Scanner bulb replacement?

[electricsmooth]

So I thought I'd hook up all my scanners (MX4s) to make sure they were all working fine and I noticed a few of them that were a bit more dim than the others. For one of them, the gobo and beam is barely visible. I cleaned the glass and the mirror but the problem still persisted. I've never changed a bulb before (they are supposed to last 9000 hours but I bought them all used) so just want to confirm that this is what is the likely problem. The bulbs run just over $50 so want to make sure that this is the most likely issue.

[LiteTrix]

The lamps at least the phillips brand last 6000 hours. What your describing sounds like a lamp issue and could easily be fixed by replacing them. I would recommend just replacing all of the lamps so each fixture is equally as bright. Replacing just a couple is going to result in the same thing your experience right now, where one of the lamps is brighter than the other. Good luck!

[windspeed36]

Have a look in your area particularly the DJ stores you shop at or are on good terms with and see if they have the light or a fixture that uses the same bulb and ask if you can bring your light in and check with their bulb if your worried about it not being the bulb and wasting money on bulbs

[electricsmooth]

I think I'll just buy a bulb anyways. I'm going to need one at some point. I'm pretty sure that is the problem. As for replacing all the bulbs, I understand the concept but my frugal ways will not let me throw good bulbs away. hahaha. I'll turn them on again tonight and see which ones are a little dimmer and maybe I'll order bulbs for those ones.

Thanks

[spicaly]

why not swap bulbs from one of the good ones just to confirm that is what the problem is

[electricsmooth]

Man...I never even thought of that! Holy crap do I feel dumb

[djscrizzle]

I would just find out what bulbs the MX4s use, and get a set of four, to replace em all at the same time. Keep the 'better' old ones wrapped up and use for spares if one burns out at soundcheck (like most bulbs do, and nobody's still open that has them on Saturday night)

[deejaygo]

I actually just replaced the lamps to my MX4s this past weekend. I purchased some generic Plusrite brand on ebay for $20 or so each and they output well. I had the same problem you had regarding one being dimmer than the other.

As the other members suggested, you should replace all the lamps at the same time, even though this will get quite pricey for the set. The lamps do last a while though, provided you're not always striking them, so it's not a bad investment. Do what scrizzle recommended and replace all of them and save the good ones as spares.

[Dave Daschofsky]

Replace all the bulbs and hold onto the old ones just in case one blows. Better to have a dim spare than none at all.

[electricsmooth]

I actually just replaced the lamps to my MX4s this past weekend. I purchased some generic Plusrite brand on ebay for $20 or so each and they output well. I had the same problem you had regarding one being dimmer than the other.

As the other members suggested, you should replace all the lamps at the same time, even though this will get quite pricey for the set. The lamps do last a while though, provided you're not always striking them, so it's not a bad investment. Do what scrizzle recommended and replace all of them and save the good ones as spares.

Very interested in these generic alternatives. If I can get them for around $20 each, I wouldn't mind switching them all out. I pmd you as well but do you have a model number for this bulb?