Epson R200 - red diodes flashing problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter H.Henkler
  • Start date Start date
H

H.Henkler

Hello,
the other day I replaced all 6 ink cartridges by new ones. Ink jet pattern check and
counters (full) were OK.
Today, when I tried to print a page the two red error diodes came on flashing
synchroniously.
Paper feeding is OK. CD-printing device closed and OK. No paper obstructing the
printing head travel .
Turning the printer off and on results in the usual ink wasting initializing procedure
and comes again to a hold with the two red diodes flashing and the green diode going
dark.
Any idea what could make the printer behave like this?

Herb Henkler
 
The paper and ink LEDs can blink in three different manners:

Alternate blinking between them
Paper LED blinking with the Ink LED blinking faster
Both Paper and Ink LED blinking fast

From your description, I am assuming you are dealing with the first.

This indicates the waste pad is considered full of ink and requires
replacement. If the printer is under warranty, send it back to Epson.
If not, you need to bring it to a warranty/service depot and pay to have
the waste ink pads replaced and the software reset.

Art
 
Arthur said:
The paper and ink LEDs can blink in three different manners:

Alternate blinking between them
Paper LED blinking with the Ink LED blinking faster
Both Paper and Ink LED blinking fast

From your description, I am assuming you are dealing with the first.

This indicates the waste pad is considered full of ink and requires
replacement. If the printer is under warranty, send it back to Epson.
If not, you need to bring it to a warranty/service depot and pay to
have the waste ink pads replaced and the software reset.
Click to expand...


Why can't most people do that themselves?
 
Why can't most people do that themselves?
Click to expand...

Mostly because Epson no longer allows you to own the software that re-sets
the printer to a "empty waste" condition.

In the past (about when the Epson Stylus 600 series came out) you could
download it, but not anymore.
 
measekite said:
Why can't most people do that themselves?
Click to expand...

Because Epson - in their ultimate wisdom - made it as hard as they possibly
could to firstly get to the waste ink pads, secondly not making replacements
available and thirdly not giving users any way of resetting the waste ink
counter.

If you want to do it yourself its certainly possible though. Good luck with
trying to get into the printer without damaging the casing - poking it in
the right places will get the covers and all the mechanism that's in the way
of the waste pads off. You can then remove them, wash them out and dry them
for a few days before refitting, and then hope you can get the printer back
together in one piece without messing up the alignment too much.
SSC from http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml says it can reset the R200's
waste ink counter, but I've not tried it so you might also screw up your
eeprom settings as side effect.


Take note of the interesting caution in the R200's service manual though:


{quote]

For the existing Low End models, it is basically forbidden to remove
"Housing, Lower" from "Printer Mechanism". This is because the strength of
"Frame, Main" is not strong enough, therefore, "Frame, Main" may be
transformed when removing/ reinstalling it from/to "Housing, Lower". For
that reason, when replacing "Ink System" or "PF Motor", it is recommended to
replace not only "Housing, Lower" but also "Printer Mechanism".

For this printer, it is necessary that "Housing, Lower" be removed from
"Printer Mechanism" when replacing "Waste ink Pads" or "Ink System Unit".
Therefore, this chapter specifies the disassembly/assembly of "Printer
Mechanism" which "Housing, Lower" has been taken out in order to secure the
quality of the repaired items.

[/quote]
 
If you want to do it yourself its certainly possible though. Good luck with
trying to get into the printer without damaging the casing - poking it in
the right places will get the covers and all the mechanism that's in the way
of the waste pads off. You can then remove them, wash them out and dry them
for a few days before refitting, and then hope you can get the printer back
together in one piece without messing up the alignment too much.
SSC from http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml says it can reset the R200's
waste ink counter, but I've not tried it so you might also screw up your
eeprom settings as side effect.
Click to expand...


The SSC utility worked fine for me without screwing anything up.

On a Canon (through the i960 anyway) it can be done with a give sequence of
"button presses" on the printer, though I dont remember what the presses are
off the top of my head.
 
