Are your stars looking dim and dingy? Don’t seem to have the punch they once had. Try a new lamp! It can be as easy as that. The projection lamp used in your MEDIAGLOBE’s video projector will diminish with time. Unlike ordinary light bulbs which burn until they finally go out, the high output projection lamp might just slowly fade away before failing. The extreme heat of the bulb can cause the bulb to become discolored or cloudy and degrade the purity of the light sent to your dome. The result is a starfield that is not as bright or as sharp as it once was. Since the process occurs slowly over time, you can easily not notice the change in quality. The rated lifetime of the bulb is approximately 1500 hours but individual bulbs may vary and are affected by local environmental conditions. Keeping the projector filters clean will extend lamp life. However, lamps will start to diminish in brightness as soon as 350 hours and 750 hours is a far more realistic practical lifetime. Those who have bulbs with a high amount of hours on them might want to try replacing the bulb with a new one to see how much the images will be improved.

For those users who have the MEDIAGLOBE I or classic MEDIAGLBOE, the method for replacing the projection bulb is covered in your manual but it is quite simple. First, be certain that the projector has cooled down and the MEDIAGLOBE has been unplugged from its AC outlet. Remove the screws from the large flat plate on the back of your MEDIAGLOBE. This will allow you to remove a metal plate which is partially covering the bottom of the video projector. It is used as a light shield. By loosening the two screws that hold this plate on, it can be slid up and off. We now see the bottom of the video projector. Note a square shaped panel located near the bottom edge of the projector. This is the access plate for the lamp and is held on by two large screws. Loosen these screws and remove the plate. You will now see the lamp. It is black and has a handle on it. Gingerly test to see if the bulb is not too hot to handle. It has one large screw on it. If it is sufficiently cool, loosen this screw and pull the lamp out of its socket by using the handle attached to the lamp. Replace the lamp with a new one, and be certain that the bulb is fully seated in its socket. Tighten the mounting screw on the lamp; replace the cover, light shield and the MEIDIAGLOBE’s back plate. Restore power to your MEDIAGLOBE and enjoy your improved starfield.

For MEDIAGLOBE II users the process is similar and is also covered in the manual. After allowing the MEDIAGLOBE projector to cool, unplug the projector from its AC outlet. Remove the large side plate on the cable connection side of the projector case. This will reveal a rectangular cutout that exposes the bottom of your video projector. Notice that there are a number of connectors along one side of the projector. In some systems the cables may block the door. If so, detach the cables from the projector. Near the bottom of this side you will find a hatch held in position by two Phillips screws. This is the access hatch for your projector’s lamp. Unscrew the two screws to remove the hatch. You will now see the lamp assembly. Gingerly check to see if the bulb is too hot to handle. Unscrew the two Phillips screws which mount the lamp. Grasp the handle on the lamp and pull the assembly straight out. Replace the lamp with a new one, and be certain that the lamp assembly is fully seated in its socket. Tighten the two mounting screws on the lamp. Next, replace the lamp cover and tighten its two screws. Make sure that the cables are attached and secured. Finally, replace the large metallic side cover to close the projector case. Restore power and check to make certain your new lamp has illuminated.

Heat is the enemy of lamp life. Cleaning projector filters often, once a month and with every lamp change will keep your projector running cooler and extend the life of your lamps and your projector.

Replacement lamps can be obtained from your Konica Minolta service department at Audio Visual Imagineering (markz@av-imagineering.com). It is always a good idea to keep a spare lamp handy.

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Clear bright stars,
Mr. M