Panasonic Projector Lamp Replacement: The ET-LA Series Guide (Including Dual- and Quad-Lamp Installs)

Panasonic projector lamps carry part numbers that start with ET-LA, and the letters that follow tell you the family: ET-LAB, ET-LAC, ET-LAE, ET-LAL, and ET-LAV lamps fit single-lamp business and classroom projectors, ET-LAD lamps fit large-venue installation projectors that often run two or four lamps at once, and TY-LA numbers belong to Panasonic rear-projection televisions. Find the full number in your manual or on the lamp cover, buy multi-lamp projectors' lamps as a matched set, and order by part number rather than by projector model alone.

How Panasonic lamp part numbers are structured

Panasonic's PT-series projectors span everything from a compact classroom unit to a 20,000-lumen auditorium projector, and the lamp numbering reflects that. As general patterns rather than guarantees, the ET-LAB, ET-LAC, ET-LAE, ET-LAL, and ET-LAV families cover single-lamp business, education, and home projectors across successive generations, and the ET-LAD family covers the large-venue PT-D, PT-DW, PT-DZ, PT-EX, and PT-RZ installation lines, many of which use two or four lamps in one chassis. Older Panasonic rear-projection televisions used TY-LA lamps.

The number after the letters identifies the specific lamp, and it is the only part that matters when you order. Two ET-LAD lamps can differ in wattage, housing, and connector, and an ET-LAB lamp from one PT-LB model will not necessarily fit the next generation. Match the complete part number every time.

Panasonic also sells some lamps in single and multi-lamp packs under related numbers. A single-lamp unit might be listed as ET-LAD55, for example, while the two-lamp pack for a dual-lamp projector is ET-LAD55L. Our product titles include "(Dual Lamp)" or "(Quad Lamp)" where a pack covers a multi-lamp projector, so you can see at a glance what you are buying.

How to find your Panasonic lamp part number

The user manual lists the replacement lamp in the maintenance or specifications section. If the manual is gone, the projector's page on Panasonic's support site lists it, and a label inside the lamp cover or on the lamp housing usually shows the number. Our guide to finding a projector lamp part number shows where the label sits and how to read it.

You can also search our store by projector model. Each product in the Panasonic projector lamp collection lists the PT models it fits, so entering the model number in the search box will bring up the right lamp. If your model is not listed, contact us with the number and we will confirm the part.

Single-lamp business and classroom: ET-LAB, LAC, LAE, LAL, LAV

These five families cover the bulk of Panasonic projectors in schools, offices, and homes. The ET-LAB family fits the PT-LB series of compact classroom projectors; examples in our range include the ET-LAB10 and ET-LAB80. The ET-LAC family fits the PT-LC series, with the ET-LAC100 and ET-LAC300 among the most requested.

ET-LAE lamps fit the PT-AE and PT-EX lines, which include Panasonic's well-regarded home-cinema projectors of the last decade as well as some higher-brightness business units. The ET-LAE100, ET-LAE200, and ET-LAE900 serve the home models, while the ET-LAE4000 serves a higher-output installation unit.

The ET-LAL family fits later PT-LB, PT-LW, PT-TW, and PT-TX classroom and short-throw projectors, and it is one of the most common lamp requests we receive from school AV staff. Numbers in stock include the ET-LAL100, ET-LAL200, ET-LAL340, ET-LAL500, and ET-LAL600. The ET-LAV family fits the PT-VW, PT-VX, and PT-VZ business projectors, with the ET-LAV100, ET-LAV200, and ET-LAV300 covering successive generations.

Large venue: ET-LAD single, dual, and quad-lamp installs

Panasonic's installation projectors are built for lecture halls, houses of worship, event venues, and control rooms, and many of them use two or four lamps firing into a single optical path. The multi-lamp design gives high brightness with redundancy: if one lamp fails, the projector keeps running at reduced output rather than going dark. It also means replacement is different from a single-lamp projector.

The ET-LAD family covers these models. Single-lamp units such as the ET-LAD55 serve the smaller PT-D installation projectors, while dual-lamp packs such as the ET-LAD55L (Dual Lamp), ET-LAD57W (Dual Lamp), ET-LAD60A (Dual Lamp), ET-LAD120W (Dual Lamp), and ET-LAD7700W (Dual Lamp) serve the two-lamp PT-D, PT-DW, PT-DZ, and PT-EX models. The ET-LAD12KF (Quad Lamp) is a four-lamp pack for the PT-D12000 and related large-venue projectors.

The matched-set rule for multi-lamp projectors

Dual- and quad-lamp projectors are generally replaced as matched sets, and there is a practical reason. All the lamps in the chassis feed the same optical path, and the projector blends their output. UHP lamps lose brightness gradually and drift slightly in colour as they age, so a fresh lamp running beside a lamp with thousands of hours on it produces uneven brightness and a colour balance the projector cannot fully correct. Replacing the set keeps the output even and lets you track the lamps on one schedule.

