White powder coming out of bulb

[Martin Mitchel]

Is it normal that white powder comes out of the base of the bulb? I borrowed it from another projector, maybe it’s too old? I guess I have to vacuum the board?

[Joerg Polzfusz]

That stuff is normally inside the halogen bulb (inside the socket). I would replace the bulb as it’s very likely that the remaining „powder“ is going to crumble out of the bulb. And then, it might scratch some films.
(I suspect that the „stuff“ is some kind of porcelain as heat/electricity isolation.)

[Brian Fretwell]

Yes it what keeps the filament in correct position when attacching the halogen capsule to the reflector. It is subject to extreme heat so if the formulation is even a little out it will powder.