New HP carts refillable?

T

tungley

Broke my reliable 940C, had to go for a new one (Deskjet 5440). HP rep I ran
into told me that the only way to get ink into the new carts is through the
heads, and any attempts in that regard will ruin the heads, and thus the cart. I
know that's the company line, but does anyone have any real world experience
refilling the new carts (90 series, specifically the 92 and 93)?

By the way, I have unused ink from before (for my 15 and 78 carts) (black, cyan,
magenta, yellow) that was purported to be compatible with any HP printer that
uses those colors. If my 92 and 93 carts ARE refillable, can I use that ink,
too?

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
T

TJ

tungley said:
Broke my reliable 940C, had to go for a new one (Deskjet 5440). HP rep I ran
into told me that the only way to get ink into the new carts is through the
heads, and any attempts in that regard will ruin the heads, and thus the cart. I
know that's the company line, but does anyone have any real world experience
refilling the new carts (90 series, specifically the 92 and 93)?

By the way, I have unused ink from before (for my 15 and 78 carts) (black, cyan,
magenta, yellow) that was purported to be compatible with any HP printer that
uses those colors. If my 92 and 93 carts ARE refillable, can I use that ink,
too?

Thanks in advance for any help.
I don't have any personal experience with those carts, so I really can't
say, one way or the other. But, a Google search of "refill HP 92 93"
(without the quotes, of course) will yield a fair amount of information
for you. It's a good place to start, anyway.

TJ
 
I

Inkjet

tungley said:
Broke my reliable 940C, had to go for a new one (Deskjet 5440). HP rep I ran
into told me that the only way to get ink into the new carts is through the
heads, and any attempts in that regard will ruin the heads, and thus the cart. I
know that's the company line, but does anyone have any real world experience
refilling the new carts (90 series, specifically the 92 and 93)?

By the way, I have unused ink from before (for my 15 and 78 carts) (black, cyan,
magenta, yellow) that was purported to be compatible with any HP printer that
uses those colors. If my 92 and 93 carts ARE refillable, can I use that ink,
too?

Thanks in advance for any help.

I just refilled the #98 black cartridge that came with the HP-2575
printer. I had to remove the label on the top of the cartridge to access
the fill hole. I used a syringe and needle to inject the ink into the
sponge. The cartridge works fine now but the printer's on-screen ink
level graphic doesn't recognize the cartridge as being full. There is
apparently no solution for this yet. (See my other post) I'm hoping some
hacker will find a way to reset the chip in the cartridge but in the
mean time I'll just make sure I don't run it dry. I wonder if that HP
rep' knew he was lying about refilling the 90-series or whether he was
telling you what he believed to be true?
 
F

Fenrir Enterprises

Broke my reliable 940C, had to go for a new one (Deskjet 5440). HP rep I ran
into told me that the only way to get ink into the new carts is through the
heads, and any attempts in that regard will ruin the heads, and thus the cart. I
know that's the company line, but does anyone have any real world experience
refilling the new carts (90 series, specifically the 92 and 93)?

By the way, I have unused ink from before (for my 15 and 78 carts) (black, cyan,
magenta, yellow) that was purported to be compatible with any HP printer that
uses those colors. If my 92 and 93 carts ARE refillable, can I use that ink,
too?

Thanks in advance for any help.

If I were you, I'd take the printer back. The 5440 only takes the
microscopic 92 and 93 cartridges. I know it was a 'good deal', but the
cartridges are only good for about 100 pages, less if you do photos.
You will spend hundreds of dollars more than you saved on the printer
buying ink every other week. Even if you're refilling, you'll go crazy
having to refill it all the time, and you risk burning out the
printhead because it's more likely to run out of ink before you notice
it. They /can/ be filled through the top.

http://www.refillinstructions.com/HP/H26.htm

The 5940 takes the 96 and 97, which are not resettable, but are nearly
4x larger than the 92 and 93. The Canon iP4200 also takes nicely sized
ink cartridges that are easy to refill (but also not resettable).

I have been seeing a lot of 940c printers die recently, I think the
drive belts are all wearing out. Considering the age of the printers,
I'd say they gave a pretty good value.

---

http://www.FenrirOnline.com

Computer services, custom metal etching,
arts, crafts, and much more.
 
J

Johann Backer

On Tue, 23 May 2006 01:30:15 +0000, Inkjet wrote: The cartridge works fine
now but the printer's on-screen ink level
graphic doesn't recognize the cartridge as being full. There is
apparently no solution for this yet. (See my other post) I'm hoping some
hacker will find a way to reset the chip in the cartridge but in the
mean time I'll just make sure I don't run it dry.

That is accomplished by removing and re-inseting both the battery and the
cartridge--- BUT I don't remember . . in what order. There was a post on
this, several months back. Giganews probably has that post, but locating
it in, I assume, over one million text messages would be a
"nightmare-in-hell".

I did not save it as I use Staples Re-manufactured: however

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1040_22-5737561.html

If Staples settled with HP, the cost will increase OR they will obtain ink
from a fifth world country. :-(

Now where will I, and others, obtain . . . QUALITY ink or remanfactured
cartridges: at a reasonable--- cost???
 
