How to Fix BenQ Projector Overheating Issue? (Easy Fix)

We understand the concern and worries regarding the constant BenQ projector overheating and what impact it may have on the hardware.

Well, straightforwardly–overheating is not okay.

Your BenQ projector may be overheating due to a fan issue, improper ventilation, and even environmental influence.

We’ve prepared a complete guide to help you diagnose and resolve the issue in less than 5 minutes.

BenQ Projector Heat Issue – Common Signs:

Some of the common overheating signs your BenQ projector may include:

• 1 or 2 red lamps lit up on the top/side panel.
• Excessive noise produced by the unit’s fans.
• A significant downgrade of the performance.
• Excessively hot top or side projector panels.

Each of these signs means one thing–your projector is overheating and if it does for any longer, it may “emergency” shut down or sustain hardware damage.

Allowing your projector to overheat for extended periods is harmful to the hardware, specifically to the MCB (Main Control Board). 

Why is the BenQ Projector Constantly Overheating?

Before proceeding with the solutions, you may want to know why is the projector overheating:

• Dusty or not-so-well-ventilated environment.
• A failure of one or more internal fan panels.
• A problem with the outlet’s electrical supply.
• A high utilization of the projector’s resources.
• Issues with the projector hardware ventilation.

How to Fix the BenQ Projector Overheating? [8 Easy Steps]

Tip: If your BenQ projector is not turning on after overheating, let the device cool down!

1. Unplug the BenQ Projector

Before attempting anything else, start by unplugging the projector to determine if the hardware temperatures will rise again, after a short break.

It could take between 5 and 10 minutes for your projector to cool down once it is unplugged.

The overheating could be a temporary result of a warm environment during the summer season, or have something to do with the indoor ventilation.

Note: Reconnect your BenQ projector after 15 minutes and watch out for any of the overheating symptoms we’ve discussed above. 

2. Improve BenQ’s Ventilation

So, if this is the first time your projector overheats, it’s probably related to ventilation or airflow. 

Let’s review ways to improve your projector’s cooling:

Clean the Vents/Fans

Start by applying rubbing alcohol to a clean cloth and collecting all the dust or debris on the ventilation panels of the projector.

These can be found on the side, bottom, and upper-right corner of the top panel.

Cleaning the fans requires a disassembly of the top panel that’s held by 8 screws.

So, use a compatible screwdriver and proceed to clean all dust accumulation on the HW cooling fans.

Important: Do NOT skip this step!

Relocate the Projector

Keep the projector away from any type of heat source, including solid surfaces that could prevent the exhaust fan from pushing out the hot air.

Ensure the fans of your projector have enough space and access to cool air at all times.

Dislocate Heat Conductors

It’s crucial to dislocate all heat conductors, such as A/Cs and heaters that emit warmth directly against the projector.

Also, verify there’s no direct sunlight flashing on the projector’s top panel. 

3. Enable the “High Altitude” Mode

So, the “High Altitude” mode of your BenQ projector allows the fans to reach maximum RPM by increasing the voltage from approximately 5 volts to 12 volts.

The feature is designed to serve a ventilation purpose when the air quality is insufficient to sustain appropriate airflow and cooling.

You can activate the “High Altitude” mode through the “Menu” → “System” of your projector, but that varies on the model and type.

Once the feature is activated, your BenQ projector’s fans will become naturally louder as they are pushing/sucking in larger amounts of air. 

Alert: Those are the peak ventilation capabilities of your projector, so keep the feature activated for as long as the hardware is overheating.

4. Adjust Room’s Temperature

Environmental conditions can have a great impact on the air and your projector’s hardware temperature, especially during the summer.

It’s important to keep your BenQ projector in a well-ventilated room with as much air as possible. 

We recommend airing out the room or increasing the cooling setting of the room’s A/C until the room reaches a favorable temperature.

The cooler the environment of your projector, the colder will be the air taken in by the fans, resulting in more adequate hardware ventilation and cooling.

5. Set Up External Ventilation

Cooling the BenQ projector externally might be the overheating solution you’re searching for.

A defect with either of the fan sensors will impair the ventilation significantly, which could lead to inconsistent airflow and problems with the air intake.

Let’s review some external overheating solutions for the projector!

Set Up an External Cooling Fan

As you may have already guessed, an external cooling fan is perhaps the best way to ventilate your projector externally.

All you need to do is find a low-voltage fan using a power adapter or a portable A/C brick and place it next to one of the projector’s vents.

