Question about the Epson Stylus CX6400

[Nathan Gutman]

I have set this printer to use "Black Ink Only" and print documents in
black only. In spite of that the printer seems to deplete the color
cartridges too.
Where are the color inks going if I print only in black?
Is there a way prevent that?
Thanks,

 

[Jan Alter]

I have set this printer to use "Black Ink Only" and print documents in
black only. In spite of that the printer seems to deplete the color
cartridges too.
Where are the color inks going if I print only in black?
Is there a way prevent that?
Thanks,

The printer is programmed as a safeguard through the firmware to fire the
jets and use a little ink from both black and color jets to make sure they
are clear and don't clog. This also occurs on shutdown as well, and on
cleanings.
Unfortunately this procedure cannot be changed and whether or not you
set the printer not to use color there will always be some color ink usage.
Eventually, after multiple turn ons and shut downs the chips on the
cartridge will indicate that the colors are low and indicate that new
cartridges are needed, even though you may have never actually printed even
one color print.
If it brings you any solace at all, by the design of the printer it is
preferable to use the ink than to risk the clogging. Yes, I know it's
expensive and wasteful.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Unfortunately, all printers do some type of cleaning or purging process
each time they are turned on, or after a certain printing period.

Most inkjet printers made today use one purging/cleaning station that
covers all the heads at the same time, so with each cleaning or purging
cycle, all the heads are cleaned and purged at the same time, meaning a
lot of colored inks are used up even if they are not printing.

Therefore, all inks are used even if you aren't printing with them.

There are no perfect solutions to this. If you will only be printing
with black ink, you can consider buying a chip resetter, and filling the
color cartridges with a inexpensive cleaning fluid, which will keep the
color heads unclogged, but won;t cost a lot to keep filled and refilled,
and will protect the color heads from major clogging. However, you
won;t be able to print in color without replacing those cartridges with
real color ones.

Unfortunately, I don;t know of any other method to keep the printer
printing, nor the heads functional.

Art