Taking Care of Your Projector and Lens
Perhaps the most important point to be careful about in maintaining your projector in top notch shape is to avoid conditions that will damage it, those conditions include avoiding: excessive heat, excessive moisture, excessive cold, excessive dust, and excessive jostling.
Most projectors have a room operating temperature of between 41 degrees and 95 degrees. Therefore, if you want to ceiling mount your projector you must consider the fact that heat rises and to ensure that the room temperature at that level is within the range of safety for your projector. Particular care must be taken if your projector has been at or near freezing or sub-freezing temperatures long enough for the bulb to become subject to breaking if turned on. The rapid change in temperature will cause the lamp to burst, which is an expensive proposition.
Other tips to avoid excessive heat include avoid blocking the ventilation of the projector by ensuring that the fan exhaust is free of any impediment. The intake for introducing cool air via the projector fan, has an air filter to protect the internal parts of the projector. Be sure to clean the filter as specified by your projector manufacturer’s user manual. A clean filter will help maintain the life span of the lamp.
When your lens becomes dusty or is touched leaving a greasy finger print, particular care must be taken in cleaning the lens. Some prefer to use isopropyl alcohol and a lens cleaning cloth to avoid damaging the lens. The use of tissues and other type of wood based cleaning products are not recommended, in part due to left over lent and the fact that such products are more abrasive than cotton or manufactured cleaning cloths.
Do not spray any solution directly on your lens but first apply it lightly to your cleaning cloth. Work from the middle of the lens in small circular motions while expanding the circular motion wider and wider until the whole lens is clean.
Your projector is a valuable investment that can provide you years and years of entertainment. Protect your investment by following the above guidelines and recommendations.
