Print on Epson CX6600 without color ink

[MattD]

Does andyone know a way to force my Epson CX6600 to print even when
there is no color ink left? I switch it to print in "black ink only"
and it still doesn't want to print unless I install a color ink
cartridge. This is incredibly annoying! With my HP I had to replace
all the colors at once, but at least I didn't have to worry about not
being able to print in black if I didn't have a color cartridge handy.

 

[Jan Alter]

From what I'm aware there is no way except to replace the color cartridge OR
you could reset the chip on the cartridge with a chip resetter. The software
is programmed not to allow it. However, if you did that and when you run out
of ink in the color cartridge you will start introducing air into the head,
which would make it harder to install a new color cartridge once one is
obtained. Further you risk causing a head clog that would make unclogging a
royal pain on that model.
One alternative is to start filling your own cartridges using spongeless
cartridges, dye base ink and a chip resetter. The results are that you will
not have the permanance of the Dura-brite poison that Epson sells and
contributes to head clogs because it dries too quickly, but that you will
seldom have head clogs because you will use dye-base ink rather than
pigment, and save a small fortune in ink; especially if you do a lot of
printing.
Should you consider this option I've had excellent results doing just
this with our C84 printers at school and using supplies from
www.inksupply.com . Right now I've got 4 C84 printers running with these
cartridges. Look for the spongeless cartridges that fit the C84, R800,
R1800, etc. and use the dye base ink for the Epson Stylus 500. Those
cartridges also fit your CX6600. Filling these cartridges takes less than a
minute. Resetting the chip takes 15 seconds with the chip resetter. Use the
chips from empty cartridges you've previously used and buy a chip resetter
from them for $20.
By the way, you can verify that the cartridges fit by going to the Epson web
site, looking up ink cartridges and matching the cartridge type needed for
your machine and the C84. They are the same. The one problem that I did run
into is that this company does not sell a high capacity black cartridge, and
I had to settle for the standard capacity size.

 

[HankG]

From what I'm aware there is no way except to replace the color cartridge OR
you could reset the chip on the cartridge with a chip resetter. The software
is programmed not to allow it. However, if you did that and when you run out
of ink in the color cartridge you will start introducing air into the head,
which would make it harder to install a new color cartridge once one is
obtained. Further you risk causing a head clog that would make unclogging a
royal pain on that model.
One alternative is to start filling your own cartridges using spongeless
cartridges, dye base ink and a chip resetter. The results are that you will
not have the permanance of the Dura-brite poison that Epson sells and
contributes to head clogs because it dries too quickly, but that you will
seldom have head clogs because you will use dye-base ink rather than
pigment, and save a small fortune in ink; especially if you do a lot of
printing.
Should you consider this option I've had excellent results doing just
this with our C84 printers at school and using supplies from
www.inksupply.com . Right now I've got 4 C84 printers running with these
cartridges. Look for the spongeless cartridges that fit the C84, R800,
R1800, etc. and use the dye base ink for the Epson Stylus 500. Those
cartridges also fit your CX6600. Filling these cartridges takes less than a
minute. Resetting the chip takes 15 seconds with the chip resetter. Use the
chips from empty cartridges you've previously used and buy a chip resetter
from them for $20.

Please clarify--exactly what do you mean when you say, use the chips from
empty cartridges.

HankG

 

[Jan Alter]

Please clarify--exactly what do you mean when you say, use the chips from
empty cartridges.

HankG

Epson puts a small PCB (printed circuit board) chip onto each one of its
cartridges that interacts with the software to show how much ink is left in
the cartridge. It's an approximate reading and can actually be off by as
much as 10 - 25%. Anyhow those chips can be reset to show full again with a
chip resetter. These chips are easily removed from a cartridge and with
either a little tacky putty, placed in the cavity of the cartridge where it
goes, or a couple of drops of plastic Duco cement can be glued onto a
spongeless cartridge (that I previously mentioned). These chips can be reset
many times very easily with the resetter, and provide an efficient way to
overcome Epson's plan to subjugate the printer owner to using only Epson ink
(thank goodness).

Jan Alter

(e-mail address removed)

 

[measekite]

Epson puts a small PCB (printed circuit board) chip onto each one of its
cartridges that interacts with the software to show how much ink is left in
the cartridge. It's an approximate reading and can actually be off by as
much as 10 - 25%. Anyhow those chips can be reset to show full again with a
chip resetter. These chips are easily removed from a cartridge and with
either a little tacky putty, placed in the cavity of the cartridge where it
goes, or a couple of drops of plastic Duco cement can be glued onto a
spongeless cartridge (that I previously mentioned). These chips can be reset
many times very easily with the resetter, and provide an efficient way to
overcome Epson's plan to subjugate the printer owner to using only Epson ink
(thank goodness).

There is no reason to subjugate yourself to that low level stuff when
you can buy a new Epson cartridge with a full load of Epson ink and
lower you risk of clogging while getting much better quality results and
a much lower incidence of fading.