Who makes the JVC pk-cl120u DLP lamps?

JVC doesn't make lamps for their DLP TVs! Philips is the original lamp manufacturer for your JVC pk-cl120u 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!

How does the JVC pk-cl120u DLP Lamp work?

• JVC pk-cl120u lamps are pre-charged with about 15,000 volts
• There is no actual filament inside because it's a gas lamp
  (Hg - mercury vapor)
• JVC DLP lamps will fail continuity test

How long do JVC DLP lamps usually last?

• First Generation JVC lamps lasted from 2,000 to 3,000 hours or more.
• Second Generation JVC lamps will last up to 8,000 hours.
• Second Generation JVC 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 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?

JVC pk-cl120u, sometimes written as PKCL120U 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?

1. Unplug your TV set first and locate the lamp door.

2. Remove the front cover of your TV.

3. Revomce the screw that secures the lamp door.

4. Now you can remove the lamp door from your TV.

5. Inside you're going to see you enclosure.

6. Your eclosure will be secured by 2 screws, remove them.

7. Gently take out your DLP lamp enclosure.

8. Take your new enclosure or your old enclosure with the new lamp.

9. Gently slide it in.

10. Make sure it connects to the ballast.

11. Secure your enclosure by putting the screws on.

12. Put the lamp door.

13. Secure the lamp door.

14. Now you can just put your front cover and 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.

JVC pk-cl120u Replacement Guide

1. JVC pk-cl120u lamp casing

2. Remove the four screws (one on each corner) to start removing the lamp housing.

3. Now lean over the lamp just a little and pull gently to open and remove the housing.

4. Inside the exposed lamp you’ll notice two clips securing the lamp held by a screw.

5. Let's remove one of the clips and the screws to set the bulb free from the enclosure.

6. Carefully lean it over just a bit and pull it out, the bulb will come off with the plastic cables still attached.

7. This is the base of the lamp; in which the new one will be placed.

8. Prepare your new DLP Philips lamp.

9. Insert the new lamp by leaning it over just enough to avoid the security clip.

10. Place back the second clip you removed earlier by tightening the screw until it doesn’t move.

11. Make sure that the cable connector is placed correctly.

12. To place the top correctly you must lean to the side the two long metal screws so they enter in their respective places.

13. Once that’s done insert back the other screws on each corner.

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

Click here to watch the video guide!

Sound problems

• Check the antenna/cable connections (see Chapter 2).
• The station may have broadcast difficulties. Try another channel.
• The sound may be muted. Press VOLUME.
• If you hear no sound, try setting the MTS feature to STEREO mode.
• Make sure the SPEAKERS function in the AUDIO SETUP menu is set correctly.
• If you are not receiving a second audio program from a known SAP source, make sure the MTS feature is set to SAP mode.
• If you hear audio that seems “incorrect” for the program you are watching (such as music or a foreign language), the SAP mode may be on. Set the MTS feature to STEREO mode.
• When using an external audio amplifier, if you connect the amplifier to the VAR. AUDIO OUT jacks, the volume of the TV and amplifier must be set above 0 or you will not hear any sound.

Channel tuning problems

• Make sure the remote control is set to the correct device mode.
• The channel may have been erased from the channel memory by the CHANNEL ADD/DELETE feature. Add the channel to the channel memory.
• The channel may be blocked by the CHANNELS BLOCK feature. Unblock the channel.
• If you are unable to tune digital channels, check the antenna configuration. If you are still unable to tune digital channels, clear all channels from the channel list and reprogram channels into the channel memory.
• If you are still unable to tune digital channels, use the Restore Factory Defaults procedure as described.

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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