Projected Savings

Schools spend lots of money on data/video projectors, but keeping them running can be expensive, too. Jim Locascio, director of sales for the Dukane Corporation, which sells and services audiovisual equipment, offers some suggestions for projector care and solving projector problems (see also www.dukane.com/AudioVisual/service/FAQ.htm):

• Dust can make images blurry, so keep the projector's filter clean. Take it out, wash it with soap and water, let it dry, and put it back in. Do it a few times a year.
• Never touch a lamp bulb with bare hands. Natural oil from one's hands heats up on the bulb and can cause it to crack.
• Many projectors arrive at service centers damaged in shipment. Check with the manufacturer before you send in your school's projector to make sure it's properly packed and supported in the shipping box.