terminally unreliable HP

[news.rcn.com]

Got this terminally unreliable printer called a Photosmart 7550

Ink cartridges dry out in it if left for more than a week or so unused. No
amount of replacing or refilling or using original or after-market
cartridges seems to assist or make any difference.

I saw an ad recently for some place in NYC where you can take cartridges for
re-filling (meaning checking out and re-filling!)

As I understand it, these 56, 57, and 58 cartridges are just tanks and the
black one is the only one I have ever had success refilling. Curiously they
don't seem to dry out when NOT in the printer!

Does anyone know where this was please? Was it on Duane Street? I sort of
assume they can flush the carts out (or get rid of the dry bit at the head)
and get them working again?

 

[Barry Watzman]

No, the 5x series cartridges are not just tanks, the printhead is part
of the cartridge. They can be refilled. Two essential requirments:

-They must be refilled before they are completely empty, or ink will dry
out and clog the printhead. Once this happens, it is almost impossible
to reuse them

-Often they will print horribly or not at all for 24 to 48 hours after
refilling. Refilling introduces air bubbles that need time (quite a bit
of time) to work their way out of the printhead feed part of the cartridge.

These cartridges (and most other inkjet cartridges with heads in them)
cannot be left "uncapped" .... ink at the printhead will dry out and
produce an impossible clog. They must be kept in the printer, which is
supposed to cap them when not actually printing (that could be your
problem). Alternatively, there is a "capping device" that can be put
onto cartridges in storage external to the printer, but they are hard to
come by (some printers came with one, and some multi-cartridge photo
printing kits also came with one).

There is a nationwide franchise called "Cartridge World" that is in the
business of refilling / recycling both inkjet and toner cartridges.

 

[news.rcn.com]

Yes, I had noticed those symptoms: After refilling, the printer does print
comparatively reliably for a few weeks but if I EVER leave it for more than
a few weeks unused, all cartridges dry out

I was told by a commercial refiller that they fill them through the heads
and did know about the plug forming. I had tried putting the cart in a
quarter of an inch of water to get the clog loose and sometimes this works
but now these carts are completely dry. I cant remember whether these are HP
ones or others. So I started to wonder whether I can take them to somewhere
to get them to unplug the plug if these can be refilled through the heads?

I had tried asking HP what to do if the carts did dry out IN the printer (is
there any adjustment on the rubber plate which is supposed to sit flush
with the heads to prevent it/them drying out etc) but that wasn't part of
their prepared scripts so they didn't have the vaguest idea what I was
talking about. Occasionally they send me replacement carts but this never
helps when I leave the printer for more than a few weeks unused.

 

[ato_zee]

I had tried putting the cart in a
quarter of an inch of water to get the clog loose and sometimes this works
but now these carts are completely dry

There are some cheap ultrasonic cleaners for jewellery/denture/coins
on eBay, if I had this problem I'd be tempted to buy one, and use it
with tepid Windex or similiar ammoniated cleaner. The vibration
might greatly assist cleaning the nozzles, and could even help
disperse bubbles, I doubt if they have sufficient power to induce
cavitation.
I've used industrial ultrasonic cleaners and they are very effective
in dispersing residues, you see it streaming away in the flow
induced by the ultrasound field.

 

[GMAN]

Yes, I had noticed those symptoms: After refilling, the printer does print
comparatively reliably for a few weeks but if I EVER leave it for more than
a few weeks unused, all cartridges dry out

I was told by a commercial refiller that they fill them through the heads
and did know about the plug forming. I had tried putting the cart in a
quarter of an inch of water to get the clog loose and sometimes this works
but now these carts are completely dry. I cant remember whether these are HP
ones or others. So I started to wonder whether I can take them to somewhere
to get them to unplug the plug if these can be refilled through the heads?

I had tried asking HP what to do if the carts did dry out IN the printer (is
there any adjustment on the rubber plate which is supposed to sit flush
with the heads to prevent it/them drying out etc) but that wasn't part of
their prepared scripts so they didn't have the vaguest idea what I was
talking about. Occasionally they send me replacement carts but this never
helps when I leave the printer for more than a few weeks unused.

Keeping the rubber areas where the heads rest aganst them is key. if they are
dirty or gummed up they dont form a seal around the heads and allow air to sit
there and dry out the ink in the immediate area of the heads.

What i always do is leave my HP 7310 multifunction printer on, I never switch
it off via a switchbox or strip. this makes the printer go thru many head
cleanings and primings that drain the carts.

 

[news.rcn.com]

There are some cheap ultrasonic cleaners for jewellery/denture/coins
on eBay, if I had this problem I'd be tempted to buy one, and use it
with tepid Windex or similiar ammoniated cleaner. The vibration
might greatly assist cleaning the nozzles, and could even help
disperse bubbles, I doubt if they have sufficient power to induce
cavitation.
I've used industrial ultrasonic cleaners and they are very effective
in dispersing residues, you see it streaming away in the flow
induced by the ultrasound field.

