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Defective 2300MP projectors, bad batch?

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Latest post 01/31/2010 12:14 PM by luxurylimo1. 52 replies.
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Joined on 01/26/2005
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Defective 2300MP projectors, bad batch?

26 Jan 2005 11:10PM
Our company bought 2 new Dell 2300MP projectors in early January, and within 3 days they both stopped working. In both cases, everything was working fine, we turned off the lamp, left the projector sitting there, came back hours later, tried to power on, and the lamp never came on. The fan didn't power on either. After about a minute the orange Lamp light came on. We tried unplugging and everything else we could think of, including verifying that the lamp was still working (we stuck the lamp in another identical projector, and it worked fine).
 
Dell exchanged both of the projectors for us, and they were both working fine for a couple of days, but today one of the projectors had the same problem. Dell is exchanging this 3rd projector for us.
 
From what I can tell, nobody is treating the projectors harshly or unplugging them before they cool down or anything like that. We have an older Dell projector and we have never had any problems with it.
 
When the 2300MP projectors are working I really like them. I just don't know how reliable they are. I was beginning to think that there was a bad batch, but I searched and didn't see any other complaints about this on this forum, so now I'm not sure what to think. Our team of software developers and testers can't believe how many problems we are having.
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52 Replies:

Joined on 01/30/2005
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Re: Defective 2300MP projectors, bad batch?

24 Feb 2005 09:49AM

Hello!

I feel sorry for you. Call them back and ask for a new bulb for all the trouble you have had. That is the least they can do. I to extended the warranty to 3 years and they gave me about 80$ discount on it. 80$ for many hours of telephone-hold and a whole month of confusions is not enough, so I will tell them that I will keep the old bulb. I dont think it will be a easy fight.

Toods  

 

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Re: Defective 2300MP projectors, bad batch?

24 Feb 2005 04:30PM

Yesterday, i got my new Dell 4100MP to replace the defective 2300MP.  So far so good.  I will let you know in a few days if everything is still running.

Jason Greene

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Re: Defective 2300MP projectors, bad batch?

26 Feb 2005 05:25PM
I think i know what the problem is.  its not defective power supplys or anything its bad engineering.  i didnt figure this out untill i broke own the original projector and put up the new one. but the power cord!!!!!! when you plug it in it feels like its all the way in (and you dont want to break your new projector) but it goes in really deep. if it dosnt go in really deep it will make a fluttering sound. like static elec. that inturn will absolutly kill the hold and startup switches on the main PC board in about 2 to 4 power ups.  so if anyone gets a new projector make sure the power cord is in all the way.  you almost have to hit it.
 
DELL!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU SHOULD PUT A STICKER ON ALL THE PROJECTORS THAT TELLS EVERYONE TO PUSH EXTREMLY FIRMLY ON THE POWER CORD. it seems that it would be delicate. and i know from me, i thought it was in all the way. untill i heard that very faint sound of static electrisity arcing in my projector.
 
its funny couse it make sense why dell would have no idea whats wrong, the techs cant duplicate the senario there all tough with there equipment (its not like they just bought it, if they break it theyll fix it)  and they know how its made.  thats why tech support had no info on any of this.  if it was a real defect they would have issued it a long time ago.
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Re: Defective 2300MP projectors, bad batch?

28 Feb 2005 12:42PM
We have received this morning our 3rd 2300MP projector and guess what? I switched it on and switched it off and after that I could switch it on again. I unplugged the projector plugged it in in our showroom PC and tried to switch it on again. Nothing happened. After 2 minutes the organge led LAMP lighted on again. Same problem as the first two projectors. I now believe there are no working 2300MP projectors and asked Dell to take the projector back and send a credit note, because we its a new projector and we haven't used it it for more than a few hours. I certainly will not recommend this projector to anyone else. We are now forced to buy another projector because we need it in our showroom, but this won't be a Dell. I am very dissapointed in the service of Dell, of which they claim "It's the best in the world". Nonsense!! It is not!!
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Re: Defective 2300MP projectors, bad batch?

28 Feb 2005 12:53PM

Well, our fourth one is working - so far.  The first three all had nearly the identical problem and if there hadn't been some sort of clerical error causing us to receive a 3rd and 4th projector in the same delivery we would have cut and run and not bothered with the fourth.  But, so far it is working (10 - 12 power cycles and 3-4 hours of use).  I must admit though I am a little hesitant to go ahead with the effort involved in mounting it to the ceiling of our church for fear that the problem will still show up in this one.

 

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Re: Defective 2300MP projectors, bad batch?

02 Mar 2005 04:33AM
What "digitalentity" writes sounds uncredible, but when he has experienced what he says, and if we don't have better explanations we just must believe him...

