Who makes the RCA 265109 DLP lamps?

RCA doesn't make lamps for their DLP TVs! Philips is the original lamp manufacturer for your RCA 265109 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 RCA 265109 DLP Lamp work?

• RCA 265109 lamps are pre-charged with about 15,000 volts
• There is no actual filament inside because it's a gas lamp
  (Hg - mercury vapor)
• RCA DLP lamps will fail continuity test

How long do RCA DLP lamps usually last?

• First Generation RCA lamps lasted from 2,000 to 3,000 hours or more.
• Second Generation RCA lamps will last up to 8,000 hours.
• Second Generation RCA 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 $70 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 DLP's use AC (alternating current, for those tech-savvy people).

Where do I purchase the lamps?

RCA 265109, sometimes written as 265109 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. It looks like:

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. Remove the screws securing the enclosure door.

2. Once removing the screws, remove the lamp door.

3. Inside your TV set you're going to see a plastic/metal case.

4. Gently pull the enclosure out.

5. Prepare your new enclosure to be installed.

6. Slide in the new enclosure.

7. Make sure you put the lamp correctly, you should feel a click at the end.

8. Put the enclosure door back in its place.

9. Put the screws that secure 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 DLP 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.

RCA 265109 Replacement Guide

1.RCA 265109 DLP lamp casing

2.First, turn the lamp upwards to remove four screws on each corner of the lamp base.

3.Turn the lamp to the side and punch trough the caution sticker or remove it to extract with your star screwdriver the two screws inside.

4.After removing the top plastic cover, take the plastic cable holder from the back, lift it and push it forward slightly.

5.Pull the front of the bulb base carefully until it comes out completely.

6.Take apart the plastic cable holders, remove them and make sure you don’t damage the cables.

7.nside you’ll find four security clips, take a flat screwdriver to take out the two on the opposite side where the cables are connected.

8.Be very careful when taking them out, start on one side pull it upwards then go to the other side and do the same.

9.Now take the bulb and slide it out from the side where there are no clips.

10.Remove the two screws holding the cables to the bulb.

11.Now take out your new bare bulb to reinstall it the same way you took out the old one.

12.Start by sliding it in where there are no clips.

13.Place the two clips in their respective corners by pressing firmly until you hear a clicking sound.

14.Remember that the two clips are totally different, that also applies to the holes on each corner.

15.Now take the end of the cables and screw the back on to the new lamp until they can’t move.

16.Be extra careful with the cables, make sure not to stretch them too much or else they might break.

17.Place back the case of the bulb, and make sure the rubber joints go in to the enclosure correctly.

18.To assemble the plastic cable holder, you must place one of the two in; and the second one on its side, turn it slowly until they unite.

19.Now grab on either side and push down until it’s inserted correctly, make sure it bypasses the cable connectors without harming them.

20.Reinstall the four screws on each corner of the bulb’s base.

21.Finally flip the casing to its side to insert the last screws in its place.

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

Click here to watch the video guide!

TV won’t turn on

• Press the TV button or ON/OFF button while remote is in TV mode and there’s a source of power to the outlet or outlet strip.

• Make sure the TV is plugged in.

• Check the wall receptacle (or extension cord) to make sure it is “live” by plugging in something else.

• Something might be wrong with your remote control. Press the POWER button on the front of the TV. If the TV turns on, check the remote control solutions on page 60.

• When you first plug your TV into an outlet, the Power indicator on the front panel will light for approximately 15 seconds and then go off during the initialization of the TV. The TV can only be turned on after the Power indicator goes off. This happens every time power is reapplied to the TV.

• Remote Setup might be set to the wrong option. Press MENU/OK on the front panel. Select Connections, then Special Features, then Remote Setup. Choose TV (default).

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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