Arthur said:
The paper and ink LEDs can blink in three different manners:

Alternate blinking between them
Paper LED blinking with the Ink LED blinking faster
Both Paper and Ink LED blinking fast

From your description, I am assuming you are dealing with the first.

This indicates the waste pad is considered full of ink and requires
replacement. If the printer is under warranty, send it back to Epson.
If not, you need to bring it to a warranty/service depot and pay to have
the waste ink pads replaced and the software reset.

Art
Click to expand...

Hello, Art,
both red LEDs were blinking FAST and SYNCHRONOUSLY. Since the printer is 2 months old
(new) only and I have consumed only one set of cartridges so far the ink pad (counter
resp.) cannot be full. The third party cartridges I have installed are from Pelikan
(Germany), a supplier with a good reputation. Pelikan gives a compatibility warranty for
their cartridges.
So I took the Epson R200 printer to the dealer today. They checked the printer and will
have it fixed under warranty.

But I still wonder was is going on ???!

Herb
 
I was told this person is actually dealing with the 3rd situation, so he
is getting it replaced under warranty (the third condition means a
problem with the head carriage or paper feed motor)


But, to answer your question, the reason people can't replace the waste
ink pads themselves is because:

The pads are usually under the whole printer mechanism, requiring a
major dismantling

The EEPROM reset requires propriety software to reset it

Some of these ink pads are cut specially to fit correctly


And why is it done that way rather than either using a waste ink bottle
or a tray that comes out and you just put in a new pad? IMHO it's so
Epson service stations can make money on it, or people will toss the
printer because the cost to do this repair is often close to half the
price of the printer.


IMHO it's just a scam.


Art
 
Just a slight correction. Until quite recently, there wasn't really
anything to download, in terms of resetting the waste ink pad
"protection numbers". It was just a matter of holding down the right
sequence of front panel switches and buttons.

Recent printers from Epson now require a software program to reset the
firmware for this purpose, and that isn't readily available to others
than official service depots.

It is a dirty trick IMHO, and might even not be legal.

Art
 
When I read this posting I was wondering what this person might be
smoking, until I referred to both the R200 and R300/310 manual
disassembly instructions from Epson.

The quote is indeed accurate, and it makes me angry. Basically, they
are stating that the printer is not repairable, because it is so flimsy
in design. You can't even safely replace the waste ink pads without
replacing half of the printer.

Based upon that, I can not recommend people buy these printers.


Art

Ivor said:
Arthur Entlich wrote:




Why can't most people do that themselves?
Click to expand...


Because Epson - in their ultimate wisdom - made it as hard as they possibly
could to firstly get to the waste ink pads, secondly not making replacements
available and thirdly not giving users any way of resetting the waste ink
counter.

If you want to do it yourself its certainly possible though. Good luck with
trying to get into the printer without damaging the casing - poking it in
the right places will get the covers and all the mechanism that's in the way
of the waste pads off. You can then remove them, wash them out and dry them
for a few days before refitting, and then hope you can get the printer back
together in one piece without messing up the alignment too much.
SSC from http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml says it can reset the R200's
waste ink counter, but I've not tried it so you might also screw up your
eeprom settings as side effect.


Take note of the interesting caution in the R200's service manual though:


{quote]

For the existing Low End models, it is basically forbidden to remove
"Housing, Lower" from "Printer Mechanism". This is because the strength of
"Frame, Main" is not strong enough, therefore, "Frame, Main" may be
transformed when removing/ reinstalling it from/to "Housing, Lower". For
that reason, when replacing "Ink System" or "PF Motor", it is recommended to
replace not only "Housing, Lower" but also "Printer Mechanism".

For this printer, it is necessary that "Housing, Lower" be removed from
"Printer Mechanism" when replacing "Waste ink Pads" or "Ink System Unit".
Therefore, this chapter specifies the disassembly/assembly of "Printer
Mechanism" which "Housing, Lower" has been taken out in order to secure the
quality of the repaired items.
Click to expand...
[/QUOTE]
 
I've responded in private email, and in another earlier posting with the
same subject heading.

