If you continue to get significant heat output from the laser when it
is apparently inactive, the fuser (which is the most power-hungry
component) is probably staying hot, it is continuing to use a fair
amount of power, and it would probably be worthwhile turning it off f
you don't plan to use it for a while. Usually, "sleep mode" powers
down the fuser and only leaves enough electronics on to respond
appropriately to a print attempt - the delay that ensues is largely
spent heating up the fuser..
The "laser" is only on while the printer is printing a page. In any
event, semiconductor lasers are reasonably rugged - that's what is
doing the work in a CD player, where it is on all the time the player
is playing.
Thanks, guys
My concerns are the heat output through the vent at the side of the machine,
which is considerable, and when the machine is on is the laser active? I
understand the laser can wear out quickly.
Please respond to the Newsgroup, so that others may benefit from the exchange.
Peter R. Fletcher