Plasma TV Lifespan
The lifespan of a plasma TV, contrary to rumors, is excellent. Plus, technology is constantly advancing to produce better TVs that will last even longer. Most manufacturers will give an approximate life of 60,000 hours for their plasma televisions. That’s 20 to 25 years of normal viewing before the screen starts to noticeably darken. In the infancy of plasma television, the lifespan was only 30,000 to 40,000 hours; a substantial improvement. After the TV starts to dim, many models give you the option to replace the light source, renewing the unit’s lifespan.
There are several new technologies that have helped increase the lifespan of plasma televisions. First we have the pixel orbiter. The orbiter quickly changes the color of adjacent pixels when a static image is displayed. This creates a sense of makeover for the TV itself, but is virtually unwatchable for the viewer. This almost single-handedly eliminates the threat of burnout. Another software component of “Anti-Burn” technology finds pixels that have been on for too long and turns them off for a short time to rest. These advantages prevent wear and, by taking care of the health of the pixels, extend the useful life of plasma televisions.
A good tip for plasma TV users is to watch as many programs as possible in widescreen. This helps prevent a quality difference from developing between the inner and outer pixels that would be missed when the sidebars appear. Also, keep brightness levels as low as possible. If you have your TV in a bright room, you don’t need to keep the brightness at 100%. Reducing this removes some of the stress from the pixels and phosphors and helps extend life. One last tip to prolong the life of your plasma television is to keep it in a cool, well-ventilated place. A cold atmosphere reduces the amount of work done by the internal cooling components and helps the matches work longer.
Plasma TVs provide a large screen (42 inches and up) for much less than a comparably sized LCD screen. Knowing this, we see that even if TV 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 TV presents concerns for owners. They need to more actively monitor the health of their displays. However, looking at the newer plasma models and the future of technology, one must admit that the lifespan of a plasma TV is long enough for any average user.
