How to easily Convert Projector to LED!

It is possible to work with a projector intended for high-pressure lamps as a bare LED. For that purpose, you will need enough basic electronic knowledge, time, and of course, what else, cash. In the latter segment, you will get to know about the 8mm projector bulb conversion.

light bulb and projector element with background

It will make you able to use your old projector as a light-emitting diode. In this regard, you will need a projector to start with. In our case, we will be looking at the Fujicacolor 10M projector with a burnt lamp. Often times it can be much cheaper to convert an older projector to LED than buying a new projector with LED functionality. You could also pick up a cheaper projector under 150 instead of the hassle of converting.

What to think about before Converting your Projector

  • Available Space

The Internet holds a lot of replacement (halogen) information on bulbs. Due to that reason, the bulb’s dimension, light intensity, and other data were not challenging to track down. 

We would need to construct a light holder to keep the light fixed. On the other hand, we have to keep the color stream focused at the correct height – into the lens system. Accessible space is fundamentally 50mm in a cube, even though almost 80mm in length is available from the light base (height-wise).

 

  • Kelvin Temperature 

The light ‘color’, either warm or cold, is dependant upon individual taste. Anyway, why not get closest to the initial value – being 3200 K. That is just focused on the range between warm or cold color, which means yellow or hard light, where 6000 K is cold. 

The latest recording cameras auto-correct the Kelvin temperature. Thus, for digitizing, one does not have to take much consideration in adjusting the color temperature.

  • Lumens 

Lux or lumens is the strength of the light discharged. It must not be mistaken for the bulb’s power usage– for this situation, and the halogen bulb was 50 Watts (W). 

We recovered on the halogen bulb because the projector lamp was 8V, 50W, 6.25A with Tungsten, Reflector cover. Its Sockel was P 30 S, A1/17 (LIF) with ANSI CXR/CXL. The bulb was RT14 in shape with a base of P15S30 single contact (15mm Pre-Focus Collar). It has a life expectancy of 25 hours (usually) with a Kelvin temperature of 3200K. The Luminous Flux was recorded to be a day and a half with a T9.5 bulb shape.

  • Chosen lamp

The chosen light runs at 8 V and does not create any warmth. At least, not more than that to hold in hand. The lamp is rated at 12 Volts, but it can run fine at 8 V. It has inside itself an exchanging unit, which means it does not make any difference how the wires are associated with it in DC. That makes us figure that it could not care less if it is AC or DC (which the user manual commands). The luminous intensity of the bulb is 500 candela with 230 lm, @ 36º.

 

  • Lamp holder 

Having realized how the LED light looks and at what height the light beam ought to be situated, the remaining was to sort out an appropriate design for the holder. Using SketchUp, a 3D model can be designed according to needs. To replace the projector bulb with led, one must create an appropriate holder for it.

 

Why Change to LED Projector?

To the eye, we were astounded at how well the film was projected. The light performed truly well. It was also noticed that we might have shut the lamp housing altogether, as no warmth should have been discharged. Accordingly, keeping the room dim, wherein the only light radiated would be from the projector lens. 

The recorded quality was less satisfying than the way it came out when watching on TV. The light strength was mainly weak in the film – for instance, if the landscape was in the sunset or dim light, the recorded material was in low contrast. Maybe because of the light discharged from the projector casing.

What to Consider Before Changing

If we did the change once more, we would focus on improving the following things: 

  • Seal the light from getting away from the “lightroom” into the room. As can be seen from a higher place, there is a hole of around 10 mm. It would improve the recorded image contrast. 
  • Increment the power supply to determined 12V. 
  • Find a marginally more centered LED light with a more focused light emission. Maybe a complete LED with its housing of a powerful LED torch.
Frequently Asked Questions

The Verdict

After reading the above guide, you will have an insight into projector-led conversion. You can use the above steps to perform LED projector lamp replacement and use your old projector having a burnt lamp.