E

Ed Light

The 5940 takes the 96 and 97, which are not resettable, but are nearly
4x larger than the 92 and 93.

The 96 is rated at 800 pages. The printer comes with a 98 rated at 400
pages. I've used about half of one and it may be accurate.

I like mine very much. One thing I don't like is the .6" bottom margin for
documents.

I ordered refill kits from maxpatchink.com. Had good luck with their carts
on my Epson C-64; they all worked and didn't clog up worse than the Epson
ink. The one-year guarantee is unusual.

http://www.maxpatchink.com/hp9495.shtml
--
Ed Light

Smiley :-/
MS Smiley :-\

Send spam to the FTC at
(e-mail address removed)
Thanks, robots.

Bring the Troops Home:
http://bringthemhomenow.org
 
F

Fenrir Enterprises

The 96 is rated at 800 pages. The printer comes with a 98 rated at 400
pages. I've used about half of one and it may be accurate.

I like mine very much. One thing I don't like is the .6" bottom margin for
documents.

That's been common for many HP printers, even the more expensive ones
(one of the few reasons I keep half considering ditching the 1100d), I
suspect it has to be something to do with the 180 degree paper path
that they are probably using the same feed mechanism for. While I
don't expect a business printer to be borderless, the giant bottom
margin makes designing newsletters and especially brochures, very
annoying.

I've seen the instructions for some of the newer HP business printers
say that you can go into the driver and select 'Minimize Margins' to
get a .15" margin rather than a .55" margin. Have you tried going in
and seeing if there's a setting like that anywhere? From what I
remember, it's buried pretty deeply in the settings.

---

http://www.FenrirOnline.com

Computer services, custom metal etching,
arts, crafts, and much more.
 
E

Ed Light

I like mine very much. One thing I don't like is the .6" bottom margin for
That's been common for many HP printers
I've seen the instructions for some of the newer HP business printers
say that you can go into the driver and select 'Minimize Margins' to
get a .15" margin rather than a .55" margin. Have you tried going in
and seeing if there's a setting like that anywhere? From what I
remember, it's buried pretty deeply in the settings.

Thanks, I checked and it isn't there. I was able to define a Letter size
borderless custom paper, but it didn't work in practice.

--
Ed Light

Smiley :-/
MS Smiley :-\

Send spam to the FTC at
(e-mail address removed)
Thanks, robots.

Bring the Troops Home:
http://bringthemhomenow.org
 
T

tungley

If I were you, I'd take the printer back. The 5440 only takes the
microscopic 92 and 93 cartridges. I know it was a 'good deal', but the
cartridges are only good for about 100 pages, less if you do photos.
You will spend hundreds of dollars more than you saved on the printer
buying ink every other week. Even if you're refilling, you'll go crazy
having to refill it all the time, and you risk burning out the
printhead because it's more likely to run out of ink before you notice
it. They /can/ be filled through the top.

http://www.refillinstructions.com/HP/H26.htm

The 5940 takes the 96 and 97, which are not resettable, but are nearly
4x larger than the 92 and 93. The Canon iP4200 also takes nicely sized
ink cartridges that are easy to refill (but also not resettable).

Thanks for the help. I was kind of stuck getting the 5440, since that was the
only non-all-in-one they had at the store I was in, and I had to make a decision
immediately (they were allowing me a return with no receipt on something else,
etc, etc, etc). Since I already have a copier and scanner on my desk, I wanted
to stick with just a printer. I haven't yet opened the box, and it looks I can
exchange this one for something else at another local store that has a much more
extensive selection of non-all-in-one printers (both HP and Canon).

Would you suggest the 5940 (I saw that one at this other store), or is there
another one you think would be the all-around best value for simple home
printing (I don't even do photos) for someone who would like to continue
refilling? Any suggestions welcome.
I have been seeing a lot of 940c printers die recently, I think the
drive belts are all wearing out. Considering the age of the printers,
I'd say they gave a pretty good value.

In my case, it was still going strong --it just couldn't handle a four foot
drop to the floor, right on it's back. :)
 
F

Fenrir Enterprises

Thanks for the help. I was kind of stuck getting the 5440, since that was the
only non-all-in-one they had at the store I was in, and I had to make a decision
immediately (they were allowing me a return with no receipt on something else,
etc, etc, etc). Since I already have a copier and scanner on my desk, I wanted
to stick with just a printer. I haven't yet opened the box, and it looks I can
exchange this one for something else at another local store that has a much more
extensive selection of non-all-in-one printers (both HP and Canon).

Would you suggest the 5940 (I saw that one at this other store), or is there
another one you think would be the all-around best value for simple home
printing (I don't even do photos) for someone who would like to continue
refilling? Any suggestions welcome.

