Who makes the Sony xl-5100 LCD lamps?

Sony doesn't make lamps for their LCD TVs! Philips is the original lamp manufacturer for your Sony xl-5100 Lamp. In rare instances, Osram may also be the original, but they still use a Philips lamp driver, or ballast, so it's best to replace with a Philips brand UHP lamp!

Watch my demonstration!

How does the Sony xl-5100 LCD Lamp work?

• Sony xl-5100 lamps are pre-charged with about 15,000 volts
• There is no actual filament inside because it's a gas lamp
  (Hg - mercury vapor)
• Sony LCD lamps will fail continuity test

How long do Sony LCD lamps usually last?

• First Generation Sony lamps lasted from 2,000 to 3,000 hours or more.
• Second Generation Sony lamps will last up to 8,000 hours.
• Second Generation Sony lamps have better consistency.
• All depending on your usage and the type of lamp you have.

What are the benefits of replacing the entire lamp unit (the lamp and the enclosure)?

• Super quick installation.
• Just pop the old one out, and the new one in.
• Newer enclosures don't warp and are safer to re-use later.
• The cost is now almost negligible. You'll spend only $20.00 more for a lamp inside the enclosure from Discount-Merchant.com.

How easy is it to replace just the lamp?

It can take anywhere from 5-15 minutes depending on your personal dexterity with a screw driver, but replacing a lamp yourself is very straight forward. I can do it in 5 minutes!

Whether you have a Samsung, RCA, or Mitsubishi, swapping out the lamp is very easy. The ballast wires don't even have to go in any particular order because most LCD's use AC (alternating current, for those tech-savvy people).

Where do I purchase the lamps?

Sony xl-5100, sometimes written as XL5100 can be purchased from many places such as Discount-Merchant.com, which sells bulb-only and lamps with enclosures for various TV models. I highly recommend them because they are one of the largest parts distributors in the United States with a very loyal customer base. Any company can sell you lamps, but Discount-Merchant.com also provides free technical support and same day shipping--just read their reviews online!

NOTE: You're not always going to be able to see the part numbers and you shouldn't worry about them. The complete cage part number is what matters and this is usually on the lamp housing and on the right side of your TV.

Symptoms of a bad lamp:

• If you hear audio, but have no picture
• If you hear a ballast click, but the lamp doesn't ignite
• If you can't see the lamp light up in the back of the TV
• If you have blinking lamp indicator lights
• Visual indication that the lamp is blown
• Dim picture after years of use

Symptoms of another part malfunctioning:

• Consistent or inconsistent clicking from the ballast
• Screeching or winding sounds from the color wheel
• No picture, no audio (possible power supply or ballast)
• Blurry picture, or truncated picture (DMD or light tunnel)
• No blinking lights, or different blinking lights
• Spots or blobs on the screen (prevalent in LCD projection)

How do I take my enclosure out of my TV?

Unplug your TV set first and locate the lamp door.

1. Push the clips and remove the door.

2. Unlock the door.

3. Now that is unlocked, remove the second door.

4. Gently pull the connector going to the ballast.

5. Gently take your enclosure out.

6. Prepare your new enclosure to be installed.

7. Slide in the new enclosure.

8. Put the enclosure door back in its place.

9. Secure the clips from the door and that's it. We're finished.

Click here to watch the video guide!

What do I need to replace my lamp?

What you'll need:

1. Phillips screwdriver
2. New LCD Lamp (You can buy it from Discount-Merchant.com)
3. Gloves are recommended

Note: You should handle the bulb with gloves or a lint-free cloth. Oils from your fingers can damage the bulb!

This is what happens when you touch the lamp with bare hands

1. Oils from your fingers get on the glass of the lamp.

2. When the lamp is on, the oils help heat up that particular spot on the lamp, called a hot spot.

3. That hot spot can shatter the glass on the lamp.

NOTE: The lamp can still be usable, but there will be a noticeable shadow in the picture.

Sony xl-5100 Replacement Guide

1. Sony xl-5100 DLP lamp casing

2. Let’s start by removing the two screws (one on each side) that hold the security metal extensions to the casing.

3. And between the cables you’ll find the screw that holds both back casing and lamp base.

4. Now pull the base out from the rest of the casing.

5. This is what the back of the casing looks like once the lamp base is removed.

6. And here is he base of the lamp once it’s free.

7. Take your pair of pliers and start removing the nut by turning it carefully.

8. From the side, take out the screw holding the bulb to the connector.

9. Inside the lamp base you’ll find two metallic clips that secure the bulb to the base, unscrew them both to remove the old lamp.

10. Ready your new bulb, and prepare to install it the same way you took out the old one.

11. First reinstall the long cable on the top terminal of the new bulb, with your pair of pliers.

12. Second, insert the small screw on the side to completely secure the cables.

13. The new lamp must be inserted inside the base and the connectors place in its respective place.

14. Now to place the metal clips back, you must make sure that the new lamps dosent move.

15. Take the back casing and connect it to the front lamp base, make sure it makes a click, that will mean its locked in.

16. Turn the housing around and install the screw between the plastic covered cables.

17. Place the last two screws on the security metal extensions that will conjoin both of the casing parts.

18. And you´re all finished replacing your lamp.

Click here to watch the video guide!

Front Panel LED Indicators

Comment on this article!

Any questions or comments are appreciated; I'll try to answer them as soon as I can! Simply drop me an email at adelauney84@hotmail.com. So, leave some comments!

• How long has your lamp lasted? I've heard some lasting 15,000 hours!
• Was it easy to install?
• Who have you purchased from?
• What's your experience buying online?

You can also sign up for our forums at FixYourDLP.com/forums for expert advice!

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