Optoma GT1080E fix or Replace

[simmb]

So my current projector, Optoma GT1080E has decided to give up the ghost. When powered on it just does a cycle of the fan a few times but never gets to the point of starting up the lamp and just ends up with two red LED's on the control panel(manual says lamp failure).
I have tried a new lamp but that has not helped, the internal fan is good I have run that on a 12v connection and I can also see it spinning when the projector starts. So last resort is to replace the colour wheel, if that fails to fix it I am done with ideas on what next with this projector and will probably need a replacement unless anyone has any other suggestions on what to try.

Looking on projector central seems I am limited with options that will work in my space, currently I run it in 4:3 ratio at 8ft from the screen, this gives me a 12x9 (15 diagonal) image. The benq's which I know are popular require a bit more space from the screen which would be a struggle. I don't want to buy another GT1080 if there is something better out there, also being UK based seems we have even less options, the Optoma EH412ST seems like a better projector but I can't find anyone selling it in the UK. Only other projector that I can seem to find is the Acer H6517ST and I am pretty sure I used to have that model and it broke after 2 weeks.
Anyone got any suggestions? Needs to be under the 1K mark if possible. Thanks in advance.

[wbond]

Are you using an OEM bulb or an aftermarket? On a previous projector I had, i tried the aftermarket and it would not work, got an OEM bulb and started working again. just a thought.

[simmb]

Are you using an OEM bulb or an aftermarket? On a previous projector I had, i tried the aftermarket and it would not work, got an OEM bulb and started working again. just a thought.

Yes that is a good point but lamp life was fairly low so it wasn’t my primary suspect, guess they can go at any point. I am guilty of going aftermarket because I don’t want to throw too much cash at it. You got me thinking now

[wbond]

I had the exact same thought when mine went out. I figured it's just a bulb, didn't really think there would be a difference going aftermarket. Then i read some of the reviews and others mentioned that they wouldn't fire up. Maybe that's not it, but that was the issue with mine.

Yes that is a good point but lamp life was fairly low so it wasn’t my primary suspect, guess they can go at any point. I am guilty of going aftermarket because I don’t want to throw too much cash at it. You got me thinking now

[DannyMRICS]

You could send it into Optoma. They charge about £80 to inspect and advise, but take this off the price of any repairs if you go ahead with it.

There are genuine bulbs in replacement cases which are cheaper than OEM ....

[simmb]

Thanks for the responses. Turns out the new colour wheel did the trick so I am back in business £20 well spent, also have a spare lamp as well as the original and the new one both work.

[gnomike]

A couple of days ago I heard a "pop" sound when I went to turn on the projector. One thinks burnt lamp right away, of course, except I only had about 300-500 hours on it (can't check until it's fixed lol). Also, I bought a new lamp on Amazon and the projector still isn't working. It might be a bad replacement too, from what I'm seeing on this post. It's supposed to be a legit Osram bulb in an aftermarket casing, but I can't tell for sure.

simmb Did you check the colour wheel before ordering? I started up my projector with the bulb out and saw that my colour wheel spins up fine, as well as the fan, but no way to tell if there was something else wrong with it. Maybe I'll try replacing it anyway to see if it does the trick. Did you buy OEM or aftermarket for the CW?

[gnomike]

Exactly the same. The sounds the projector makes are same as they were when all was working fine... except that now there are three failed attempts then it displays the red light error code. Based on your post I ordered a cheap aftermarket colour wheel too. Won't get here for a week though!!! Fingers crossed Thanks for the input

[simmb]

Fingers crossed then. Let us know if it works.

[gnomike]

will do for sure

[gnomike]

I found this cheap colour wheel... do you think it will do the trick?

https://www.amazon.ca/Color-Wheel-9-1-4-133343/dp/B000I1TFMK/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?crid=3G32PE85YLHJF&keywords=optoma+color+wheel&qid=1581016189&sprefix=color+wheel+for+optoma%2Caps%2C204&sr=8-1-fkmr1

[simmb]

What could go wrong

[Shipwreck34]

For the aftermarket bulbs, here's the long/short of it: They are the same but not manufactured to the same tolerances of the OEM parts. The projectors are designed to pick up on particular volt/amp tolerances, when they don't get it, they don't fire. It's actually a safety feature, really. Would you rather your house burnt down? LOL

For references and bona fides, I've worked on $120,000 Christie projectors where the bulbs alone are $3,500. So I've been down this road once or twice.

[Shipwreck34]

Yes indeed! LED is changing everything for high end projectors. Those $120K units with $3.5K bulbs from the better part of a decade ago are now being replaced with LED projectors for half the price and no need to replace any bulb. Same lumens, same long throw, little to no maintenance.

[gnomike]

Shipwreck34 Any clue as to how far off LED projector revolution is for the home market?

[Shipwreck34]

gnomike I wish I knew. I'm waiting too. The projector I used for my Sim Golf build is LED, and only cost $260, which was the cheapest I'd seen LED. It is just a cheap projector with many limitations, but it's good enough for this stage of my build, and when I'm done with it I'll happily use it when camping or something.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q2BV8LN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

1080p native (gotta really check this spec on cheap projectors. way too many liars)
6500 lumens (just over half that for real if you ask me. I'd have to use a meter to prove it)
4D keystone correction (more like tilt and pan. not true 4 corner keystone as I expected)

I'm personally waiting for 4K / LED / ~3300+ Lumens / 3D (in 1080p) and at $1,500 or so until I pull the trigger for a new projector for my Theater Room. Until then my Epson 2150 is working just fine at the moment. As usual the early adopters pay the cost of R&D and expected profit margins, then the price comes back down to earth for the rest of us. I honestly expected almost all projectors to be LED and reasonably priced by now, but the manufacturers have really been holding on. I guess somebody did the math on how much money they'll lose on not selling bulbs and have baked that into the break point for when they'll drop the prices to the point that the masses will buy them in numbers.

LED will take over. It isn't gonna be like BetaMax or HD-DVD. We just have to continue to be patient.