The Projector Dictionary & Error Database
Decode the jargon. From "Anamorphic" to "Zero Offset", and troubleshoot specific error codes from Panasonic, Sony, Epson, and more.
Anamorphic Lens
An external lens attachment that stretches the image to fill a 2.35:1 "CinemaScope" screen without black bars, utilising the full pixel count of the projector panel.
ANSI Lumens
The industry-standard measurement for projector brightness. Measured by taking the average lux reading from 9 points across a white screen. Not to be confused with 'Marketing Lumens'.
Auto Iris
A mechanical aperture that opens and closes dynamically based on the scene's brightness to improve contrast. Common Fault: Often seizes or grinds, causing error lights.
Ballast
The power supply unit specifically designed to ignite and maintain the arc in a high-pressure mercury lamp. Failure results in the projector clicking but not striking the lamp.
Barco
Belgian manufacturer specialising in high-end cinema and simulation projectors. Known for F-Series and UDX laser platforms requiring liquid cooling maintenance.
Barco Error 76
Formatter Board Communication Error. Indicates a failure in the signal path between the main processor and the DMD formatter board. Often requires board replacement or reseating of LVDS cables.
Barco Error 5555
Light Processor Error. A critical failure in the cinema processing module. Common in Series 2 digital cinema projectors.
BenQ
Taiwanese brand dominant in the DLP market. Common issues include colour wheel whining and DMD chip failures (white dots).
BenQ Red Lamp LED (Solid)
Indicates the lamp has failed to strike. Could be a blown bulb, a faulty ballast unit, or the lamp door microswitch is not engaged.
BenQ Red Temp LED (Solid)
Overheating shutdown. The internal temperature sensor has exceeded the safety threshold. Often caused by blocked air filters or a seized intake fan.
Banding
Visible vertical or horizontal lines in gradients (like blue sky). Caused by low bit-depth processing or a failing signal processor on the mainboard.
Colour Wheel
A spinning disc with RGB glass segments found in single-chip DLP projectors. It creates colour sequentially. Failure Mode: Shattering due to RPM stress or sensor soot buildup.
Christie
Leader in Large Venue and Cinema projection. Their 3-chip DLP units are robust but require regular optical alignment and lamp housing rebuilds.
Christie Error 12
Fan Failure (Blower 1). Specific to the lamp cooling circuit. The projector will shut down immediately to prevent the xenon lamp from exploding.
Convergence
The alignment of the Red, Green, and Blue panels. Poor convergence results in colour fringing around white text. Requires mechanical or digital realignment.
Cover Open Error
A safety interlock preventing the unit from powering on. Usually caused by the lamp door microswitch being broken or the door not being seated flush.
DMD Chip
Digital Micromirror Device. The chip inside DLP projectors covered in millions of tiny mirrors. Overheating causes mirrors to stick, creating permanent white or black dots.
DLP
Digital Light Processing. Technology using mirrors (DMD) to reflect light. Known for high contrast and "pop", but susceptible to the "Rainbow Effect".
Dust Blobs
Out-of-focus coloured circles appearing on the screen. Caused by dust settling on the LCD panels or polarising filters. Requires internal cleaning.
Epson
The world leader in 3LCD technology. Their optical engines deliver high colour brightness but filters must be cleaned regularly to prevent polariser burn.
Epson Temp Flashing Orange
Warning State. The projector is running hot or High Altitude mode is active. Usually indicates the air filter is clogged and needs cleaning immediately.
Epson Temp Flashing Red
Critical Thermal Failure. The unit has shut down to protect the LCD panels. Can be caused by a seized fan, blocked exhaust, or mainboard sensor failure.
Epson Auto Iris Error
A grinding noise followed by a shutdown and status lights. The gears on the dynamic iris have stripped or jammed. Common in the TW series.
Edge Blending
Using multiple projectors to create one seamless image. Requires precise colour matching and geometric warping capabilities.
Error Code 04 (Panasonic)
Power Supply Unit (PSU) Failure. The main power rail is not delivering stable voltage. Often requires capacitor replacement or a new PSU board.
Error Code 07 (Panasonic)
Shutter / Iris Failure. The mechanical shutter is stuck or the sensor detecting its position has failed.
Fan Failure
The most common cause of shutdowns. Projectors use multiple fans (intake, exhaust, lamp). If the "Tacho" signal drops, the unit shuts down instantly to save the bulb.
Fan Lock Error
Specific error message indicating a fan blade is physically obstructed or the bearing has seized solid.
Firmware
The operating system of the projector. Updates can fix HDMI handshake issues, improve fan algorithms, and patch control bugs.
Heatsink
Metal fins attached to the DMD or laser diode to dissipate heat. Dust clogging these fins is the #1 cause of laser dimming and failure.
Hitachi Temp LED (2 Blinks)
Air Flow Error. The sensors detect insufficient air volume moving through the chassis. Almost always caused by a heavily blocked electrostatic filter.
