Elementary Technology - Audio Visual and Information Technology Products, Services and Solutions

Preventative Maintenance - Projector Maintenance

Are you sitting on a time bomb in your organisation?

Schools and Educational Establishments

The Schools' Whiteboard Expansion Programme which finished in early 2007 has seen a huge rise in the use of projectors and Interactive Whiteboards in schools.

The explosion in the use of interactive whiteboards across the UK has been phenomenal.

BECTA responsibly ensured that a 3-year warranty was included with all solutions provided under this scheme.

However with such a huge rise in demand, there were a number of problems for schools in terms of the quality of installation and the ongoing support.

It is well publicised that some companies used installers with little or no experience and the schools were left with poorly fitted and sometimes dangerous installations.

Of course for those schools that were having their first installations, they didn't know any differently……………..

Schools have a responsibility to ensure the equipment is safe and fit for purpose, are you sure your equipment is safe?

The consequences of a projector falling off the ceiling are frightening, but it has already happened in a number of schools.

Why Preventative Maintenance?

1. Many Interactive Whiteboard systems were fitted in a very short space of time leading to some companies using none qualified installation staff.

If they are not checked, they could be dangerous to pupils and staff and the school could face legal action

2. Many Interactive Whiteboard systems had “temporary” power fitted and break the health & safety guidelines for schools.

Power surges, Power cuts and fires could be caused if the correct electrical installation is not in place.

3. Regular Filter Cleaning is necessary for all LCD Projectors because LCD Projectors draw cooling air to be drawn through the filters, which attracts dust.

Dependant upon the environment they are installed in, the projectors are to be installed in they SHOULD have their filters regularly cleaned.

The standard educational projector will draw approximately 50 cubic meters of air through its fans during a typical school day. Just as the children settle down for the morning session, have a look at how much dust is floating around in the air. Most of that dust will get stuck in your projector filters within the hour.

Classrooms with carpet and schools where the children wear fleecy jumpers are most at risk of prematurely blocking filters, blowing lamps and casing projectors to fail. Nobody is suggesting you take up your carpets or change the school uniform!

A simple bi-annual preventative maintenance agreement will solve most problems.

If you do not clean the filters, the projector warranty can be invalidated, which can lead to charges for optical cleaning and repairs.

4. Projectors which are not maintained project a duller image and the lamp fails quicker.

On average a maintained projector can last up to 25% longer before its lamp needs replacing or the projector fails.

5. Teachers and caretakers can often not reach the projector or remove it from its bracket to clean the filters or change the lamp.

Staff are often not using the correct equipment to carry out this task.

The school will be liable for a claim if a member of staff gets injured carrying out Preventative Maintenance work.

6. Interactive Whiteboards not cleaned properly or not using the latest software release reduces the impact of lessons.

Standards are not as high as they could be, lessons are affected.

7. Schools often do not keep a log of the equipment they have.

When they have a warranty issue, or need to order parts they again need to check the projectors model / serial number.

The school will be liable for a claim if a member of staff gets injured carrying out Preventative Maintenance work.

8. Many projectors are being stolen due to their easy access in schools and expensive replacement and downtime causes disruption to lessons and effects education.

9. If a projector fails, it is generally the schools responsibility to remove it from its bracket, package it securely and re-install the unit once repaired.

The school will be liable for a claim if a member of staff gets injured carrying out this work.

Schools often use unsuitable packaging and the projector can get damaged in transit.

Can you afford to replace all your projectors a year earlier than necessary?

As if that’s not enough, who in school is responsible for replacing the lamps when they fail or cleaning the filters on a regular basis?

There have already been instances where teachers are climbing onto chairs and desks to replace lamps and clean filters.

Of course this is completely against the Health and Safety advice that all schools should adhere to.

Neglected projectors will block up, overheat, cut out, blow lamps prematurely and eventually die. More than 80% of projectors and 90% of projector lamps that fail could have had an extended life span through a comprehensive service agreement.

Evaluating the cost of technology ownership

The cost of purchasing data projection units has dramatically reduced over the last five years. In 2001 the cost of a 700 Lumens SVGA projector was over £1000. Today this projector would be deemed unsuitable for the education market.

2009 will not see any significant change to projector specification as the BECTA maximum recommended brightness threshold has already been achieved.

Early indicators point towards the increased numbers of short-throw projectors moving into the market whilst the main focus will continue to be the 2000 Lumens XGA projectors market.

The major manufacturers have an interest in your organisation purchasing new equipment and are opposed to preventively maintaining your existing equipment. This concept is clearly demonstrated in the cost of lamps, component parts and the emergence of the “neglected projector charge”.

Manufacturers no longer generate large revenues from projectors and when one of your projectors fails within its warranty the emphasis is now with your organisation to demonstrate your projector has been correctly maintained as per your user handbook.

The cost of replacing a £400.00 projector when taking into consideration the cost of brackets, cables, termination services and of course engineering labour would be approximately £1100.00.
The cost of getting your equipment maintained twice per year through our Complete Classroom Health check could be as little as £30.00 per room.

It’s Simple Economics!!!