That is why our product titles carry "(Dual Lamp)" and "(Quad Lamp)" on the multi-lamp packs. The pack contains the full set for the projector, so a single order restores the whole unit. If a single lamp fails early and the others are still young, replacing just that one is a reasonable stopgap, but plan to bring the set back into line at the next scheduled change. Your projector's Status page shows hours per lamp, which makes the decision easier.

Multi-lamp projectors also offer lamp modes that run all lamps, alternate between them, or run a subset for lower brightness and longer life. Which mode you use affects how quickly the hours accumulate on each lamp, so check the per-lamp hours rather than assuming they are equal.

Rear-projection TVs: TY-LA lamps

Panasonic's rear-projection televisions of the LCD and DLP era used lamps with TY-LA numbers, such as the TY-LA1000. These sets are no longer made, but many are still in service and a lamp is a small cost against replacing a large-screen television. The lamp is usually accessed from a panel on the rear or side of the set and is changed in much the same way as a projector lamp.

With module or bare lamp: which to buy

A lamp with module is the burner already fitted in its housing with the connector attached, ready to slide in. A bare lamp is the burner only, which you transfer into your existing housing. For single-lamp classroom and home projectors, the module is the right choice for almost everyone; it is faster, there is no risk of touching the glass, and there is no old housing to inspect for cracks or worn contacts.

AV technicians servicing a fleet of Panasonic projectors sometimes prefer bare lamps to reduce cost per unit, and that is fine provided the housings are in good condition and the technician is comfortable with the transfer. For multi-lamp installation projectors, we recommend modules so all lamps in the set are new from housing to burner. Our lamp vs bulb vs module explainer and OEM vs compatible article cover the trade-offs.

Replacing a Panasonic projector lamp: the outline

Power the projector off with the remote so the fans complete their cool-down, then unplug it and wait until the housing is cool. Panasonic lamp covers are typically on the top, rear, or side and are secured by one or more screws; on installation projectors the lamp bay may be behind a larger panel with the lamps side by side. Loosen the lamp screws, lift the old lamp out by its handle, seat the new module firmly, tighten the screws, and refit the cover. Never touch the glass of a bare burner.

Panasonic projectors track lamp hours on a Status page, and most require a manual lamp-timer reset after the new lamp is fitted; multi-lamp models track and reset each lamp individually. The exact path varies by model, so confirm it in your manual. Clean or replace the air filter while the projector is down, since a clogged filter is the most common reason lamps fail early. The old lamps contain mercury and should be recycled. Our step-by-step replacement guide and the complete replacement guide cover every stage.

• ET-LAB: PT-LB compact classroom projectors (LAB10, LAB80).
• ET-LAC: PT-LC series (LAC100, LAC300).
• ET-LAE: PT-AE home cinema and some PT-EX business models (LAE100, LAE200, LAE900, LAE4000).
• ET-LAL: later PT-LB, PT-LW, PT-TW, PT-TX classroom and short-throw units (LAL100, LAL200, LAL340, LAL500, LAL600).
• ET-LAV: PT-VW, PT-VX, PT-VZ business projectors (LAV100, LAV200, LAV300).
• ET-LAD: large-venue installation projectors, single, dual, or quad (LAD55, LAD55L, LAD57W, LAD60A, LAD120W, LAD7700W, LAD12KF).
• TY-LA: rear-projection televisions (TY-LA1000).
• Rule: patterns are a guide only; always match the full part number, and replace multi-lamp projectors as a set.

Frequently asked questions

Do I really have to replace both lamps in a dual-lamp Panasonic projector?

Replacing as a set is the recommended practice, because lamps of different ages give uneven brightness and colour through the shared optical path. Replacing one lamp is an acceptable stopgap if it fails early, but plan to bring the pair back into line at the next scheduled change.

What does "(Dual Lamp)" mean in your product titles?

It means the listing is a pack containing the full set of lamps for a two-lamp projector. "(Quad Lamp)" is the four-lamp equivalent. Single-lamp listings for the same family are marked accordingly.

How long do Panasonic projector lamps last?

Like other UHP lamps, they are typically rated in the 2,000 to 5,000 hour band in normal mode and longer in eco mode, with brightness declining gradually. Multi-lamp projectors may offer lamp relay modes that extend the interval between changes. Check your manual for the rating.

Where do I check lamp hours on a Panasonic projector?

On the Status page of the on-screen menu. Multi-lamp models show hours per lamp. The lamp-timer reset after replacement is a manual step on most models; the path varies, so confirm it in the manual.

Should I buy a bare lamp for a classroom projector?

Only if you or your technician are comfortable transferring a burner without touching the glass and your existing housing is in good condition. For most schools, the module is faster and safer.

Find your Panasonic lamp at Lamps Authority

Lamps Authority stocks more than 120 Panasonic lamp part numbers across the ET-LAB, LAC, LAE, LAL, LAV, and LAD families and TY-LA television lamps, with module or as a bare lamp, and with dual- and quad-lamp sets for installation projectors. Search our store by your lamp part number, browse the Panasonic projector lamp collection, or contact our team with your PT model number and we will confirm the correct lamp or set before you order.