Who makes the Sony f-9308-860-0 LCD lamps?

Sony doesn't make lamps for their LCD TVs! Philips is the original lamp manufacturer for your Sony f-9308-860-0 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 Sony f-9308-860-0 LCD Lamp work?

• Sony f-9308-860-0 lamps are pre-charged with about 15,000 volts
• There is no actual filament inside because it's a gas lamp
  (Hg - mercury vapor)
• Sony LCD lamps will fail continuity test

How long do Sony LCD lamps usually last?

• First Generation Sony lamps lasted from 2,000 to 3,000 hours or more.
• Second Generation Sony lamps will last up to 8,000 hours.
• Second Generation Sony 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 $20.00 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 LCD's use AC (alternating current, for those tech-savvy people).

Where do I purchase the lamps?

Sony f-9308-860-0, sometimes written as XL-5200 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?

Unplug your TV set first and locate the lamp door.

1. Push the clips and remove the door.

2. Unlock the door.

3. Now that is unlocked, remove the second door.

4. Gently pull the connector going to the ballast.

5. Gently take your enclosure out.

6. Prepare your new enclosure to be installed.

7. Slide in the new enclosure.

8. Put the enclosure door back in its place.

9. Secure the clips from 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 LCD 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.

Sony f-9308-860-0 Replacement Guide

1. Sony f-9308-860-0 DLP lamp casing

2. The first step is to locate the connector base on the side of the enclosure and closely observe how it’s attached.

3. Now with your screw driver you must remove the screw to set loose the connector.

4. Also remove the one holding the casing and the bulb base together.

5. This is what the lamp base looks like once the back of the casing is removed.

6.On two of the corners you’ll find to securing clips, one has a screw and holds the lamp firmly in to place.

7. The other is a more simple clip which comes of real easy, and doesn’t need any unscrewing.

8. Take your pair of pliers and remove the nut on the top terminal of the bulb.

9. Next remove the screw on the side of the bulb to completely release the lamp.

10. This is the back of the casing once it has been released and separated from the base.

11. Get ready to swap your new lamp in the same way you took out the old one.

12. Start by connecting the cables back to the bulb; use your screw driver to install the one on the side.

13. On the top terminal be careful not to over tighten the nut too much because it might damage the lamp.

14. Now screw the metal clip on the correct corner.

15. And place the simple clip with no screw on the opposite corner.

16. Conjoin both casing pieces, you’ll hear a click that means its connected and place the screw to secure them.

17.Finally insert the connector base correctly in its place and screw it back on.

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

Click here to watch the video guide!

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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