Epson is one of a number of projector brands for which it is possible to buy low-cost projector lamps online. Gone are the days of ordering Epson projector lamps from under-stocked retail stores, or ordering by post and telephone and having to wait for days. Now, you can log straight on to an internet store and pick from hundreds of products – usually, with next day delivery.

Such stores significantly undercut retail store prices, since they don’t have the overheads that the retail stores do.

There are also companies that specialise in supplying projector lamps of most brand types, including Epson projector bulbs, and many of these companies deal exclusively online – cutting their costs still further and allowing even higher savings. They pare marketing and packaging costs down to the bone – passing the savings on to the consumer.

Of course, if you choose to buy alternative projector lamps rather than the originals, you should be careful that their lamps are not dangerous fakes. Genuine Epson projector lamps are sourced from the OEMs (original equipment manufacturers).

People often ask: What’s the difference between Epson projector lamps and Epson projector bulbs? The answer is nothing – but they are different to normal bulbs. Replacing a projector bulb isn’t just a matter of popping a new one in the socket, like a light bulb. The key component is an ARC light (the same sort used in football stadiums). This is filled with mercury vapour at extremely high pressure – a dangerous combination. The light is ignited by an electric spark and is then maintained at a lower voltage.

Mercury vapour bulbs are complex pieces of technology, with a variety of electrical components. The most important of these are ballasts which, after the initial arc has been fired, control the quantity of current being fed through the bulb. The bulb may also contain a starter, a third electrode and a thermal switch.

The vapour pressure has to be exact, and the ballasts calibrated very precisely, to ensure optimum safety and efficiency. Mercury vapour bulbs are fragile and easily broken, meaning there’s danger from both flying glass and escaped mercury. It’s also easy to damage the lamp and/or projector if you try to replace the ARC bulb yourself. For this reason, projector lamps are created as an integral unit, the bulb sealed behind a reflector which protects the user from heat, mercury and UV radiation (the heat inside Epson projector lamps exceeds that of the sun!)

Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous online retailers selling poor quality fakes. Often branded to look like the manufacturer’s original, they are usually recons, put together in sweatshops well away from the strict quality controls that Epson and their OEMs insist upon. So be very wary of online stores selling unfeasibly cheap Epson projector lamps. As you can see, manufacture is a highly specialised process, labour intensive and on a small scale.

If you’re on a budget, use an online store that supplies original Epson projector lamps – and is an authorised Epson supplier.