In fact, I went on this forum because I have an other problem with my projector 2300MP ( see my post "grey screen of death" ), that causes me to power it off and on even more as I want ! And,

I NEVER HAD SUCH A POWER UP PROBLEM, since 2 months I received it. Now, I assume two things :

- I stay in Europe (Switzerland). And here we have different standards for power outlets and therefore use different power cords, which may fit better into the device socket

- Even worse : lets assume there are defective power cords, and someone has the famous power up problem. He requires DELL to replace the projector - just the projector - and gets a new one. He plugs the new projector on the power cord that has killed the first one... and so on...

Up to now, I didnt complain my problem at Dell's service, because I'm affraid to get my one-eyed horse replaced by a blind one.
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Re: Defective 2300MP projectors, bad batch?

04 Mar 2005 07:51PM
DELL - PLEASE PAY ATTENTION...
 
You all have me very very scared with this excessive list of MP2300 failures.  I almost bought an Optoma EzPro 739 (2300 Lumens, 2000:1 Contrast Ratio, all the f/b's), which has rave reviews from every source I can find.  That is, until Dell announced a new presence in the DLP projector market and launched the 2300 for around $1500.  "What a deal", I thought, "Forget the Optoma!" 
 
Now I read your columns and am gun shy on spending my $$ with Dell.  I'm buying the projector for dual purpose (PC and theatre) and my only concerns until now were performance, such as the old shadowing effect during dvd videos, brightness, etc.  I never would have considered realability an issue from Dell. 
 
I'm like all of you but worse.  A few phone calls and some siginificant hold time without resolution and my patience is done.  My 3rd projector would be returned to them in pieces and I'd refuse the charge with my CC company.  Just taking the time to write into a forum is a chore to me, so I'd like to be seriously, especially from the massive DELL Corp. 
 
I called Dell's tech support to increase my projector education prior to purchase but gained no satisfaction that they even belonged in the projector business.  I was preparred to buy that day but backed out.  Maybe someone out there can help me??  It sounds like the input in the forum has more knowledge than Dell itself on this matter.
 
"Color Wheels" - There is a spec on the number of color wheels a projector has - the more the better?  I learned about this after reading forums on DLP projectors, and talokng with the high-end retail stores.  Then someone told me that the DDR DLP technology does not employ "color wheels", so there are no color wheels in the Dell MP2300.  Of course, holding at Dell only proved worthless as the tech rep, the next tech rep, and their supervisor could only read to me the spec sheet I see on line and has never been trained on projectors.  No at Dell could give me technical help with projectors. 
 
DELL - please address all of the MP2300 concerns. 
 
Else, FYI for the rest of you, if you get PO's enough, the OPTOMA EP739 is available on-line at BestBuy.com for around $1500.  Dell's my first choice if I can get this issue cleared. 
 
RKS
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Re: Defective 2300MP projectors, bad batch?

07 Mar 2005 05:31AM

anybody know anything about 2200mp any bad batches or just mainly 2300mps.

thanks john

 

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Re: Defective 2300MP projectors, bad batch?

17 Mar 2005 07:54PM

well....i got my new projector replacement about a week ago and i checked to make sure the power cord was seated properly,  i ran it to a surge protector. i use that switch if i need to unplug it.  and everything is running fine.  what happens is (if it is the power cord not seated properly) the power cord makes contact only about halfway and you get "arcing". same way you can fry a light switch by having it just in the middle and the light will "flutter".  this in turn can weld the connections and fry any low voltage i.c. boards in its way to the p.s.u. (i.e. power switch). when the power switch i.c. board is fried it will be an expensive paper weight.  i am a technical electronics technician and i sincerely think that this is the problem.  there isnt a defective power cord or supply, there is just bad engineering causing user error.  the power cord seats differently than, lets say, a computer tower. care must be taken to make sure that everyones power cords are seated correctly to prevent "arcing". you might be able to hear it (faintly) if it is arcing.  wiggle the power cord and if it sounds like static......well,  hope you dont need another projector. 

as far as not being credible (BIB32). are you a tech?  do you even have the same problem.  i have absolutly no experience with your "grey screen of death".  i am not giving any advice on that matter. 

even if i am wrong (which can be) whats the harm in checking a power cord????!!!!!????.

thats not the best way to start a post.  thats just insulting!!! im just trying to help on a subject that has plagued me too.

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Re: Defective 2300MP projectors, bad batch?

