours to replace the bulb. The repairman was quick, courteous, and prompt. I don’t think he was in the house more than fifteen minutes. I mentioned, as he headed out the door, “It looks really bright.” “Yes,” he answered, “it’s just the new bulb.”

 

After spending the day readjusting the set, I noticed that I couldn’t get things to look quite right. Any object on the screen that was bright (such as white letters) had a noticeable glow (Halo? Blooming?) that surrounded the object. The picture had a cartoonish feel to it.

 

After some research, I discovered the cause – dirty lenses inside the light engine. Apparently, this is a condition that grows worse with time, but is difficult to notice. It’s kind of like the “frog in a pot” urban legend  The new bulb provides so much more light than the aged bulb, that problem is immediately obvious.

 

One fellow spent a great deal of time providing documentation on how to correct the dirty lens issue. His posting included diagrams, photographs, and detailed instructions. I momentarily considered pursuing this course of action, but decided that this situation was exactly why people buy extended warranties!

 

I called GE warranty to explain the newly discovered problem and they readily agreed to dispatch a repairman. On Saturday, September 19, the repairman (who, coincidentally was the same person as before) appeared. He took one look at the TV and agreed with my analysis. However, the “take the whole TV apart” solution was not to be considered. The labor costs associated with such a dissection are prohibitive. Therefore, he is going to order a completely new “light engine” to replace the assembly in our television.

 

The light engine is the heart and soul of a DLP television. It includes more than the two lenses in question – it also includes prisms, the “light wheel”, and the DLP chip itself. A new light engine is nearly like getting a new television.

 

The new light engine should be on order by Monday. I should be getting a call this week to confirm delivery and installation. In the meantime, we continue to watch the television, through its glowing aura.