The use of projectors has become widely popular over the years. From watching movies at home to delivering presentations in university classrooms and screenings at large events, projectors have become an indispensable part of our lives.
It’s easy to overlook all the important steps that happen in between – from the moment you turn the projector on to the moment you see the image being projected on your screen. A projector lens probably performs the most important function of it all, it’s not only responsible for properly magnifying the image, but also controls the colors, sharpness, and illumination of the image as well.
Temperature imbalance can lead to a foggy lens. Often the lens inside the projector can get all foggy due to the temperature imbalance of the atmosphere it is placed in. This, in turn, affects the image quality, reducing its sharpness and producing unclear, blurry images. Dirty projector lens, if not cleaned on time, could also cause technical fault inside the entire equipment, reducing its overall efficacy and leaving it of no use.
Cleaning the projector lens is a practice that should be followed from time to time to ensure top-notch quality of the images produced and to prevent condensation to permanently build inside the lens. However, defogging the dirty lens could be a tricky task since it requires following a specific cleaning technique so that the lens doesn’t get damaged.
We’ve made a list of all the important steps you need to follow in order to ensure that you defog your projector lens without causing damage in the process.
To ensure a risk-free cleaning of the projector lens, you will require:
Remember, you’ve paid a hefty price for this projector and its life depends greatly on the quality of its lens. The glass that is used to manufacture this lens is exceptionally sensitive and cannot bear any sort of mishandling. The projector consists of optical components that require delicate handling.
When cleaning the projector lens, you must be very careful so as to prevent the lens from any kind of unnecessary damage. For example, if you’re not careful you may notice smudges on the projector lens or you may cause irreparable damage as a result of unconscious mishandling - which may ultimately require you to get a lens replacement which can be costly.
Things that MUST be avoided while cleaning projector lens
Any sort of abrasive liquid that isn’t designed specifically for cleaning projector lens could badly harm it. Similarly, using towels or tissue paper would clean the fog from it but the harsh particles of their fiber could easily scratch the lens surface.
Moreover, handling the lens with your bare fingers could leave the lens extremely dirty. Hence, it is advised that you use the specially designed microfiber cloth with a solution sprayed on it to wipe off any sort of fog or smudge from the lens.
Again, you are not cleaning your regular camera lens or glasses here. Cleaning a projector lens is a tricky business and you need to follow all the specific steps in order to ensure that the lens is thoroughly cleaned, without putting the efficiency and functionality of the projector at risk. Any sort of carelessness or mishandling could cause you to spend a fortune on its repairing.
The first thing you need to do before you begin with the cleaning process is to power off the projector and unplug it from the electric supply. Let the machine inside it cool down so that it is easier to touch. This is an important step as it will reduce the risk of any hazards related to a plugged-in electrical device.
It could be high on voltage or could may contain excessive current. You could also mistakenly press a button and cause a technical fault. In the meantime, you can quickly go through the user manual, as it contains important maintenance tips that are specific to the model you will be defogging the projector lens of.
Open up the projector with the utmost care by following the step by step guide given in the manual. A careful study of the user manual should help you get a grip on what is to be done. There can be a simple button, or a set of screws that need unwinding, or furthermore a latch that needs to be pulled. Any other conditions for the safe removal of the projector casing must also be adhered to. These may include humidity settings of the room you are in.
Take a can of compressed air and blow it near the vent. This will push away all the dust out of the vent. Be sure to stand at least 6-7 inches away from the lens part when you are spraying the compressed air as it can cause collateral damage to the lens in the form of cracks. Also, get the correct type of compressed air which is specifically made for this purpose.
The lens cap acts as a shield to the lens and keeps it safe from all sorts of external damages like scratches, fingerprints, wipe marks, etc. So, make sure you remove the lens cap extremely carefully to prevent the lens surface from being damaged. Do not put too much pressure while trying to remove the cap or else you might require projector lens replacement. See the directions given on the cap for safely removing it.
Do not overuse the solution. Do not drown the cloth in the solution. Just put two drops on the microfiber cloth and let it absorb it. That is more than enough for cleaning and wiping the smudge on the projector lens. Excessive usage of solution would only cause scratches on the lens surface, making it more sensitive to damages as the solution is made of harsh chemicals. Overusing it will only harm the delicate lens and cause you trouble.
This is one of the most important steps to follow while cleaning the projector lens. The way you wipe the lens using the cloth makes a significant difference in its cleanliness and efficacy. Many people make the mistake of wiping it from left to right or up and down, which leaves a lot of dirty marks on the lens. Aggressive rubbing is also not an ideal way to clean as it can easily cause damage to the lens and even cause it to break. The best way of defogging the projector lens is to gently move the cloth in circular motions on the lens so that it wipes it off from a 360-degree angle, without leaving any more marks on it.
After you are done cleaning, wait for a short while for the lens to get completely dry. Then, gently put the lens cap back in its place without applying too much force on it.
Sometimes in a hurried situation, people tend to ignore the safety of the lens and try to force the cap on the lens with lots of pressure. This is an extremely wrong practice and can cause permanent damage to the glass surface of the lens, making it useless forever. Always put the cap back on the lens safely and securely.
All machines require maintenance and exquisite upkeep. This allows them to perform their tasks efficiently without losing their core functionalities. Periodic cleaning of the parts of the equipment is one of the few ways you can prevent damage.
Just like a well-tuned motor car requires an oil change as a part of its maintenance, a projector requires its lens to be periodically cleaned for maximum efficiency. This may include removing dust particles, smudges and scratches off the lens as well as the removal of humidity that can build over time.
In the case of projectors, perhaps the most important component is their lens. The quality of the image produced by the projector is entirely dependent on the lens. A projector lens that is subjected to undue humidity may fog the lens.
So, it makes sense to periodically clean the projector lens as it ensures that every time you turn the projector on, you get a high-quality output. A clean projector lens produces a bright and sharp image every time. Therefore, removing condensation from the lens is vital to the efficient functioning of the projector itself.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
