Projector Lamp Cross-Reference: Finding Every Equivalent Part Number
A single projector lamp usually carries at least three different part numbers: the projector manufacturer's module code (for example ELPLP78 or NP17LP), the burner manufacturer's code for the arc tube inside it (typically a Philips UHP, Osram P-VIP or Ushio NSH designation), and the aftermarket code used by compatible suppliers. They all describe the same physical lamp. This is why searching one code can return no results while another returns dozens, and it is the single biggest source of ordering mistakes in projector lamps.
Once you understand how the three layers relate, cross-referencing becomes straightforward.
The three layers of a projector lamp part number
| Layer | What it identifies | Example format |
|---|---|---|
| OEM module code | The complete lamp assembly as sold by the projector brand | ELPLP78, NP17LP, DT01021, LMP-C120 |
| Burner code | The arc tube inside, made by a lamp manufacturer | Philips UHP, Osram P-VIP, Ushio NSH designations |
| Compatible code | An aftermarket supplier's own reference for the same fit | Varies by supplier |
The burner is the part that actually produces light, and it is often the same component across several different OEM module codes from different projector brands. The housing is what differs. Our guide to the Philips UHP burner covers why that matters for brightness and life.
Why one lamp has several numbers
Projector manufacturers rarely make lamps. They buy burners from Philips, Osram or Ushio, fit them into a housing designed for their chassis, and assign their own module code. A second projector brand may buy the identical burner and fit it into a different housing with a different code. The two lamps are electrically and optically the same and physically incompatible.
This cuts both ways when cross-referencing. A matching burner does not guarantee a fit. A matching housing does.
How to cross-reference yours, in order
- Start from the projector model, not the lamp. The projector model number is stamped on the chassis, usually underneath or on the rear panel. It is the most reliable starting point because it is unambiguous.
- Find the OEM lamp code for that projector. This is the code the manufacturer assigns, and it is what most listings are indexed by.
- Read the code off the old lamp if you still have it. It is printed on the housing or on a label on the burner collar. See finding your projector lamp part number.
- Check whether you need the module or the bare burner. These are different products at very different prices — see lamp vs bulb vs module.
- Only then compare compatible equivalents against the OEM code.
Where cross-referencing goes wrong
- Trusting a burner match alone. The same Philips UHP burner appears in dozens of unrelated modules. It tells you nothing about whether the housing fits your chassis.
- Suffix drift. Codes that differ by one character are often genuinely different lamps with different wattages or housings. Match the full code.
- Series assumptions. Two projectors in the same product family frequently take different lamps. Always check the specific model.
- Region variants. Some projector models were sold with different lamp assemblies in different markets.
Bare burner or complete module?
A bare burner costs considerably less, but fitting one means transferring it into your existing housing — handling quartz glass, aligning the burner precisely, and reusing a housing that has already been through thousands of heat cycles. Misalignment costs brightness and can shorten lamp life. For most buyers the complete module is the right purchase; bare burners suit high-volume AV departments with the tooling and the practice.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my projector lamp have more than one part number?
Because three different parties name it: the projector manufacturer assigns a module code, the burner manufacturer has its own code for the arc tube inside, and aftermarket suppliers use their own references. All three can describe the same lamp.
Can I use a lamp from a different projector brand?
Only if the complete module is confirmed as a physical and electrical match for your chassis. Two lamps sharing the same burner are not interchangeable if the housings differ, which they usually do.
How do I find the right lamp for my projector?
Start from the projector model number stamped on the chassis rather than from the lamp. Look up the OEM lamp code for that exact model, then match compatible equivalents against that code.
What is the difference between a bare lamp and a lamp module?
A bare lamp is the burner and reflector alone. A module is that burner already fitted into the plastic housing your projector needs. Bare lamps cost less but require careful transfer into your old housing.
Do two projectors in the same series use the same lamp?
Often not. Models within a family frequently take different lamps depending on brightness rating and chassis revision. Always check the specific model number rather than the series.
Buying from Lamps Authority
We carry lamps across every major projector brand, indexed by OEM part number. Browse by brand — BenQ, Optoma, ViewSonic, Acer, Eiki, InFocus, Panasonic, Hitachi, Dukane and Mitsubishi. Send us your projector model number and we will confirm the exact lamp before you order.