It's a little confusing sometimes, with all the choices of projection or viewing equipment, to find the exact bulb you will need for replacing your old one.  There are many types, but only one which is designed for the projector you have.  One of the most used lamps for projectors or illumination is the EFR projector lamps.  Although the use of multimedia presentation equipment has increased over the past decade, there are still many applications that use a lamp which will have the simple job of projection on a wall or screen.  There are a wide variety projectors which use the EFR lamp, and they don't all look at all the same or have the same function.  The EFR is also used in some types of machines that have a viewing component for quality control as well.

All of the EFR projector lamps regardless of the brand have the same shape which is a MR16 shape, and on occasion, the exact same shape of another lamp which might have a different voltage or wattage.  That's one of the reasons they're not interchangeable.  The specifications of wattage and voltage are different.  The EFR projector lamps are 150 watts and 15 volt with a 3400K color temperature.  Another thing to remember, because these have a high light output, that usually means they have a much shorter life.  The life is shorter, about 50 hours, so it's good to turn off the lamp when it's not being used.  These bulbs should not be touched with your skin as the oils can react with the glass. If they are touched, the life span of the bulb will be greatly reduced and sometimes you might see a bubbling of the glass. In case you ever do touch the bulb, wipe it thoroughly with a soft cloth to remove any oils.

Here's something to remember when replacing these type of lamps, they are identified by a 3 letter code on the bulb.  You'll see it somewhere on the back, the base or the top if it's more like a bulb as opposed to a reflector type lamp.  Sometimes you'll see the code as EFR as described here or FXL, DYS, ENX, DYS, ELH or something similar to that, you get the idea.  It's a code but it tells everything you need to know in finding the right lamp.  The ANSI 3 letter code identifies that bulb as to the shape, wattage, voltage and any other standard information.  Unlike other types of bulbs, these have some standards across various manufacturers, the only thing that varies is quality.  We have two of the best manufacturers of all types which are Sylvania and Eiko.  We have found that the quality of these is superior to almost anything else on the market.

In summary, EFR lamps are used specifically for the overhead projector or equipment they operate in.  Of course, you will need the correct voltage and capacity for the projector bulbs that you intend to use, so if you're not sure, check the specifications.  Whatever type of projection lamp you have, you can get what you need while getting the best quality brand for your money.  We have a large inventory of projector bulbs for nearly every type of lighting application in the field.  If you're having trouble identifying a projector bulb, our customer service representatives can help you determine what you have, simply give us a call.