Epson Photo 870 problems

  • Thread starter Thread starter SS
  • Start date Start date
S

SS

When I switch the printer on all the 3 red lights and green on/off light
flash together and it won't print. I have tried disconnecting the power and
USB and reconnecting but no luck. When switching off with the on/off button
nothing happens for about 2 minutes (lights still flash) then it goes off.

Whjat could be the problem and how to getr round it? If it is f****d then
what printer is recommended as a replacement that is photo quality and can
easily be refilled? I wouldn't touch a Lexmark after previous experience
with £30 cartridges!!
 
SS said:
When I switch the printer on all the 3 red lights and green on/off light
flash together and it won't print. I have tried disconnecting the power and
USB and reconnecting but no luck. When switching off with the on/off button
nothing happens for about 2 minutes (lights still flash) then it goes off.

Whjat could be the problem and how to getr round it? If it is f****d then
what printer is recommended as a replacement that is photo quality and can
easily be refilled? I wouldn't touch a Lexmark after previous experience
with £30 cartridges!!
Click to expand...

This light combination is a "Maintenance Request". It means that the waste ink
counter has reached its limit.
You can check if this is the case as follows:-

Power Off
Press and hold the Load/Eject and Cleaning buttons.
Power on
The Paper Out light will blink for 3 seconds. Release the buttons.
While the light is blinking, press and hold the Cleaning button for more than
10 seconds.
Power off and then power on.

If the problem goes away then it was the waste ink counter.
If that works you should, in my experience, be OK until the next time this
happens; at that time the waste ink pads must be replaced or cleaned.
Tony
 
Tony said:
This light combination is a "Maintenance Request". It means that the waste ink
counter has reached its limit.
You can check if this is the case as follows:-

Power Off
Press and hold the Load/Eject and Cleaning buttons.
Power on
The Paper Out light will blink for 3 seconds. Release the buttons.
While the light is blinking, press and hold the Cleaning button for more than
10 seconds.
Power off and then power on.

If the problem goes away then it was the waste ink counter.
If that works you should, in my experience, be OK until the next time this
happens; at that time the waste ink pads must be replaced or cleaned.
Tony
Click to expand...

Hey thanks! It didn't quite work like you said - in fact I had to hold the
'cleaning' button rather than the paper button (you gave me the clue) but
its now cured!! Perhaps I should put some newspaper under it in case ink
starts overflowing but I reckon the thing has a good factor of safety built
in.
 
SS said:
Hey thanks! It didn't quite work like you said - in fact I had to hold the
'cleaning' button rather than the paper button (you gave me the clue) but
its now cured!! Perhaps I should put some newspaper under it in case ink
starts overflowing but I reckon the thing has a good factor of safety built
in.
Click to expand...

Pleased to hear it but I'm not sure that I really said "Paper" button did I?????
Best wishes
Tony
 
Thats right - must be getting late and its been a very hot day! You were
absolutely right in the first place - time I went to bed!!!

Thanks again, really helpful.
 
Just to add a small bit on what Tony stated, all Epson printers have a
designated amount of ink that the company considers "safe" for the waste
ink pads to handle before they may begin to leak. This number is rather
conservative, especially with dye ink printers, because it is based upon
the rare possibility that all the ink is accumulated at once due to a
malfunctioning cleaning cycle causing the printer to continuously run a
cleaning cycle. In such a consideration, the ink could build up into a
river of waste ink and that could leak out of the printer.

The more likely scenario, however, is for the waste ink pads to get
slowly filled up over a year or more, from cleaning cycles and start up
cycles. Under those circumstances, at least half the ink volume is lost
over time to evaporation of the volatiles like water, alcohol and even
glycols. In such a case, it is probably fair to get one reset and full
cycle extra of the waste ink pads before they should be replaced.

The main risk should they overfill, is the ink can begin to leak out of
the bottom of the printer onto furniture, carpets, etc.

Art
 
I suggest just that, and placing it on a cafeteria lunch try or
equivalent for safety, or at least some plastic film of some type.

SS wrote:
 
Arthur Entlich said:
Just to add a small bit on what Tony stated, all Epson printers have a
designated amount of ink that the company considers "safe" for the waste
ink pads to handle before they may begin to leak. This number is rather
conservative, especially with dye ink printers, because it is based upon
the rare possibility that all the ink is accumulated at once due to a
malfunctioning cleaning cycle causing the printer to continuously run a
cleaning cycle. In such a consideration, the ink could build up into a
river of waste ink and that could leak out of the printer.

The more likely scenario, however, is for the waste ink pads to get
slowly filled up over a year or more, from cleaning cycles and start up
cycles. Under those circumstances, at least half the ink volume is lost
over time to evaporation of the volatiles like water, alcohol and even
glycols. In such a case, it is probably fair to get one reset and full
cycle extra of the waste ink pads before they should be replaced.

The main risk should they overfill, is the ink can begin to leak out of
the bottom of the printer onto furniture, carpets, etc.

Art
Click to expand...

I'll bet you have no luck in purchasing replacement pads! I guess anything
'felty' would do if cut to shape
 
SS said:
I'll bet you have no luck in purchasing replacement pads! I guess anything
'felty' would do if cut to shape
Click to expand...

Repair agents can get the pads, not sure about other folks.
Carpet underfelt works well.
Tony
 
The replacement pads are available for most Epson printers from sources
that sell Epson parts, but they do add up, since there are several used
in each printer. Yes, things like disposable diapers can work in a pinch.

The better answer for many is to feed the waste ink tube outside the
printer and into a bottle and just watch the bottle and replace it as
needed, and reset the printer waste ink protection numbers as required.

Unfortunately, Epson's newer printer cannot be reset by the front panel.
You can either try the Russian reset program found at:

http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml

Or you may be stuck if you cannot locate the proprietary software from
Epson that the service depots use.

Art
 
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