Lamp exploding

I have a NEC Multisync 800 with a bulb that had 1000 hours left on it.
when i switched it on the other night there was an almighty bang and a sound of shattering glass.
Has any one experienced any thing similar, does this happen quite often.
I'm a little dubious about paying £200 pounds for a new lamp in case it does it again.
Do you think it could be a fault on the projector or just a faulty bulb.
Would be interested for any feed back.

cheers Graeme

[hornydragon]

i would be tempted to contact supplier/manufacturer if unit is under warranty, incase there is any damage to optics! Worth a letter to NEC uk in any case!

[Messiah]

I also think I'd be tempted to put the cost of a new bulb toward a new (upgraded) pj. You can get some great entry level units for under a grand now which should give a worthy upgrade and have bulb included

[Muf]

I once had a bulb explode a few years ago on an InFocus (just after switch on). It had only about 400 Hrs used but the PJ was just over 90 days so I had to put my hand in my pocket again. Graeme it is worth following up with NEC or the supplier as it may lead to a free lamp or maybe at worst you could negotiate a discount.
My second lamp worked fine in the InFocus so it must have been a lamp fault.

Jim

[RTFM]

I once had a brand new Sony VW11 that I was testing for a customer and the lamp exploded after 5 minutes !
Normally this doesn't do any damage as there is a "fly eye" lens in front of the lamp which focuses the light from the lamp at the start of the light path.
Most manufacturers will only give you 500 hours or 3 months warranty on the lamp.
Sim2 are giving 3000hrs or 1 year warranty on all their single chip DLPs.

Jeff