Art

H.Henkler wrote:
 
Just a slight correction. Until quite recently, there wasn't really
anything to download, in terms of resetting the waste ink pad
"protection numbers". It was just a matter of holding down the right
sequence of front panel switches and buttons.

Recent printers from Epson now require a software program to reset the
firmware for this purpose, and that isn't readily available to others
than official service depots.

It is a dirty trick IMHO, and might even not be legal.

Art

I probably miss-remembered, there was a LONG period where I wasnt buying
anything Epson.

I do know that the SSC utility works for re-setting the waste ink numbers if
you use it before the printer gets to the maximum and locks up.

I dont know if it will work after the lock-up though.
Click to expand...
 
Arthur Entlich said:
When I read this posting I was wondering what this person might be
smoking, until I referred to both the R200 and R300/310 manual
disassembly instructions from Epson.

The quote is indeed accurate, and it makes me angry. Basically, they
are stating that the printer is not repairable, because it is so flimsy
in design. You can't even safely replace the waste ink pads without
replacing half of the printer.

Based upon that, I can not recommend people buy these printers.


Art
Click to expand...

I recommend the exact opposite.

In fact, I say, stock up on them.

You can buy a 200 at sams with a full set of carts for $79. A set of carts only
at sams is $59.

So, for about the cost of shipping the printer somewhere for service, you can
load your closet with ready-to-go replacements that need no shipping or labor
charges. Is this not a no-brainer?

[Also handy if you misplace that pesky CD carrier...]
 
Based on my understanding of what Art said above; is he now saying not
to buy the R2/300 series? Is he saying that in that price range the
Canon IP4000, even with its possible ink fading problems (in 6 months I
have not seen any evidence of it) is the best value and the one to buy?
I recommend the exact opposite.

In fact, I say, stock up on them.

You can buy a 200 at sams with a full set of carts for $79. A set of carts only
at sams is $59.

So, for about the cost of shipping the printer somewhere for service, you can
load your closet with ready-to-go replacements that need no shipping or labor
charges. Is this not a no-brainer?
Click to expand...

Why stockup, the replacement for them with improved technology will most
likely be the same price.
[Also handy if you misplace that pesky CD carrier...]
Click to expand...
 
measekite said:
Why stockup, the replacement for them with improved technology will most
likely be the same price.
Click to expand...

because the stock-up price is about $20 each. The new price will likely never
be that low.

[uh, the no-brainer part of the cost equation?]
 
Yeah, it's a no brainer for someone with no brains ;-)

Or at least no regard for the environment, which comes pretty close to
no brains.

You know cost isn't the only consideration a person should have when
making a purchasing decision.

Art
When I read this posting I was wondering what this person might be
smoking, until I referred to both the R200 and R300/310 manual
disassembly instructions from Epson.

The quote is indeed accurate, and it makes me angry. Basically, they
are stating that the printer is not repairable, because it is so flimsy
in design. You can't even safely replace the waste ink pads without
replacing half of the printer.

Based upon that, I can not recommend people buy these printers.


Art
Click to expand...


I recommend the exact opposite.

In fact, I say, stock up on them.

You can buy a 200 at sams with a full set of carts for $79. A set of carts only
at sams is $59.

So, for about the cost of shipping the printer somewhere for service, you can
load your closet with ready-to-go replacements that need no shipping or labor
charges. Is this not a no-brainer?

[Also handy if you misplace that pesky CD carrier...]
Click to expand...
 
Based upon what I have now read in the service manuals for these
printers, they are designed as disposable printers, and I cannot
recommend them. I would instead suggest another printer. Depending
upon the use, the C86 or R800 series printers might be appropriate. If
the person is producing CDs and, requires a printer than prints to them,
I suggest the R800, as I do not believe in N.A. there is a Canon product
that offers that. If that is not required, one of the C or CX, or maybe
RX printers/ all in ones may be more appropriate, depending on their
design. That would depend upon the ability to repair or reset the
printers after they reach their protection numbers.

