Plasma TV Expected Lifetime

[dapercy]

I've heard the stories that Plasma gasses leak and can result in a TV that only lasts 4 to 10 years. Like most people I love the picture, but don't want to spend that much for such a short lifetime. I did a quick search, but couldn't find what I was looking for so maybe someone here can answer my questions.

1) What is the expected lifetime on a Plasma TV these days?
2) Do any Manufacturers offer a way to recharge the plasma?
2a) If so, how much does that cost.
3) Which plasmas last the longest?

Thanks in advance!

Also if you know anything about Projection TV's, I've heard that LCoS technology is better than DLP, but I can only find high end LCoS TV's on the market.

1) Does anyone make a cheap LCoS that I can check out.
2) Are there any shortcomings to LCoS (like life expectancy, pixel loss, etc)?

[woodman]

I've heard the stories that Plasma gasses leak and can result in a TV that only lasts 4 to 10 years. Like most people I love the picture, but don't want to spend that much for such a short lifetime. I did a quick search, but couldn't find what I was looking for so maybe someone here can answer my questions.

The simple, direct answer to your question is this ... nobody really knows for sure what to expect. Plasma displays have not been around long enough for any "life expectancy" figures to be accurately established.

2) Do any Manufacturers offer a way to recharge the plasma?

No - not that I'm aware of.

3) Which plasmas last the longest?

I doubt that there's any significant difference between mfgs.

Also if you know anything about Projection TV's, I've heard that LCoS technology is better than DLP, but I can only find high end LCoS TV's on the market.

1) Does anyone make a cheap LCoS that I can check out.

No.

2) Are there any shortcomings to LCoS (like life expectancy, pixel loss, etc)?

LCoS like plasma, hasn't been around long enough for anyone to know for sure.


Sorry if these answers weren't what you were hoping for -

[Jetsons]

This gas filling of plasma displays sure gets around quick! Plasma displays cannot be recharged.

Below, is a portion of the Plasma Display FAQ taken from AVSForum.com. It may be helpful for you you take a trip over there and read the their FAQ and then some.

How long do plasma displays last?

Note from deeann- This is another very controversial question and you're going to see two wildly differing answers below. I had some hesitation about including this question in the FAQ, but it does come up and should be addressed.

answer #1:

There has been much discussion recently about the life expectancy of plasma monitor/TVs. It is an interesting topic with many misconceptions and story variations. The following is what I can advise on the topic:

Misconception #1: Many retailers seem to be telling consumers that plasma monitors will only last a couple of years which is false as you will see below.

Misconception #2: The gas plasma inside the plasma TV can be refilled or replaced when it burns out. This is false.

So how long will a plasma last? The long and short of it is that it depends upon your daily hourly usage as well as how you use the monitor. 12 to 17 years is my short answer.

Manufacturers figures for longevity are closely guarded but I have added some here for your review:

Panasonic: States (not publicly) that the monitor is good for 20,000 to 30,000 hours. They also state that these plasma displays measure 50% brightness (phosphor ignition may be a better term) at 50,000 hours.

Fujitsu: States that the panel lasts 20,000 to 25,000 hours

Pioneer: States that the 50" PDP 502MX (or 505HD) measures half brightness (phosphor ignition) at 30,000 hours of use. They also state the newer model 503CMX (or Pro 1000HD) with a deeper pixel structure will last even longer though they do not have numbers.

Sharp: States that plasma panels only last 10,000 to 20,000 hours and that LCD monitors last longer. Figures they would say that.

For consumer use these numbers should be comforting. They are about equivalent in longevity to CRTs, which typically state 25,000 hours or so life. Let's put these hours in perspective. The average U.S. household watches 4 to 6 hours of television per day. Staggering. Taking a mean time manufacturer stated longevity of 22,500 hours of usage, times our average 5 hours per day we come up with over 12 years of usage. And that is on the low side of estimates. At 4 hours per day and 25,000 hours we are looking at 17 years.

Now, there are varying degrees of phosphor ignition along the way (the same way a CRT fades). Dissipation begins the moment you turn the set on. After 1000 hours of usage a plasma monitor should measure around 94% brightness, which is barely noticeable to the naked eye. At 15,000 to 20,000 hours the monitor should measure around 68% brightness or to say it differently, 68% of the phosphors are being ignited.

There are steps you can take to ensure longer and better life from your plasma display panel.

1) Never leave static images on the unit. Do not pause a picture on the plasma for more than a minute. This will cause phosphor burn in. Watch the unit in full widescreen format as much as possible to avoid differentiation between the side bands of the unit. While this does not actually decrease the longevity of the phosphors it does cause an annoyance to have to play a gray static image to "erase" the burn in.

