Canon i860 - Odd ink useage

[Billiebob]

Between the time I purchased my i860 in December and a few couple
weeks ago, I printed off lots of photos (mostly 4x6, a few letter
sized sheets), and the ink tanks hardly dropped. Then, after two
weeks of printing maybe six 4x6 photos, the tanks are down to 1/4
full. What happened?

 

[xNokia3390x]

Between the time I purchased my i860 in December and a few couple
weeks ago, I printed off lots of photos (mostly 4x6, a few letter
sized sheets), and the ink tanks hardly dropped. Then, after two
weeks of printing maybe six 4x6 photos, the tanks are down to 1/4
full. What happened?

The physical (i.e. you looked at it) tank level or the software estimate?

 

[Taliesyn]

Between the time I purchased my i860 in December and a few couple
weeks ago, I printed off lots of photos (mostly 4x6, a few letter
sized sheets), and the ink tanks hardly dropped. Then, after two
weeks of printing maybe six 4x6 photos, the tanks are down to 1/4
full. What happened?

Not much.

It's normal, I noticed the exact same thing. I'm guessing the sponge
is super-saturated at the beginning and doesn't need to draw from the
reserve tank in the back for a while. But once it begins drawing, the
level will noticeably begin dropping.

Anyway, I refill my own cartridges with bulk ink so I never have to
look "under the hood" any more. When I get a low ink warning for one I
simply change all three colors with my backup set. That way I'm not
interrupted three separate times for pit stops.

-Taliesyn

 

[Ron Cohen]

The ink indicator is only an approximation of ink used. Don't confuse it
with an actual indicator such the gas gauge on an automobile. Rather think
of it more as an indicator light. The only time the message is based upon
actual tank conditions is when the reservoir side is nearly empty. At that
point a light beam is projected through a prism in the bottom of the
cartridge and the low or out of ink indication is then shown. See the
following link for an illustration of the Think Tank system.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/canon_i860_pg2.html

 

[Billiebob]

The physical (i.e. you looked at it) tank level or the software estimate?

Physical...I don't pay attention to the software indicators, I look at
the actual tanks. No, it dropped from almost full to almost empty
after just a few printings.

 

[beezer]

Physical...I don't pay attention to the software indicators, I look at
the actual tanks. No, it dropped from almost full to almost empty
after just a few printings.

If you are sure you do not have a leak and a mess laying on your table
then its normal. You must have printed more than you thought perhaps.
Once the sponge starts calling from the tank (which takes a while) the
ink goes down in a rapid fasion.

 

[Billiebob]

If you are sure you do not have a leak and a mess laying on your table
then its normal. You must have printed more than you thought perhaps.
Once the sponge starts calling from the tank (which takes a while) the
ink goes down in a rapid fasion.

Okay, this sounds reasonable. Thanks.

 

[xNokia3390x]

If you are sure you do not have a leak and a mess laying on your table
then its normal. You must have printed more than you thought perhaps.
Once the sponge starts calling from the tank (which takes a while) the
ink goes down in a rapid fasion.

Yup, that is an excellent point. I noticed my black ink didn't go down for
a while. Just recently it started going down pretty fast since the sponge's
ink must've been used up.