How do I reset the lamp's operating time counter on the projector?

After replacing the lamp, it is necessary to reset the lamp’s operating time counter on most projectors to zero. If you do not reset the counter, the projector will report prematurely that the new lamp is worn out or will even refuse to start up. You can find the procedure for resetting the lamp counter in your projector manual or you can proceed according to the following steps.

Never reset the counter before replacing the lamp. Even if your old lamp still shines brightly, yet, at the same time, the projector starts to signal that the end of lamp’s life is near, we recommend that you immediately order a new lamp. As soon as your new lamp arrives, install it and keep the old lamp as a spare. Exceeding the lifespan of the bulb greatly increases the risk of explosions, something that is better to avoid.

Procedures vary not only among projector manufacturers but also according to projector model. Here are a few examples for inspiration:

• 3M, Dukane, Elmo, Viewsonic
  1. Press the "MENU" button to call up the menu.
  2. When "EASY MENU" appears, use the "ARROW UP"/ "ARROW DOWN" buttons to choose "Go To Advanced Menu ..." and press the “ARROW RIGHT” button.
  3. Use "ARROW UP"/ "ARROW DOWN" to choose "OPTION" from the menu in the left column and press the “ARROW RIGHT” button.
  4. Use the "ARROW UP"/ "ARROW DOWN" buttons to choose “LAMP TIME” from the "OPTION" (or "ADVANCED") menu and then press and hold the "RESET" button or the “ARROW RIGHT” button.
  5. A dialog box appears. Choose "RESET" using the "ARROW UP" button.
• ASK, Infocus, Proxima
  • Method 1:
    1. Switch the projector on.
    2. Press and hold the volume down ("Vol-") button and then the volume up ("Vol+") button for at least 3 seconds.
    3. The indicator light should turn green.
  • Method 2:
    1. Switch the projector on.
    2. Press the "MENU" button to call up the menu.
    3. Choose the option "About" (resp. "Info").
    4. Choose "Reset Lamp Timer" and confirm the counter reset.
• Acer série P/H/XD/X
  1. Press the "MENU“ button on the remote control or on the control panel of the projector.
  2. Use the "Arrow up"/ "Arrow down" buttons to choose “Advanced setup”
  3. Use the "Arrow up"/ "Arrow down" buttons to choose "Reset lamp hours"
  4. Press the “>“ button and choose "Yes" to reset the lamp counter to zero.
  5. Press the "MENU" button on the remote control or on the control panel to return to the main menu.
  6. If you want to close the OSD menu, press the "MENU" button on the remote control or on the control panel. The OSD menu will close and the projector will save the new settings.
• BenQ MP610
  1. Press and hold “Exit” on the projector control panel for 5 seconds to show the lamp counter.
  2. Press the “Auto” button on the remote control or on the control panel to reset the counter to zero.
  3. After around 5 seconds the OSD will disappear.
• BenQ MP777/MP776
  1. After the startup logo appears, call up the menu (OSD) on the screen.
  2. Go to "SYSTEM SETUP": "Advanced" > "Lamp Settings".
  3. Press the "MODE"/"ENTER" button.
  4. The "Lamp Settings" window will open. Choose "Reset" and press the "MODE"/"ENTER" button.
  5. A warning asking whether you want to reset the lamp counter will appear.
  6. Click on the "Reset" option and press the "MODE"/"ENTER" button.
  7. The lamp counter will reset to “0”.
• BenQ PB6100/PB6110/PB6200/PB6210
  1. Press and hold the "Exit" button on the projector control panel for 5 seconds to call up the lamp counter.
  2. When the OSD menu appears, press the "MENU" button to reset the counter or press "Exit" to cancel.
  3. Press the < or > button; to set the lamp operating time to zero or press the "Exit" button to leave the menu.
  4. The message "LAMP HOUR RESET OK“ will appear. Press the "Exit" button and leave the menu.
• Boxlight, Canon, Christie, Eiki
  1. Switch on the projector and press the "MENU" button. The "ON-SCREEN MENU" will appear.
  2. Use the "POINT LEFT/RIGHT" buttons to move the red frame to the icon "SETTING".
  3. Choose "POINT DOWN". The red frame will move to the "Lamp counter reset" option and press the "SET" button.
  4. The message "Lamp replace counter Reset?" will appear.
  5. Move the red arrow to the button "Yes" and "SET".
  6. Another dialogue window with a request to confirm your choice will appear. Press the "Yes" button to reset the lamp counter to zero.
  7. After resetting the counter, the lamp indicator "LAMP REPLACE" will no longer be lit up.
• Epson
  1. Press "MENU" to show the projector settings and choose "RESET" from the menu.
  2. Choose "RESET LAMP HOURS" and confirm the reset with the "ENTER" button.
• Hitachi
  1. Switch on the projector and press the "MENU" button to call up the menu.
  2. From the "OPTION" menu choose "LAMP TIME“
  3. Press and hold the "RESET" button for around 3 seconds.
  4. Choose "RESET" to confirm.
• LENOVO
  1. Press the "Menu" button to call up the menu.
  2. Use the "Right" or "Left" buttons to go to the "Information" menu.
  3. Use the "Up" or "Down" buttons to choose "Lamp Hour Reset".
  4. Press the "Enter" or "Right" buttons. The message "Please see user manual" will appear.
  5. On the remote control press the cursor buttons in the following order: "Down", "Up", "Left" then "Right". Information on resetting the counter will appear.
• Mitsubishi
  1. Switch on the projector.
  2. On the remote control hold down the "ARROW RIGHT", "ARROW LEFT" buttons on the remote control and at the same time hold the "POWER" button down on the projector control panel.
  3. Wait around 3 seconds, the lamp indicator will flash twice.
  4. Release the buttons to complete the lamp reset.
• NEC série NP/U/LT/VT
  • Method 1:
    1. Press the "MENU" button, choose "RESET" and
    2. Choose "CLEAR LAMP HOURS" > a dialogue window will appear > press "OK".
  • Method 2:
    1. If the counter has exceeded 3,100 operating hours, the projector will not switch on.
    2. If this situation occurs, put the projector on standby. Press the "ON/STANDBY" and "CANCEL" buttons on the remote control for approx. 10 seconds. As soon as the bulb counter resets to zero, the "LAMP" indicator will no longer be lit up.
• Sanyo
  1. Switch on the projector.
  2. Press the "Menu" button. Use the "left" and "right" arrows (resp. "3"/"4") to go to and click on the "Settings" menu.
  3. Use the "Arrow up" and "Arrow down" buttons to go to "Lamp Counter". Press "Select".
  4. The lamp counter will appear on the screen. Click on "Reset" and choose "Yes" to confirm.
• Sharp PG-B10S
  1. Switch on the projector.
  2. Press and hold the "ENTER/ARROW right" and "AUTO SYNC" buttons. While you are holding them down, press the "ON" button and then the "ARROW left" button.
  3. On the screen you will see "0000h" to signal the successful resetting of the counter.
• Sharp XR10S/ XR10X/XR20S/ XR20X
  1. Switch on the projector.
  2. Press and hold the "MENU/HELP", "ENTER" and "ARROW down" buttons. While you are holding them down, press the "STANDBY/ON" button.
  3. On the screen you will see "0000h" to signal the successful resetting of the counter.