Beamer Sanyo PLV-Z4 / Z5 does not work, no light but LEDs flashing, lamp defective?- No, just push the bi-metal switch!
Posted by: Ingo in Technology, tags: beamer, Sanyo PLV-Z4, videoYesterday we wanted to watch a Bluray in our home cinema, but what happened? The beamer lid of our Sanyo PLV-Z4 opened as usual, but the lamp did not start but remained dark. After a few seconds the lid closed again and two LEDs started to flash, according to the user’s manual saying “Lamp defective” or “Lamp has reached maximum life time”. Of course we did not have a spare lamp – at a price of about 250,- € this is not something you’d normally have on stock.
I started to google where to get a new lamp, or what else might cause this problem, and in fact I found something in a forum: There is a bi-metal switch inside the beamer which shuts off the device when it gets too hot. Normally this switch turns on the beamer after cooling down, but often it does not for some reason. All you have to do is to push this switch, somethiong that has apparently already worked for many users with similar problems.
Image 1: Unscrew these three screws on the back side ...
Image 2: ... and these three on the bottom side of the Sanyo PLV-Z4
Unfortunately you need to open the beamer to reach this switch. There are three screws on the back side and three on the bottom (see images 1 and 2). The bi-metal switch is located at the rear left side (see images 3 and 4). When I pushed it, I heard a soft “click” sound. Close the beamer again – the short screw belongs to the rear, right 
– switch it on, and … voilá: running again, great picture, no hint of any problem 
By the way, the newer PLV-Z5 seems to have the same switch and the same problem.
Image 3: The switch is located here
Image 4: Push me in
One important note: I cannot take any responsibility for trying this, in other words please send in your beamer for an expensive repair And note that there is normally a reason why the switch shut down the beamer: maybe the filter needs to be cleaned or the room temperature was too high. Such problems must be solved first! (In our case the air filter seems to have been the cause).
Well, we finally could watch our movie … the lamp is still running … I hope for quite some time
PS: Our lamp counts 1500 operating hours, life time is specified at about 2000 hours.
In case you have indeed to replace the lamp, here s a direct link to Amazon (US and UK):
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Thank you very much. Ik replaced the lamp of my sanyo beamer PLV-Z4 but the lamp did not burn. A red en orange lamp flashed and then the beamer shut down. I have followed your instructions and the lamp now burns. Thank you very much!!! The operating hours of my old lamp where about 2.100 hours.
Thanks! I was so frustrated when replaced the lamp, but the Lamp Replace light was still showing a problem. Your explanation and detailed pictures were very clear and solved my problem.
Brilliant!! The switch must have popped up when I switched the power off without waiting long enough for the fan to cool the unit down…your solution worked perfectly well! I also read about the “light ballast” that might have to be changed or cleaned but hope that this will still last for many more hours of projection…