18 Mar 2005 08:37PM
Dear "Digitalentity",

I'm really affraid you misunderstood me. When I say "SOUNDS" incredible, that means what you discovered is so surprising that that SOUNDs incredible... but really not YOU are not credible.
Yes I'm also technician, have been customer engineer for years at IBM and later at UNISYS... And I really believe what you say !
More : I see a (possible) explanation why I never experienced that problem despite the fact I have to power my projector off/on more often as I would like to, in that fact we use here other types of power cords which may fit better into the socket... And that seems to confirm your experiencee , not ?
Anyway, what you discovered can be a very great contribution to the solution of that problem empoisoning the confidence in DELL'S product (I wonder why we never read anything coming from DELL in this very hot thread ?)

Again, if you really felt insulted, I am very sorry about
Kind regards from Switzerland
Charles
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Re: Defective 2300MP projectors, bad batch?

18 Mar 2005 10:55PM
Hello.

I got my 4. unit and i used an other power cord. same thing happend. I shiped it back and got my money back. Now i have a BenQ PB7210 and it works great.

>>
Toods
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Re: Defective 2300MP projectors, bad batch?

19 Mar 2005 02:26AM

Sorry about the missunderstanding "BIB32".  thank you for apologizing.  it is greatly appreciated.

i hope to here from dell admins, as well.  im astounded that such a huge problem has not been deemed worthy enough for dell techs to answer this thread......unless they just dont have a clue why they're frying. 

the one thing that i didnt like the first time i plugged it in is that the power button blinks.  that means that it is never really off. just in standby.  it is always monitoring the AC.  it always has some pull of current. thats not the best thing in the world.  the only other thought that i might have is dirty AC??? or some kind of EMR.  it dosnt seem possible though.  lets try to get some commonalities between everyone who has had a fried projector.
 
-How did everyone mount it?  
-Was it mounted multiple times or angles?
-How many times was it plugged in and unplugged?
-Anyone have any data in their AC?  (e.g. wireless phone jacks, X10, home automation, anything that broadcasts through power lines.)
-How many of us have electric stovetops and ovens?
-How many of us have garage door openers?
 
these might sound like dumb questions but they all, for the most part, create different "dirty A.C.".ever wonder why your old T.V. would act up when you are vacuuming your rugs? or mabe just the draw of current from electric ovens is enough to brown out the projector if it is ultra sensitive. if we find a common ground between one or more of these, we can filter it out or dell can make the needed adjustments to the switch I.C. board.  
 
i for one love this projector, ive owned three in the past and this is my favorite.  i would like to get to the bottom of this.  i appreciate the help.
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Re: Defective 2300MP projectors, bad batch?

19 Mar 2005 12:01PM
We were up to our fourth one - If they hadn't accidentally sent numbers 3 and 4 together, we would have given up on them after 3.  But, the fourth one worked and is still working.  We did absolutely nothing different with the 4th one than we did the first 3.  We have not mounted it yet and are running it from a laptop (an old Gateway ;-)  ) at the other end of a 100 ft. cable and projecting onto the front wall of our church.  Three weeks into it now and it has worked flawlessly - BUT - we only use it on Sundays.  I'm going to have to figure out a way to give it a longer burn-in period before the warranty is up.
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Re: Defective 2300MP projectors, bad batch?

22 Mar 2005 03:43AM

Thank God for this Forum!

I am so frustrated with Dell that I don't know what to do!  I also purchased a 2300MP Projector in January and within two weeks (only using it three times) the projector would not even start.  I contacted customer service and received a replacement (which they forgot to send me a mailing label to send back the defective projector and I had to contact them three times to get that).  The replacement only worked twice and then the same problem it would not even start.  Now I spent three hours on the phone and all the tech support could tell me was that my only option was to have a third replacement sent to me (when all I wanted was to get my money back and purchase another brand of projector).  When I asked for a supervisor I was put on hold only to be told the supervisor was too busy at this time and to just take the third projector.  I don't understand why we are being forced into options that we don't want and products that don't work properly.  I know I am just one person but Dell needs to recognize there is a problem with the projector.  Oh, and can anybody tell me what do I do when the third projector decides to quit?  I know only one thing I will never buy from Dell again.

Exasperated,

Angela

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Re: Defective 2300MP projectors, bad batch?

23 Mar 2005 05:05PM
There is one question I got to think about :

That model 2300 MP stands on the market for many months ago...
and the complaints about that famous problem seem to have started with the new year (begin of January), now
- either owners who have bought their projectors before January 2005 did not experience the problem,
- or they dind't trust to complain about ???

In the first case, that could perhaps point on a change in the design, or manufacturing, or poor batch of individual components occured at end of 2004 ?

Would be so nice, when DELL us (customers) would pay a little of attention, and give once an answer to all these desesperated posts ?
Still hoping
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