Running a projector safely for a month

[h4t]

I have an art show starting up in the next week or so, and am curious about the possibility of using a projector to display an interactive program for the duration. Problem is that the show will last for the entire month of October, and I don't see how a projector bulb could last that long. Does anyone know if displaying a blank, black screen will help save the bulb over time? I might be able to rig an Arduino and a distance sensor to "wake up" the piece when someone walks by, then go back to black when they leave.

[CrossRoads]

Look into renting/buying ($200-300) an LED projector instead, no bulb to burn out.

[Grumpy_Mike]

Turning a bulb on and off too often will actually shorten the life of a bulb due to the repeated thermal shocks.

[h4t]

Darn. The show starts on Monday, and we don't have any money to buy or rent an LED projector for an entire month. Do you have any tips for getting a projector to last an entire month on one bulb? I don't expect traffic to be very heavy, so it might only need to be "on" for an hour or two per day.

[keeper63]

Darn. The show starts on Monday, and we don't have any money to buy or rent an LED projector for an entire month. Do you have any tips for getting a projector to last an entire month on one bulb? I don't expect traffic to be very heavy, so it might only need to be "on" for an hour or two per day.

Doesn't your projector have a "no signal bulb save" mode, where it shuts down the bulb for a period if it doesn't receive a signal...?

[robtillaart]

At least start with a fresh bulb ....