A desk fan serves an excellent purpose for ventilating the BenQ projector, regardless of whether they’re pushing cool air inside the projector or sucking the hot air out.

Use “Exhaust” or “Duct” System

This specifically applies if your BenQ projector is in a confined space and cannot achieve proper natural ventilation.

If, for example, the projector is in a cabinet or a rack, consider integrating an inline duct fan or something similar to a PC cooling fan that lets in air from outside.

Integrate Liquid Cooling (Advanced)

If you’re a fan of DIY solutions, then you should consider integrating a passive liquid cooling of the projector, inspired by the ones PCs use.

You will need a large aluminum heat sink, similar to the ones amplifiers or CPUs use, a sponge or a cloth that draws the heat away, and a small fan.

Simply attach the aluminum piece to the hot side of the projector, place the cloth/sponge inside, and use the fan to push the airflow inwards. 

Note: We recommend skipping the liquid cooling solution if you’re not familiar with how it works!

6. Check for a Defective Fan (Advanced)

The reason why your BenQ projector keeps overheating could be due to a fault with one of the cooling fans.

The BenQ projector uses up to 4 standard 12V 400mAh fans, attached to each vent on the side and top panel of the projector.

Note: Disassembling your BenQ projector will result in a warranty void!

To identify the defective fan, you must disassemble the projector while the device is working, with the power adapter still plugged in.

Here’s how:

1. Unplug the projector during the disassembly. 
2. Now, find the 4 screws on the bottom panel.
3. Use a Philips screwdriver to undo the screws.
4. Proceed to remove the bolts on the vent panel.
5. Lift the top cover, right by the lamp’s opening.
6. Undo the screws holding the main compartment.
7. Uninstall the other panel to access the hardware.
8. Identify each of the fans inside the projector unit.
9. Now, plug the projector’s power adapter back in.
10. Press the “Power” button and wait for the startup.
11. Find out if each of the fans is ventilating properly.
12. Tip: Disconnect the defective fan’s power cable.

Alert: Before reconnecting the projector’s adapter, wear protective gloves and stand on an isolated surface to keep safe from the electricity. 

How to Replace a Defective BenQ Fan?

If you’ve identified a defective fan, uninstall the two screws holding it to the ventilation panel and unplug the strip wire supplying the voltage through the motherboard.

Take out the defective unit and purchase a compatible replacement (AB05012DX200600/AB05012DX200300, 12V, 0.15A).

Install the fan in the same spot as the faulty unit, use the old screws to attach it to the ventilation panel, and reconnect the strip wire with the main control board.

7. Turn Up the Fans RPM (Advanced)

Apart from the “High Altitude” mode, there isn’t another feature in your BenQ projector’s system that allows for manual RPM adjustments of the fans. 

You can use a step-up converter to increase the amount of voltage reaching the projector’s fans and boost the airflow without the use of “High Altitude”.

You will need:

• A multimeter to measure the fan voltage
• A step-up converter for the fan’s voltage
• A screwdriver for the projector’s screws

Now, let’s start:

1. Measure fan voltage with and without high altitude mode (e.g., 5V vs. 12V).
2. Attach the multimeter’s tips to the A/C wire of the exhaust and other fans.
3. Identify the exhaust fan near the lamp as BenQ’s key cooling component.
4. The exhaust fan is attached to the ventilation panel of the BenQ projector.
5. Install the step-up converter with the fan’s voltage source in the MCB.
6. Use a step-up converter to boost voltage from 5V to 12V for this fan only.
7. Temporarily adjust the other projector fans at ~5V for quieter operation.
8. Test temperatures and gradually reduce voltage to find the optimal setting.
9. Now, configure the exhaust fan at 10V (avoids overheating & reduces noise).

The exhaust fan serves the most important purpose in your projector’s ventilation.

Unlike the remaining, smaller fans, the exhaust fan pushes the hot air out. Other fans just bring cool air in. 

8. Reset the BenQ Projector

The factory reset is a last resort solution for the BenQ projector overheating.

The factory reset will permanently erase ALL settings and configurations from your BenQ projector.

This may not directly affect the hardware but may solve the issue if it’s related to improper software utilization.

Here’s what to do:

1. Press “Menu” on the top panel of the projector.
2. Navigate to the “System” tab using the arrows.
3. Select “Factory Default” and press on “Menu”.
4. Highlight “Reset” and confirm the system reset.
5. Wait until the projector powers off and reboots.

Do not interact with the projector during the factory reset!

Note: If your BenQ projector continues to overheat, perhaps the cooling fans are not working, so if the warranty is active, don’t hesitate to act on it.