2) Use Brightness and Contrast levels that are necessary for viewing - not excessive. In a brightly lit room you may need to use more contrast and brightness, which will decrease the life of the unit. However, there are memory setting adjustments available on most recent plasma monitors that allow the user to choose a memory setting to suit viewing needs. At night, or in a lower light room use lower contrast and brightness levels and extend the life.

3) Keep the monitor/TV in a well-ventilated area. The unit will not have to work as hard to cool itself.

4) Turn the unit off when not in use.

5) Keep the unit out of reach of small children.

6) Do not mount the unit face down from the ceiling.

How do the manufacturers know what the figures are since plasma monitors have not been out long? The manufacturer facilities in Japan test them at 100% white image light and measure down from that point with meter readings. It takes hours to find that 50% mark - between 30,000 and 50,000 hours. What a job that would be - to watch the white light. (from the Plasma TV Buying Guide)


--- cheridave

Jet

[dapercy]

Thanks for the answers. I'll check out AVSForum.com.

[RGA]

Frankly I would avoid these things like the plague. Better picture maybe but frankly sit further back and take the front or rear projectors. I still like the theater picture best...call it an analog like tendency of NATURAL image.

For the money Plasma is a total rippoff with a short life.

[RGA]

The year estimates seem out of whack with the hour estimates as well. Audio Note has a tube amp that is gauranteed to last 100,000 hours or 11 years on 24 hours a day.

20 thousand hours is 2 years 24 hours a day. How these manufacturers then claim they'll last 12-17 years? Admittedly you may not watch 24 hours a day but ... - and they don't gaurantee 20,000 hours they estimate it. SO I would expect 10,000 hours.

5 years and you'll be looking for a new one. Now if the picture is worth that much to you...why not? Most regular sets today probably average 8-10.

[Woochifer]

Frankly I would avoid these things like the plague. Better picture maybe but frankly sit further back and take the front or rear projectors. I still like the theater picture best...call it an analog like tendency of NATURAL image.

For the money Plasma is a total rippoff with a short life.

How's plasma a "total rippoff"? It delivers a true high definition image and works great for rooms with limited space. For large rooms, a front projector is a good option, but not for a typical living room. RPTVs take up a lot of space, and the WAF is very low (I should know -- given the option of a $2k RPTV versus a $5k plasma, my better half already told me no way a big hulking box like that was gonna go into our room, so start saving up). Depending on the size of the cabinet and the distance from the viewing position, RPTVs can also interfere with the correct speaker placement for surround sound.

Some of us don't have the option of "sitting further back" which is why plasma's gotten so popular. Plasma's currently the most viable option if you want something larger than 42" that can mount flat on a wall. And as stated above, the technology's too new for anyone to know what the real life span of one of those things is. CRTs burn out eventually, so how's plasma any different?

True, a theater picture is best. But, who among us owns a film projector and has access to theatrical prints?

The year estimates seem out of whack with the hour estimates as well. Audio Note has a tube amp that is gauranteed to last 100,000 hours or 11 years on 24 hours a day.

20 thousand hours is 2 years 24 hours a day. How these manufacturers then claim they'll last 12-17 years? Admittedly you may not watch 24 hours a day but ... - and they don't gaurantee 20,000 hours they estimate it. SO I would expect 10,000 hours.

5 years and you'll be looking for a new one. Now if the picture is worth that much to you...why not? Most regular sets today probably average 8-10.

Geez, someone who can't even add, and you bought speakers from them?

Nothing's guaranteed with any consumer product, so all of those service life estimates are just that. The point's already been made that a TV's not on 24/7, so why speculate on a plasma only lasting 5 years? And if the estimated life of a plasma screen is 20k hours, why do you then expect it to last only 10k hours? Do you have any data that shows that plasmas fail within half their allotted lifespan?

[Debbi]

...old crt technology has best resolution, best reliability and new 30-34"-36" sets have up scan to 780...putting aside hd capability...most people tend to replace an old tv with a bigger one, but the finer detail displayed by an hdtv or upscan model may let you sit closer, so you may not need a bigger screen to get the impression of a larger image.Very few people mention this fact.The best buy may therefore be an under 1,000 tube set for most people with moderate sized rooms...and frankly consider what you buy today an interim purchase.....the old story is that if you dont react to new technology, you will never make a change....however, there is a caveat that requires it truly is better to entice you to buy....plasma is too expensive today and with the uncertainty of format, inputs etal not a certain bet...if it is the winner, it will be 1,300 per RGAs comments.