A compatible lamp or copy lamp is a lamp that uses a different bulb than the bulb used in an original manufacturers lamp. These bulbs are usually substandard and this is reflected in their price. The housing is often refurbished or second hand as well. Compatible lamps will likely void the warranty of your projector if you use them.

The bulbs that are used in original manufacturers lamps are very specific and are very different to that of say an ordinary light bulb; hence the difference in price. They are made up of different materials and technology as they need to perform under very different conditions than a light bulb.

Projector Bulbs Ltd does not supply any kind of compatible or other imitation lamps that use a different bulb.  Independent tests have shown that these units underfperform and often prove to be a false economy due to their poor build quality, poor lifetime and poor brightness.

An original manufacturers lamp is a lamp that is supplied by the original projector manufacturer, as in the lamp that would have come with your projector. These lamps are of a very high standard and are designed specifically for the conditions in which they need to perform. Projectors can reach very high temperatures when running and therefore the quality of your lamp needs to be of the approved standard so your projector can perform to its best at all times.

Sometimes it will be possible to source a lamp that is referred to as an ‘original lamp with housing.’ This lamp consists of the same bulb that is used and supplied to the original manufacturers for the original manufacturers lamps. Taking the original bulb and a new lamp chassis this lamp will perform just the way the original manufacturers lamp would without compromising any quality.  These lamps tend to be slightly more affordable than an original manufacturers lamp and will come with the same warranty as an original manufacturers lamp.

The bulbs used in original manufacturers lamps and original lamps with housing lamps will almost always be one of a few reputable brands such as: Philips, Osram, Ushio, Phoenix, Iwasaki or Matsushita.