I don't have direct experience with some of these printers but I've
read reviews online and helped customers who have one:

If you're planning on doing massive amounts of printing, you should
get one of HP's Business Inkjet/Officejet models, such as the 1200d
(discontinued but available on eBay, you can get auto-reset refillable
cartridges from MIS) or the K550 (newer, smaller margins, lacks
refillable cartridges so far, may have paper feed problems with
thinner stock). You can refill the standard cartridges, the level
monitor will stop working.

Moderate amounts of printing, the HP 5940 is a good choice, but the
chips cannot be reset, and no refillables are available. You will have
to buy cartridges every so often simply because the printhead will
eventually wear out, but you should get a decent amount of refills if
you don't let it run out of ink (and thus burn out a dry printhead).
The Canon iP4200 is also decent (but once again, refillable but not
resettable). It has separate pigment and dye ink for black so that you
can print better photos (Lots of people say they'll never need
photos... until they need that picture of the new baby for Aunt Marge
and it needs to be mailed NOW).

I don't like Epson, in my opinion their customer service is terrible
and their products break easily, but as far as being the easiest to
refill, buying a C88 and getting blank cartridges to refill (and never
using the DuraBrite Ultra ink they come with - resell it for over half
the cost of the printer itself) ) may be an easier way to go. Epson
chips are easily resettable and you can even get a CIS (continuous ink
system) if you plan on doing large amounts of prints

Actually, I /have/ seen an auto-reset CIS for the K550 as well, just
not individual cartridges. A CIS for this kind of printer is a bit of
overkill considering that the ink tanks are already giant sized.
In my case, it was still going strong --it just couldn't handle a four foot
drop to the floor, right on it's back. :)

Boy, I hate it when I do something like that.

---

http://www.FenrirOnline.com

Computer services, custom metal etching,
arts, crafts, and much more.
 
I

Inkjet

Johann said:
On Tue, 23 May 2006 01:30:15 +0000, Inkjet wrote: The cartridge works fine
now but the printer's on-screen ink level



That is accomplished by removing and re-inseting both the battery and the
cartridge--- BUT I don't remember . . in what order.

Are you sure that works with the newer 90-series cartridges?
 
T

tungley

I don't have direct experience with some of these printers but I've
read reviews online and helped customers who have one:

If you're planning on doing massive amounts of printing, you should
get one of HP's Business Inkjet/Officejet models, such as the 1200d
(discontinued but available on eBay, you can get auto-reset refillable
cartridges from MIS) or the K550 (newer, smaller margins, lacks
refillable cartridges so far, may have paper feed problems with
thinner stock). You can refill the standard cartridges, the level
monitor will stop working.

Moderate amounts of printing, the HP 5940 is a good choice, but the
chips cannot be reset, and no refillables are available. You will have
to buy cartridges every so often simply because the printhead will
eventually wear out, but you should get a decent amount of refills if
you don't let it run out of ink (and thus burn out a dry printhead).
The Canon iP4200 is also decent (but once again, refillable but not
resettable). It has separate pigment and dye ink for black so that you
can print better photos (Lots of people say they'll never need
photos... until they need that picture of the new baby for Aunt Marge
and it needs to be mailed NOW).

I don't like Epson, in my opinion their customer service is terrible
and their products break easily, but as far as being the easiest to
refill, buying a C88 and getting blank cartridges to refill (and never
using the DuraBrite Ultra ink they come with - resell it for over half
the cost of the printer itself) ) may be an easier way to go. Epson
chips are easily resettable and you can even get a CIS (continuous ink
system) if you plan on doing large amounts of prints

Actually, I /have/ seen an auto-reset CIS for the K550 as well, just
not individual cartridges. A CIS for this kind of printer is a bit of
overkill considering that the ink tanks are already giant sized.


Boy, I hate it when I do something like that.


Thanks, I don't do a whole lot of printing at home (mostly DVD covers and text),
so I'll probably try the 5940. I'm used to not knowing the actual level (and
that's not a problem), since that's how it's been since I've been filling the
15 and 78 carts all these years. I've been pretty good at keeping them from
going dry, and I usually get 5-8 refills out of each cart before the heads start
to go.

Thanks again.
 
B

Bob Headrick

Inkjet said:
Johann Backer wrote:

Are you sure that works with the newer 90-series cartridges?

It certainly does not - none of the printers that use the 90 series
cartridges have batteries.

- Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging
 
B

Bob Headrick

Bob Headrick said:
It certainly does not - none of the printers that use the 90 series
cartridges have batteries.

I should make a small correction - some of the Photosmart portable
printers such as the Photosmart 375 do have batteries that they run off
for portable operation. These are not used to store cartridge
information, and have nothing to do with the ink level gauge.

- Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging
 
E

Ed Light

tungley said:
Thanks, I don't do a whole lot of printing at home (mostly DVD covers and
text),
so I'll probably try the 5940.

You'll like it -- it's a nifty little thing.

If you don't want a massive install you can download the lite install.


--
Ed Light

Smiley :-/
MS Smiley :-\

Send spam to the FTC at
(e-mail address removed)
Thanks, robots.

Bring the Troops Home:
http://bringthemhomenow.org
 

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