replacing ink cartridges

[pcandpc]

Hi,

Copying neither in black nor in color worked from a multipurpose

inkjet printer, so I ended up replacing both the old black and color

cartridges with new ones.

But, from the old color cartridge, the ink was still coming off on contact.

Then, why copying in color didn't work?

Maybe, because the black ink has run up first, the printer wouldn't even

try printing in color at all? Is this it? I am thinking that if one cartridge (color)

still has some ink left, copying in color should at least work. Right?

Thanks.

[Glenn9999]

A few things to remember about inkjet printers:

1) Most companies that sell them operate under the Gillette model. Basically sell the printer at a loss and charge a premium for the ink cartridges. Consequently, they have a vested interest in making you go through ink cartridges as quickly as possible, too, and not buy generics or refill. You will see these printer companies suing the makers of the third-party generics for claimed patent infringements. Hence, you get things like these monitors on printers which tell you when a inkjet cartridge is out or not, which is what you are encountering.

(http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20060501/1145244.shtml )

The problem with them, though, is that they will go off long before the ink is truly out, and will go off on even one color being gone (the multi-color cartridge is a great racket for that, too, I've seen many of those that were "empty" that had only one color gone and the rest full) and stop printing. This is pretty much universal. For example, on this inkjet printer sitting here (Canon S600), I can "replace" a cartridge with itself 3 or 4 times before it will truly be out, and can even print when it is out (though with poor results). You might be able to do this with yours if you still see ink in the cartridge (YMMV of course on newer things, since I'm sure they want to lock down their racket). My previous printer (HP 540) was the same way.

In other words, don't believe the software monitor.

2) Another function of this mess in #1 is that they will run an abominably excessive amount of ink through for no particular reason (i.e. waste it). If you take an inkjet printer apart (I did with the 540 to try to clean the head), you will find a rather large sponge that will be soaking in ink. This is how a inkjet printer cleans itself, both on the cycle before it begins and when you select a "cleaning" option.

The best thing with this Canon S600 that attracted me to it was the removable cart (along with the single color carts) - I clean the heads myself and get them cleaner than the printer would by wasting ink. The added benefit is that you can get to the heads to clean them without a service call or replacing the printer or doing what I did with the HP 540. I figure half (or more) of any ink that is in a ink cartridge is wasted.

Refrain from using the clean option and clean the heads yourself when it is needed.

3) Another thing that contributes to waste of ink is the color setting options for black print. Most printers will typically use ALL your ink colors when it prints black, unless the setting is made to not do that (assuming you are lucky enough to have a printer that even has that setting). And the setting won't "stick" when you make it.

Check if there is a "use only black ink" setting when you print and turn it off each time. Or if you buy a new printer, try to check into this issue

But overall...

But, from the old color cartridge, the ink was still coming off on contact.

Then, why copying in color didn't work?

Because the detection software decided that one of your ink cartridges was out.

Maybe, because the black ink has run up first, the printer wouldn't even

try printing in color at all? Is this it? I am thinking that if one cartridge (color)

still has some ink left, copying in color should at least work. Right?

Yes (assuming it has even run out), and no it won't work without one of the colors because they want you to run right out and buy a new cartridge ASAP.

The moral of the story, as it is with any capitalist enterprise...anything to get...

Edited March 11, 2008 by Glenn9999

[MikeyHunt]

Hi,

Copying neither in black nor in color worked from a multipurpose

inkjet printer, so I ended up replacing both the old black and color

cartridges with new ones.

But, from the old color cartridge, the ink was still coming off on contact.

Then, why copying in color didn't work?

Maybe, because the black ink has run up first, the printer wouldn't even

try printing in color at all? Is this it? I am thinking that if one cartridge (color)

still has some ink left, copying in color should at least work. Right?

Thanks.

Most of the 'ink jet' low end printers on the market, made by the usual suspects: HP, Lexmark.. etc ...have sensors in the ink cartridge casing that prevent the printer from operating once, one or the other or both cartridges are 'almost' out of ink.

The theory being that they don't want you to be in the middle of printing something, when the damm cartridge runs completely out.

I think they just want to sell you more ink cartridges quicker., but maybe that's just me.

One way to get around this dual-cartridge-printer-wont-work-if one-is-out 'feature' is to go into> printer> properties and choose colors to print in> greyscale setting

Be sure to do this before the color cartridge can trigger the 'out' sensor.

In most cases you will be able operate the printer in 'black cartridge function mode' independently of the color cartridge by doing this. So you will only need to buy the 'black' (usually cheaper & longer lasting) cartridge from now on.

I have the color cartridge still in - from the original buy - doing this on my HP 3915..but have replaced the black one several times.

Edited March 11, 2008 by MikeyHunt

[Guest mdrizwan]

HP PRINTER CARTRIDGE:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/fastFaq...deUrl=true&

EPSON CARTRIDGE:

1ST STYLE PRINTER

http://support2.epson.net/manuals/english/...REF_G/INK_1.HTM

2ND STYLE PRINTER

http://files.support.epson.com/htmldocs/ph...22_rf/ink_2.htm