It's a little bit intimidating, with all the choices of projection 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 common for many different brands of projectors is the EVD projector lamps.  Although the use of laptop presentation has increased over the past decade, there are still millions of humble overhead projectors in use on a daily basis.  There are a wide variety projectors which use the EVD lamp, and they don't all look at all the same or have the same function.  In fact, some companies who make these projectors have switched bulbs in the design process from time to time to get the results they want.  The brightness, as most people call it, needs to be enough to gain good contrasts of writing or overhead transparencies.

All of the EVD projector lamps regardless of the brand have the same shape which is a bipin bulb, and on a rare 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.  Almost always, the voltages vary and the wattage as well.  The EVD projector lamps are 400 watts and 36 volt with a 3200K 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.  Every slice of time you turn off the machine means the lamp will last longer and you'll be saving money in replacements. 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.

Here's something to keep in mind when replacing these 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 EVD as described here or FXL, DYS, ENX, DYS, ELH or something similar to that, you get the idea.  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, EVD lamps are used specifically for the overhead projector they operate in.  Of course, you will need projectors that will have the correct voltage and capacity for the projector bulbs that they use.  But you will see specifications on your projector in most cases which will verify the correct lamp.  Whatever type of projection lamp you have, you can get what you need while getting the most light you can for your money.  We have a large inventory of projector bulbs for nearly every type of lighting application in the field.  If you need help identifying a projector bulb, our customer service representatives can help you determine what you have, simply give us a call.