Who makes the Akai 101280603 DLP lamps?
Akai doesn't make lamps for their DLP TVs! Philips is the original lamp manufacturer for your Akai 101280603 Lamp. In rare instances, Osram may also be the original, but they still use a Philips lamp driver, or ballast, so it's best to replace with a Philips brand UHP lamp!
Watch my demonstrationHow does the Akai 101280603 DLP Lamp work?
- Akai 101280603 lamps are pre-charged with about 15,000 volts
- There is no actual filament inside because it's a gas lamp
(Hg - mercury vapor) - Akai DLP lamps will fail continuity test
How long do Akai DLP lamps usually last?
- First Generation Akai lamps lasted from 2,000 to 3,000 hours or more.
- Second Generation Akai lamps will last up to 8,000 hours.
- Second Generation Akai lamps have better consistency.
- All depending on your usage and the type of lamp you have.
What are the benefits of replacing the entire lamp unit (the lamp and the enclosure)?
- Super quick installation.
- Just pop the old one out, and the new one in.
- Newer enclosures don't warp and are safer to re-use later.
- The cost is now almost negligible. You'll spend only $20 more for a lamp inside the enclosure from Discount-Merchant.com.
How easy is it to replace just the lamp?
It can take anywhere from 5-15 minutes depending on your personal dexterity with a screw driver, but replacing a lamp yourself is very straight forward. I can do it in 5 minutes!
Whether you have a Samsung, RCA, or Mitsubishi, swapping out the lamp is very easy. The ballast wires don't even have to go in any particular order because most DLP's use AC (alternating current, for those tech-savvy people).
Where do I purchase the lamps?
Akai 101280603, sometimes written as 101280-603 can be purchased from many places such as Discount-Merchant.com, which sells bulb-only and lamps with enclosures for various TV models. I highly recommend them because they are one of the largest parts distributors in the United States with a very loyal customer base. Any company can sell you lamps, but Discount-Merchant.com also provides free technical support and same day shipping--just read their reviews online!
What TV Models are compatible with the Akai 101280603 lamp?
These are the compatible TV models for this part number, you can click on the TV model number to access the owners manual
NOTE: You're not always going to be able to see the part numbers and you shouldn't worry about them. The complete cage part number is what matters and this is usually on the lamp housing and on the right side of your TV. It looks like:
Symptoms of a bad lamp:
- If you hear audio, but have no picture
- If you hear a ballast click, but the lamp doesn't ignite
- If you can't see the lamp light up in the back of the TV
- If you have blinking lamp indicator lights
- Visual indication that the lamp is blown
- Dim picture after years of use
Symptoms of another part malfunctioning:
- Consistent or inconsistent clicking from the ballast
- Screeching or winding sounds from the color wheel
- No picture, no audio (possible power supply or ballast)
- Blurry picture, or truncated picture (DMD or light tunnel)
- No blinking lights, or different blinking lights
- Spots or blobs on the screen (prevalent in LCD projection)
How do I take my enclosure out of my TV?
What do I need to replace my lamp?
What you'll need:
- Phillips screwdriver
- New DLP Lamp (You can buy it from Discount-Merchant.com)
- Gloves are recommended
Note: You should handle the bulb with gloves or a lint-free cloth. Oils from your fingers can damage the bulb!
This is what happens when you touch the lamp with bare hands
1. Oils from your fingers get on the glass of the lamp.
2. When the lamp is on, the oils help heat up that particular spot on the lamp, called a hot spot.
3. That hot spot can shatter the glass on the lamp.
NOTE: The lamp can still be usable, but there will be a noticeable shadow in the picture.
Akai 101280603 Replacement Guide
Poor picture quality.
Try another channel. Adjust the antenna. Check all wire connections.
No picture or sound.
Try another channel. Press the SOURCE button. Make sure the TV is plugged in. Check the antenna connections. Check that the Mute feature is off.
Picture rolls vertically.
Adjust the antenna. Check all wire connections. If you are using a VCR, check the tracking.
