You hear a strange sound come from your NEC projector, the status light blinks red, and your projector turns off. What’s just happened? Is it broken?
A fan error is a common projector mishap, so it’s nothing to be alarmed about.
Before you consult your warranty policy and pull out your wallet, follow our suggestions to troubleshoot your projector at home.
Why does your NEC projector have a fan error?
How can you fix it?
Keep reading to find out!
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Your Projector Has Overheated
Check if your projector has overheated.
It’s not unusual for projectors to overheat, especially if they’ve been on for an extended period. Your projector overheating may cause it to randomly shut down and feel hot to the touch.
Although you shouldn’t panic if your unit has overheated, you should act quickly to ensure it does not get any hotter.
Before all else, turn off your projector and allow the fans to stop running before unplugging it. Once cooled, follow our tips below to prevent your projector from overheating again in the future.
Ensure Your Unit is Well-Ventilated
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Your NEC projector has a ventilation system, which allows cool air to circulate through your unit’s internal hardware. Although this process normally goes unnoticed, interfering with it can have dire consequences.
Poorly ventilated projectors risk overheating and pose a potential fire hazard.
Always place your projector on a stable, hard surface. Ensure your unit has several inches of free space on every side and use its adjustable feet to elevate off the ground. Never cover your projector with a blanket or place it on a crowded shelf.
If your unit is plugged into a power strip, make sure it’s not overloaded.
Do not use your projector in a very hot room, as this will cause it to overheat faster.
Turn the Fans to High-Speed when at High-Altitudes
NEC projectors often overheat when used at high altitudes over 760 meters (2500 feet).
This is because the air at lower altitudes is denser, allowing for easier airflow, which cools the electronic’s internal hardware. Your projector’s ventilation system depends on adequate airflow to keep cool and will quickly overheat without it.
If you’re at a high altitude and find your projector displaying a Fan Error message and overheating, try changing the Fan Mode to High. The Fan Mode controls how quickly your fan turns, dispersing cool air through your unit.
Open the Main Menu and select Fan Mode, to change your unit’s fan mode. Change the mode from Auto to High.
Play something on your projector and observe the results.
Turn on Continuous Operation when in Eco Mode
Eco Mode is great if you’re trying to preserve lamp life and lower your electric bill, but did you know it also decreases the fan speed?
If your projector is set to Eco Mode and is frequently overheating, you can change the fan speed to ensure it’s properly cooling.
Open the Setup menu and go to Page 4. Check the box next to Continuous Operation. Click OK, and you’re good to go!
Run your projector as normal and observe if it’s cooling correctly.
The Filters Need to Be Cleaned or Replaced
Clean or replace the filter unit.
Your NEC projector’s filters catch any dust and debris in the air, keeping your unit’s internal hardware clean. However, if they’re dirty, the dust may block all air circulation causing your unit’s fans to malfunction and overheat.
How to Clean an NEC Projector’s Filters?
Cleaning your projector’s filters only takes a few minutes, but can drastically improve your unit’s functionality.
The NEC projector user manual recommends using a vacuum cleaner to clean the filters.
Make sure your projector is turned off and unplugged before cleaning the filter unit.
Make sure your vacuum cleaner is on the lowest setting before gently sucking the dust through the filter grates. Move the vacuum nozzle around the grate several times to ensure it’s cleaned of all dust.
Never wash the filter with water, as this can damage it.
Do not use compressed air or other flammable cleaning products to clean the filter. These cleaners leave a flammable residue on your projector and could pose a fire hazard once your unit heats up.
Do not stick anything inside the filter grates to try to clean them.
How to Replace an NEC Projector’s Filters?
If the filter is very dirty or you notice it’s covered in a sticky residue, it may be a good idea to replace it .
NEC projector filter replacements can be ordered online. Ensure the replacement fits your projector model. Don’t hesitate to reach out to NEC customer support with any questions about compatible filter replacements.
To replace the filter, unlatch and remove the filter grate and sponge from your projector, making sure not to separate them. Insert the new filter and ensure it’s correctly placed.
Every time you replace the filter, you must reset the Clear Filter Usage timer.
Go to the Setup menu and open Page 4. Click the button labeled Clear Filter Usage once and select OK.
Plugin and turn on your projector, and see the results.
The Fan Unit is Broken
If you’ve tried troubleshooting the fan error at home and still cannot use your projector normally, there may be a problem with the fan unit.
Projector experts may be able to repair the fan unit themselves, but it’s recommended to contact NEC customer support or go to your local projector repair shop.
Consult your projector’s warranty policy to see if it covers fan unit replacements.
Wrapping Things Up
An NEC projector’s fan error usually points to overheating, dirty filters, or a malfunctioning fan unit. Luckily, you or a projector repair shop can easily fix all of these problems.
Remember to routinely check your projector for overheating and clean the filter.
If you have any additional questions, contact NEC customer support. Let me know how you’ve tried to resolve the issue at home so they can best assist you.
What’s your experience with your NEC projector displaying a Fan Error message?
Let us know in the comments below!
Yesenia Achlim is a technical copywriter and editor with a focus on AV equipment. She aims to break down complicated topics and make technology accessible, no matter your technical expertise. When she’s not teaching you how to replace a projector lamp, you can find her reading and baking.