HP Laserjet 4000 toner capacities - how to find amt left

[Dave Stone]

I have two Laserjet 4000 toner carts (used), and own a Laserjet 4000N
printer. Is there any way I can get an estimate on the toner level left
using this printer? The user manual did not contain such info IIRC.

Were there any HP printers in this series that allowed this info to be
checked?

 

[Dave Stone]

Were there any HP printers in this series that allowed this info to be
checked?

Correction, were there any LJ printers in this series that used these same
toner carts and allowed the capacity to be checked?

 

[Tony]

Correction, were there any LJ printers in this series that used these same
toner carts and allowed the capacity to be checked?

Dave
The 4000 does not report remaining toner.
The 4050 which uses the same cartridge does report toner level on the
configuration page, sometimes not very accurately because the sensor wire is
prone to being bent.
Tony

 

[Warren Block]

I have two Laserjet 4000 toner carts (used), and own a Laserjet 4000N
printer. Is there any way I can get an estimate on the toner level left
using this printer? The user manual did not contain such info IIRC.

Were there any HP printers in this series that allowed this info to be
checked?

The printer test page has a gas-gauge graph of toner remaining. It's an
estimate. Use the menus to tell the printer that you've loaded new
toner, but it still may not be very accurate.

 

[Warren Block]

Correction, were there any LJ printers in this series that used these same
toner carts and allowed the capacity to be checked?

Both the LJ4000 and 4050 have the same self-test page showing a toner
available estimate. I've read that the C4127X toner will also work in
the LJ4100, but have never tried that.

 

[Tony]

Both the LJ4000 and 4050 have the same self-test page showing a toner
available estimate. I've read that the C4127X toner will also work in
the LJ4100, but have never tried that.

The LJ4000's I have have a different self-test page to the 4050, I don't have
an explanation for that unless it is to do with year of manufacture. My service
manual confirms this.
The LJ4100 and 4000 cartridges differ in two respects, the 4100 cartridges have
two extra contacts which are to do with toner level reporting (I think) and not
of any real consequence. The other difference is subtle but important, there is
a different gear on the end of the drum, one of them has one extra tooth (from
memory 51 for the 4000 and 52 for the 4100, but I could be 1 tooth out), this
means that although the cartridges fit both printers there is a risk (prabably
a certainty over time) that damage will be done, for this reason I do not
recommend using the 4000 cart in a 4100 or the other way round). I have put a
4100 cart in a 4050 for very short periods (for testing) and can confirm that
it works but I can't say how long it would last.
Tony

 

[Marek Williams]

The 4000 does not report remaining toner.
The 4050 which uses the same cartridge does report toner level on the
configuration page, sometimes not very accurately because the sensor wire is
prone to being bent.

A better way would be to locate the weight specifications for the
cartridges when new and when empty, then just weigh your cartridge.
For example, I use WX engine Laserjets. The regular cartridges weigh
106 oz. full and 84.5 oz. empty. That's for genuine HP -A carts. The
-X carts weigh more when new, but the same when empty.

I got the specs for my carts somewhere on the net. But it was a long
time ago and I no longer know the URL.

 

[Tony]

A better way would be to locate the weight specifications for the
cartridges when new and when empty, then just weigh your cartridge.
For example, I use WX engine Laserjets. The regular cartridges weigh
106 oz. full and 84.5 oz. empty. That's for genuine HP -A carts. The
-X carts weigh more when new, but the same when empty.

I got the specs for my carts somewhere on the net. But it was a long
time ago and I no longer know the URL.

Why not, nice and simple. Only caution is that there are two weights of drum
used in the 4000/4050 (and other cartridges). The difference in weight is
between 70 and 90 grams if I remember correctly.
Tony