I do not know what the story is with the Canon printers, regarding how
they deal with waste ink, pad replacement etc. They too become
"disposable" when the head replacement costs nearly the replacement cost
(including new ink cartridges, which come with a new printer).

I think any inkjet printer that becomes cheaper to replace when ink runs
out or when a known "consumable" fails or gets used up (be it a head,
waste ink pads, etc) such that repair is almost as costly as
replacement, and the printer has this built into it as a design element,
should be ignored by consumers, regardless of the brand.

Art


Based on my understanding of what Art said above; is he now saying not
to buy the R2/300 series? Is he saying that in that price range the
Canon IP4000, even with its possible ink fading problems (in 6 months I
have not seen any evidence of it) is the best value and the one to buy?
I recommend the exact opposite.

In fact, I say, stock up on them.

You can buy a 200 at sams with a full set of carts for $79. A set of
carts only
at sams is $59.

So, for about the cost of shipping the printer somewhere for service,
you can
load your closet with ready-to-go replacements that need no shipping
or labor
charges. Is this not a no-brainer?
Click to expand...

Why stockup, the replacement for them with improved technology will most
likely be the same price.
[Also handy if you misplace that pesky CD carrier...]
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Based upon what I have now read in the service manuals for these
printers, they are designed as disposable printers, and I cannot
recommend them. I would instead suggest another printer. Depending
upon the use, the C86 or R800 series printers might be appropriate. If
the person is producing CDs and, requires a printer than prints to them,
I suggest the R800, as I do not believe in N.A. there is a Canon product
that offers that. If that is not required, one of the C or CX, or maybe
RX printers/ all in ones may be more appropriate, depending on their
design. That would depend upon the ability to repair or reset the
printers after they reach their protection numbers.

I do not know what the story is with the Canon printers, regarding how
they deal with waste ink, pad replacement etc. They too become
"disposable" when the head replacement costs nearly the replacement cost
(including new ink cartridges, which come with a new printer).

I think any inkjet printer that becomes cheaper to replace when ink runs
out or when a known "consumable" fails or gets used up (be it a head,
waste ink pads, etc) such that repair is almost as costly as
replacement, and the printer has this built into it as a design element,
should be ignored by consumers, regardless of the brand.

Art


SamSez wrote:



When I read this posting I was wondering what this person might be
smoking, until I referred to both the R200 and R300/310 manual
disassembly instructions from Epson.

The quote is indeed accurate, and it makes me angry. Basically, they
are stating that the printer is not repairable, because it is so flimsy
in design. You can't even safely replace the waste ink pads without
replacing half of the printer.

Based upon that, I can not recommend people buy these printers.



Based on my understanding of what Art said above; is he now saying not
to buy the R2/300 series? Is he saying that in that price range the
Canon IP4000, even with its possible ink fading problems (in 6 months I
have not seen any evidence of it) is the best value and the one to buy?


Art




I recommend the exact opposite.

In fact, I say, stock up on them.

You can buy a 200 at sams with a full set of carts for $79. A set of
carts only
at sams is $59.

So, for about the cost of shipping the printer somewhere for service,
you can
load your closet with ready-to-go replacements that need no shipping
or labor
charges. Is this not a no-brainer?



Why stockup, the replacement for them with improved technology will most
likely be the same price.

[Also handy if you misplace that pesky CD carrier...]
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

I would prefer the Epson Stylus Photo 2200 for $700, which prints photos and
cd/dvd discs, but I already have the Epson Stylus Photo 1280, which I paid
$400.00 for a couple of years ago. Since I only needed to print cd/dvd
discs, the Epson R200 was the ideal choice, since the 1280 still prints
photos very well. Eventually, I¹ll probably get the 2200, but it¹s
impractical for me right now. Epson will send you a new cd/dvd tray if the
tray on the printer stops working. Mine would no longer go into the
printer, but with the new tray, it¹s working again. BTW, I¹ve only replaced
the ink cartridges once, and that was after 6 months and printing 60 cd/dvd
discs.
 
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