Read POWER, TEMP and LIGHT together, including whether each light is steady or flashing. An orange POWER light can be normal standby or cooling. A red indicator needs the complete three-light pattern and exact model manual before you can identify the event.
Did the projector shut down, or did only the picture disappear?
Before changing a setting, record what the projector actually did. Did the fans continue, did the POWER indicator change, and could you still display the projector’s own menu? Note whether the PC or course application also stopped. A photograph of a black screen cannot distinguish those events.
If the menu remains visible and there is no warning pattern, follow the input and video-cable checks. Continue here when the projector changes power state, shows a warning, or repeatedly stops during use. Record the model from the unit label, not just the model name on a saved shopping link.
Take a short video of the indicator panel so a flashing light is not mistaken for a steady one. Record the labels in this order: POWER / TEMP / LIGHT. Include any on-screen message and how long the projector had been running.
Which indicator patterns can be normal?
| POWER | TEMP | LIGHT | Operating state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steady orange | Off | Off | Standby |
| Flashing green | Off | Off | Starting up |
| Steady green | Off | Off | Normal operation |
| Flashing orange | Off | Off | Normal shutdown cooling |
Interpret a pattern in context. For example, flashing orange immediately after a normal shutdown is different from a new warning during play. Let the documented shutdown sequence finish. Do not repeatedly toggle power to chase a transient light.
The manuals also contain service, download and burn-in entries. Do not select an unfamiliar service mode or start a firmware update as a general response to a shutdown. Tell support if the event occurred during an update.
What do red TEMP or LIGHT indicators mean?
| POWER / TEMP / LIGHT | Manual classification | Useful next observation |
|---|---|---|
| Steady green / steady red / off | Temperature 1 over-limit event | Record room conditions and whether the intake or exhaust was obstructed. |
| Steady red / steady red / off | Fan 1 error | Save the complete pattern and any unusual fan sound for service. |
| Off / off / steady red | Light-source or lamp error during operation, using the manual’s terminology | Record whether the image vanished before the indicators changed. |
| Any other combination | Match the exact model’s full table | Do not identify a fault from the TEMP or LIGHT color alone. |
These patterns describe the event detected by the projector. They do not establish which part should be replaced. In particular, a thermal warning is not a reason to open the housing, bypass a sensor or attempt an internal fan repair.
Where is the warning-light table for your BenQ?
| Model | Indicator page | Why the exact table matters |
|---|---|---|
| AH500ST | Official PDF, page 48 | Three fan-error entries; additional temperature and sensor codes. |
| AH700ST | Official PDF, page 48 | Four fan-error entries; distinguish the light-source-life pattern from a light fault. |
| AK700ST | Official PDF, page 51 | Four fan-error entries. Use the AK700ST table even when the housing resembles another model. |
| LK830ST | Official PDF, page 61 | Combined LH830ST/LK830ST/LW830ST manual; two fan-error entries and separate download-failure patterns. |
| LK936ST | Official PDF, page 52 | Six fan-error entries; light-source-life and unlit-source patterns differ from AH700ST/AK700ST. |
The page numbers refer to the linked PDF editions. If BenQ supplies a newer manual with your unit, match the model and revision before using a saved screenshot of a code table. AH500ST, AH700ST and AK700ST are distinct models.
What can you check without opening the projector?
- Describe the room at the time of the event. Note a closed garage door, a heater, direct sunlight, or another equipment change. Measure near the projector’s installation area rather than assuming the temperature at floor level is the same.
- Inspect the air path from outside. Look for fabric, packaging, a cable bundle or an enclosure accessory obstructing a vent. Check the clearances and operating environment in the model manual before changing the mounting arrangement.
- Identify any recent change. A new protective enclosure, a relocated PC, a different screen position or a change in room heating is useful context. Record it separately from the indicator pattern.
- Follow the manual’s cooling and restart guidance. If the same warning returns, stop repeated restart attempts and request service guidance. A short successful restart does not prove the underlying fault is resolved.
- If no warning appeared, check the event log you made. A sleep timer, source-loss power setting or external power interruption is a possibility to investigate, not a diagnosis. Record the relevant settings without resetting the projector’s image configuration.
For a ceiling installation, obtain a readable label or indicator image without disturbing the aligned mount. Ask the installer for access if reaching the unit would require an unsafe position. Keep the original installation photos with the fault record.
Send a fault record that separates cause from coincidence
| Record | Example of useful detail |
|---|---|
| Unit identification | Exact model, serial number and manual used. Share serial details privately with support. |
| Observed pattern | POWER steady green; TEMP steady red; LIGHT off. Include the video. |
| Timing | Minutes from startup; whether the event happened during normal play, shutdown or an update. |
| Picture and sound | Whether the menu was still visible, whether the PC remained on, and any unusual fan sound. |
| Room and changes | Measured temperature near the installation, visible vent clearance and the most recent physical change. |
| Checks already completed | Each observation or permitted adjustment, its time and whether the same pattern returned. |
Send the record to Indoor Golf Kit support with your order details. A repair or replacement decision should follow the model-specific diagnosis. If you are planning a different projector, confirm the lens position and mount again in the BenQ model and room-fit guide; a similar warning-light layout does not imply interchangeable installation dimensions.
Related guides
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