Plasma TV Lifespan
Plasma TV Lifespan
The lifespan of a plasma TV, contrary to rumor, is great. Also,
the technology is ever advancing to produce better televisions
that will last even longer. Most manufacturers will give an
approximate lifespan of 60,000 hours for their plasma
televisions. That's 20 to 25 years of normal viewing before the
screen begins to noticeably dim. This is a new number that
reflects the improvements made to the technology in recent
years. In the infancy of the plasma television, the lifespan was
only 30,000 to 40,000 hours; a substantial improvement. After
the television begins to dim, many models give you the option of
replacing the light source, which renews the life of the
unit.
There are several new technologies that have helped to increase
the lifespan of plasma televisions. First we have the pixel
orbiter. The orbiter quickly swaps the color of adjacent pixels
when a static image is being displayed. This creates a sense of
picture change for the television itself but it practically
impossible for the viewer to see. This almost single-handedly
eliminates the threat of burn-in. Another software component of
"Anti-Burn" technology searches out pixels that have been on too
long and shuts them off for a short period of time to allow them
to rest. These advantages prevent burn-in and, by attending to
pixel health, extend the lifespan of plasma televisions.
A good tip for plasma television users is to watch as many shows
as possible in widescreen format. This helps prevent a quality
difference from developing between the inner pixels and the
outer ones that would be neglected when sidebars appear. Also,
keep brightness levels as low as possible. If you have your
television in a bright room, you don't need to keep the
brightness at 100%. Reducing this takes some of the strain off
of the pixels and phosphors and helps lengthen lifespan. One
last tip to increase the life of your plasma television is to
keep it in a cool, well-ventilated location. A cool atmosphere
reduces the amount of work done by the internal cooling
components and helps the phosphors work longer.
Plasma televisions provide a large screen (42 inches and up) for
considerably less than a comparable size LCD. Knowing this, we
see that even if television manufacturers are exaggerating the
average lifespan of their plasma models, these units are still a
better value than an LCD. Obviously, a first generation plasma
television presents concerns for owners. They must more actively
monitor the health of their screens. However, looking at the
newer model plasmas and the future of the technology, it must be
conceded that a plasma television's lifespan is long enough for
any average user.