Epson status monitor 3 detects empty cartridge

[Soh]

I have an Epson Photo Stylus 895.
Since I changed the Colour cartridge I am informed the
level is empty and the cartridge is not Epson, and it
wont let me print even in Black.
The cartridge is brandnamed "think" and it specifically
mentions my printer amongst other Epsons for which it is
intended.
My Black ink cartridge is from the same supplier and it
is accepted as ok with the level indicated.
Do I have a broken cartridge, or is this problem known,
and is there a way around it?

Advent

 

[Tony]

I have an Epson Photo Stylus 895.
Since I changed the Colour cartridge I am informed the
level is empty and the cartridge is not Epson, and it
wont let me print even in Black.
The cartridge is brandnamed "think" and it specifically
mentions my printer amongst other Epsons for which it is
intended.
My Black ink cartridge is from the same supplier and it
is accepted as ok with the level indicated.
Do I have a broken cartridge, or is this problem known,
and is there a way around it?

Advent

This can anddoes happen when the contact splines (brittle metal contacts) at
theback of the cartridge housing are wet with ink. Cleaning is best with a
cotton bud and alcohol as needed- and also clean the chip. My 895 has done
this several times...
Tony

--
Inkylink JetTec UK Quality - Wot others wanna-be
Epson C64/ C84 Lighfast pigmented inks. R200/300,
RX500 (all with 30% more free patent chip)
Canon BCI-3 i560 i750 BCI-6 i865 S-820 / S-900 series.
Specialist ink refill kits... http://www.inkylink.co.uk
remove pants for personal mail

 

[Duncan]

I have an Epson Photo Stylus 895.
Since I changed the Colour cartridge I am informed the
level is empty and the cartridge is not Epson, and it
wont let me print even in Black.
The cartridge is brandnamed "think" and it specifically
mentions my printer amongst other Epsons for which it is
intended.
My Black ink cartridge is from the same supplier and it
is accepted as ok with the level indicated.
Do I have a broken cartridge, or is this problem known,
and is there a way around it?

Advent

Hi

You may want to keep an eye on this thread may be relevant to your
problem.

http://groups.google.com/[email protected]

 

[Thur]

Thanks to both posters for the help.
I tried dabbing alcohol on the contacts first.
There was some ink around this area, but I
could not detect anything on the swab when
applied directly.
Nothing worked, though. I looked at the contacts
on the cartridge which seemed in perfect condition.
I cleaned them, but had no luck.
I suspected that somehow the contacts were not touching
at all, in spite of my ascertaining the springing of the contacts
housed in the printer.
I changed the cartridge and found the new one worked.
The economy of alternative cartridges soon fades when
you have to throw one away.
Advent

 

[Arthur Entlich]

A few comments regarding the problem you've run up against

Firstly, any 3rd party ink seller should warrant that his cartridge will
work properly in the printer it is designed for, and should honor that
warranty.

Secondly, Epson cartridges, due to the cost involved at retail, has a
big problem developing with counterfeit cartridges. These cartridges
may be so exact in look that Epson itself can't tell. Recently, there
was a rash of seemingly Epson OEM cartridges that did not work in their
printers. Epson replaced them, but it is unclear if the problem was a
QC problem at their facility, or they are covering up for a
counterfeiter, because in the end it was cheaper to do that.

Thirdly, absolutely check to make sure the contacts within the printer
and the ones on the cartridge are clean, and that the cartridge, if
refilled, was reset in some fashion, because Epson printers will reject
a refilled cartridge if one forgets to reset the chip on the cartridge.

Never install a "chipped" type cartridge with its chip missing from the
cartridge, as they will often get caught on the contacts in the printer,
and they do break off easily, as I'm sure it will not be a happy
occurrence should it happen (Epson service depots charge quite a bit to
fix this).

Typically, the cartridge is at fault, if the contacts are clean and intact.

Art

 

[Duncan]

I tagged on a link to another related thread lower down and so far I'm
having no success with my photo 950. By way of elimination I shall
pick up a couple of genuine epson carts tommorrow and see how I get
on. I'm not holding my breath though.

If its nor the contacts and proves not to be the Jettec cart could it
be the ribbon from the head which presumably carries the info from the
chip/head contacts to the printers 'brain'? JUst a thought....

A few comments regarding the problem you've run up against

Firstly, any 3rd party ink seller should warrant that his cartridge will
work properly in the printer it is designed for, and should honor that
warranty.

Secondly, Epson cartridges, due to the cost involved at retail, has a
big problem developing with counterfeit cartridges. These cartridges
may be so exact in look that Epson itself can't tell. Recently, there
was a rash of seemingly Epson OEM cartridges that did not work in their
printers. Epson replaced them, but it is unclear if the problem was a
QC problem at their facility, or they are covering up for a
counterfeiter, because in the end it was cheaper to do that.

Thirdly, absolutely check to make sure the contacts within the printer
and the ones on the cartridge are clean, and that the cartridge, if
refilled, was reset in some fashion, because Epson printers will reject
a refilled cartridge if one forgets to reset the chip on the cartridge.

Never install a "chipped" type cartridge with its chip missing from the
cartridge, as they will often get caught on the contacts in the printer,
and t

hey do break off easily, as I'm sure it will not be a happy

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Hi Duncan,

It is less likely that the ribbon cable has suddenly failed or that its
contacts have been compromised. I would suspect more likely the
contact springs or chip contacts on the cartridge, or bad cartridges
(bad chips).

Let me know what happens when you try the Epson OEM carts.

Art