Hybrid Light Source
Used by Casio and some Optoma models. Combines Blue Laser and Red LED to eliminate mercury lamps. Reliable but expensive to repair if the LED driver fails.
Iris
A mechanical shutter that reduces light output to improve black levels in dark scenes. Prone to mechanical jamming (grinding noise).
JVC
Renowned for D-ILA (LCoS) technology with the best native black levels in the industry. Common repairs involve ballast failure and gamma board drift.
Keystone Correction
Digitally altering the image shape to make it rectangular when projecting from an angle. Use sparingly as it degrades resolution and introduces artifacts.
Laser Phosphor
The dominant solid-state tech. Blue lasers hit a spinning yellow phosphor wheel to create white light. Risk: Phosphor wheel bearing failure.
Lamp Timer Reset
The manual procedure required after changing a bulb. If skipped, the projector assumes the old lamp is still installed and may refuse to strike.
Liquid Cooling
Found in high-end Panasonic/Christie units. Uses a pump and radiator with glycol coolant. Requires flushing every 5 years to prevent pump seizure.
Lens Shift
Physically moving the lens up/down/left/right to position the image without digital distortion. Far superior to Keystone correction.
NEC Status 6 Blinks
Lamp Housing Error. The projector believes the lamp door is open or the lamp is not seated correctly. Check microswitches.
NEC Status 4 Blinks
Fan Error. One of the internal cooling fans is not rotating or is disconnected.
Optical Engine
The heart of the projector containing the prisms, mirrors, and imaging chips. Sealed to prevent dust, but seals degrade over time.
Optoma
A major DLP manufacturer. Common repairs include mainboard failure (no power) and colour wheel shattering on older HD models.
Optoma Lamp LED (Red)
Lamp Failure. The unit has attempted to strike the lamp 3 times and failed. Requires lamp replacement or ballast repair.
Optoma 2 LEDs Flashing
Colour Wheel Failure. The index sensor on the colour wheel cannot detect rotation. The projector shuts down to prevent the lamp exploding from heat accumulation.
Panasonic
Industry standard for corporate and large venue. Their PT-RZ laser series is robust but suffers from polarizing plate burn if filters are neglected.
Polariser
A filter in LCD/LCoS projectors that aligns light waves. Organic versions "burn" over time, creating yellow or blue blotches on the screen.
Pixel Shift (4K)
Technology (e.g., Epson 4K Pro-UHD, TI XPR) that rapidly vibrates a glass plate to flash pixels twice, creating a 4K image from a 1080p chip. The actuator can fail, causing buzzing.
RGB Laser
Direct Red, Green, and Blue lasers. Used in premium cinema. Offers wider colour gamut than Laser Phosphor but is more expensive to repair.
Sony
Uses proprietary SXRD (LCoS) panels. Known for "Gamma Drift" or "Panel Degradation" over time, causing a permanent loss of contrast.
Sony 2 Red Flashes
Temperature Error. The internal temp is too high. The unit will not power on until it cools down. Check filters and ambient room temp.
Sony 3 Red Flashes
Lamp Cover Error. The lamp door is not securely fastened or the safety microswitch has broken.
Sony 4 Red Flashes
Fan Error. A specific cooling fan has failed or stalled. The service menu will usually indicate which fan number (Fan 1, Fan 2, etc.) is at fault.
SXRD
Silicon X-tal Reflective Display. Sony's version of LCoS. Delivers cinematic, film-like images with no "screen door effect".
Thermal Paste
A conductive compound between the imaging chip and heatsink. It dries out after 3-5 years, leading to overheating. We replace it during every service.
Thermal Throttling
A protection mechanism in modern laser projectors. The system automatically reduces light output (brightness) to protect the laser diodes when cooling is insufficient.
Throw Ratio
The distance from the screen divided by the width of the screen. Crucial for determining if a projector fits your room.
Example: 1.5:1 ratio means 1.5m distance for 1m width.
UST (Ultra Short Throw)
Projectors that sit inches from the wall using mirrors. Extremely sensitive to geometric alignment issues and mirror dust.
Viewsonic Lamp/Temp LEDs
Viewsonic units often use simultaneous flashing of both LEDs to indicate specific faults. Consult the user manual table as sequences vary by model (e.g., PJD series vs. PX series).
WEEE
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive. We are fully compliant, ensuring old lamps (containing mercury) and chassis plastics are recycled responsibly.
Zero Offset
A projection angle where the bottom of the image aligns perfectly with the centre of the lens. Common in UST and short-throw exhibition setups.
Ready to Resolve Your Projector Issues?
Whether it's a single unit fault or a fleet-wide maintenance requirement, our expert team is ready to help.
Need a Repair Done?
Get in touch with us by filling in our repair booking form for a quick diagnosis.
Book a RepairCorporate Maintenance
Looking for a maintenance contract? Explore our tailored solutions for companies and education.
View Service Contracts