Smart UF55W Flickering problem plus shutdown

[bertster]

We have just 2 Smart UF55W Projectors and both have just started to flicker - slowly at first and then flickering rapidly. Flickering is showing different colours. One of the units will flicker as soon as its switched on the other takes about 5 mins or so before it starts. Additionally the first unit will ramdomly shutdown. Both out of warrenty by 5 months. Do I now have two rather expensive hat stands or is this repairable? Thanks

[jamesreedersmith]

It will be the colour wheel - call Steljes - this is a known problem and they may be able to help you out! - Worth an ask!

[MYK-IT]

Prepare yourself for the worst (..hatstands) BUT

 

May be worth checking the bulb for 2 things.

- Ideally if you have a new spare bulb, install and try that first;

- otherwise remove the cover for the projector bulb (remove the bulb if necessary) and double check that the 2 spade connectors are connected properly to the bulb. We've had a couple of instances whereby one lead had come off.

- Failing that either (gamble?) on purchasing a new replacement bulb hoping that will rectify the problem (or if you've got more Unifi55 around the school, try a bulb from them - remembering to let the bulb cool down first)

- Always remember to reset the lamp counter after installing a new bulb

 

Hopefully, one of the above will fix the problem (but we've scrapped 3 Unifi Projectors now, all went faulty 3-4 years after purchase).

[exim]

Prepare yourself for the worst (..hatstands) BUT

 

May be worth checking the bulb for 2 things.

- Ideally if you have a new spare bulb, install and try that first;

- otherwise remove the cover for the projector bulb (remove the bulb if necessary) and double check that the 2 spade connectors are connected properly to the bulb. We've had a couple of instances whereby one lead had come off.

- Failing that either (gamble?) on purchasing a new replacement bulb hoping that will rectify the problem (or if you've got more Unifi55 around the school, try a bulb from them - remembering to let the bulb cool down first)

- Always remember to reset the lamp counter after installing a new bulb

 

Hopefully, one of the above will fix the problem (but we've scrapped 3 Unifi Projectors now, all went faulty 3-4 years after purchase).

 

What did you do in terms of replacement since its part of a bespoke mounting system?

[MYK-IT]

Hi Exim,

 

We scrapped the whole Unifi part of the projector (retaining the SMART Board of course!)

In a couple of rooms we went back to using ceiling mounted projectors (Casio XJ-A140), and for the other room where this was not an option we installed a Hitachi ED-A220 Ultra short throw projector.

[jonathon28]

Prepare yourself for the worst (..hatstands) BUT

 

May be worth checking the bulb for 2 things.

- Ideally if you have a new spare bulb, install and try that first;

- otherwise remove the cover for the projector bulb (remove the bulb if necessary) and double check that the 2 spade connectors are connected properly to the bulb. We've had a couple of instances whereby one lead had come off.

- Failing that either (gamble?) on purchasing a new replacement bulb hoping that will rectify the problem (or if you've got more Unifi55 around the school, try a bulb from them - remembering to let the bulb cool down first)

- Always remember to reset the lamp counter after installing a new bulb

 

Hopefully, one of the above will fix the problem (but we've scrapped 3 Unifi Projectors now, all went faulty 3-4 years after purchase).

 

We have a Unifi 55 projector and have just replaced the bulb. However, we cannot find how to reset the lamp hours. Been through the menu but cannot find anywhere to reset. Can anyone advise?

 

Thanks

[exim]

1. Press the power button on the extended control panel (ECP) or the remote control to start the interactive whiteboard system. The ECP.’s power light turns solid green when the system starts.

2. Wait 5 minutes for the projector to warm up.

3. Press DOWN, UP, UP, LEFT, UP (DUULU) on the remote control to access the service menu.

4. Using the remote control, select the Lamp Hour Reset option, and then press OK. Both Lamp Hour values (Standard and Economy) are reset to zero.

NOTE

You unable to reset the Display Hour value because it is the running total hours the projector has been in use.

5. Press the Menu button on the remote control. The SMART UF55 Settings menu appears.

6. Select to confirm that Lamp Hours has been reset to zero.

[Oaktech]

If you're a senior school, you might be able to get a DT teacher or technician to make you an adapter plate to hold another projector. I've previously had one made one to adapt a knackered uf55 to accept a benq short throw.

[AVMan86]

My uf55 had the flickering problem and at the suggestion of another forum thread I ordered the SMART color wheel cleaning kit and it seems to have solved the problem for now!

[VeryPC_Colin_F]

We have just 2 Smart UF55W Projectors and both have just started to flicker - slowly at first and then flickering rapidly. Flickering is showing different colours. One of the units will flicker as soon as its switched on the other takes about 5 mins or so before it starts. Additionally the first unit will ramdomly shutdown. Both out of warrenty by 5 months. Do I now have two rather expensive hat stands or is this repairable? Thanks

 

Try giving them a good Air Clean failing that the Cleaning Kit may be a option.

[runcmd]

I created my own cleaning kit using a rocket air blower from my photography kit and a load of blue tack to form the seal around the vent.

[tcarrington]

I did an optical clean recently on a UF75 (colour wheel, external lenses etc, I didn't dismantle the main light chamber). It had a fairly new lamp in, but was on low brightness as there was a dim/bright/dim/bright type flicker at high brightness.

After reassembly it started up and looked good brightness, but after maybe 2 minutes it started wildly flickering red/green/blue and then shut off.

Obviously, colour wheel was suspected, but it wasn't an issue previously. I hadn't touched it physically so I doubt I had damaged it. I wondered if I had cause an issue by blowing dust into it, but it started up quickly and seemed to run fine.

 

After lots of investigation I came across a newish YouTuber who suggested, post-cleaning, the InfraRed (IR) coming out of the lamp was flooding the colour wheel position sensor (little circuit board with sensor looking at black band on the colour wheel motor body)

Indeed, the flickering only started after the lamp reached full brightness, and I think dismantling the projector cause a full reset of the brightness settings. Also, he suggested a lamp that didn't have a good IR filter glass might be contributing. My lamp only had a green/yellow tinge (a recent lamp I now have has a red tinge).

So, all fitted with the data.

To fix the issue, I glued a tiny "shroud" around the IR sensor made out of a 1.8mm cable tie. Worked perfectly after that!

Hope that helps someone :-)