Hey that is a great idea! I can see how it could cause damage but who cares?
These cartridges are acting as if they are terminal anyway! And I have a
Bausch & Lomb Balsonic ultrasonic cleaner which is about as professional as
you can get. It is so professional that you can't actually stay in the room
while it is operational.

On the next posting, does anyone have any technical information on how to
clean the rubber strip which sits against the print heads or check it to
make sure that it is making proper contact with the heads please?

 

[ato_zee]

Hey that is a great idea! I can see how it could cause damage but who
cares?
These cartridges are acting as if they are terminal anyway! And I have a
Bausch & Lomb Balsonic ultrasonic cleaner which is about as professional
as
you can get. It is so professional that you can't actually stay in the
room
while it is operational.

Might be overkill, unless you can turn the wick down, which is
why I suggested a cheap one of the watches/dentures/coins category.
The industrial ones produce cavitation which is ok for blocks
of metal and industrial sized items, but a bit drastic for delicate
print heads. The industrial ones are often a lower frequency
magneto-strictive, and the small ones a piezo ceramic driver
running at a much higher frequency, not so prone to cavitation.

 

[news.rcn.com]

Might be overkill, unless you can turn the wick down,

But is there the option to leave it in for only a short time? And if so I
wonder how short a time? Until you see the inks flowing freely out of all
compartments?

Actually I do have one of those cheapie ones for jewellery: The ones which
just go buzz buzz. I thought that they didnt actually achieve anything!

which is

 

[news.rcn.com]

Might be overkill, unless you can turn the wick down, which is
why I suggested a cheap one of the watches/dentures/coins category.
The industrial ones produce cavitation which is ok for blocks
of metal and industrial sized items, but a bit drastic for delicate
print heads. The industrial ones are often a lower frequency
magneto-strictive, and the small ones a piezo ceramic driver
running at a much higher frequency, not so prone to cavitation.

Whatever it was, the method didn't do anything and I tried both ultrasonic
cleaners: Some slight amount of ink came out of one cartridge during the
process in both sonic baths but the printer just dries out the heads
completely if left unused and HP doesn't seem to have any remedy or
adjustment on the rubber piece which is SUPPOSED to sit flush against the
heads to prevent them drying out.

Does anyone know if I should now just go out and buy a Canon and if so,
which Canon uses multi colour tanks and no stupid chips to give false
readings on the ink level (and stop you refilling the carts) please? I
really am sick of these HP's pathetic reliability

 

[DanG]

All Canon's now use chips on the tanks, however they also use optical ink
sensors, so when it says it's empty it really is. Is is possible, and not
difficult, to get around the chips and refill or use compatable tanks. The
IP4300 is a terrific bargain right now, and uses 5 separate tanks.

 

[zakezuke]

All Canon's now use chips on the tanks, however they also use optical ink
sensors, so when it says it's empty it really is. Is is possible, and not
difficult, to get around the chips and refill or use compatable tanks. The
IP4300 is a terrific bargain right now, and uses 5 separate tanks.

There is also the ip3300, which is the same as the old ip3000 except
with new inks. I've not seen it in action, only by the specs and
prior experience with the ip3300. It's not as nice at the ip4200, the
drop size is larger, only has 4 tanks and color printing mixes the
color tanks to make black, but if your primary application is text,
your photo printing is limited or prefer higher speed, it's worth
looking into.

I can't say the canon is immune to clogs even using OEM ink. So long
as you power off properly, and print once a month or so, it shouldn't
be an issue. The head is covered under warranty and will be replaced
with little fuss via 2nd day air within the warranty period, and
somewhat beyond.

The optical sensor will tell you when the ink tank is out of reservoir
ink, leaving 20%, where the chip estimates the remainder. The cost
for pigment black is pretty reasonable, there is some debate on the
color.

 

[news.rcn.com]

There is also the ip3300, which is the same as the old ip3000 except
with new inks. I've not seen it in action, only by the specs and
prior experience with the ip3300. It's not as nice at the ip4200, the
drop size is larger, only has 4 tanks and color printing mixes the
color tanks to make black, but if your primary application is text,
your photo printing is limitees d or prefer higher speed, it's worth
looking into.

Not sure about either of these as I am a bit nervous about going from an
(admittedly not working) HP with 6 colour tanks in three cartridges to one
with only four, and the bit about no one making replacement tanks while the
manufacturer's are quite expensive, small and have chips built in??

Is there really no other for someone who primarily wants to use it for
photos please? Or do I not go for a Canon?

Sick of HP's lack of reliability, EPson's lack of service and horror stories
about spending your whole life cleaning the heads before EVERY photo (I once
did have a 740i). Where do I go for KNOWLEDGEABLE reviews please?

 

[zakezuke]

Not sure about either of these as I am a bit nervous about going from an
(admittedly not working) HP with 6 colour tanks in three cartridges to one
with only four, and the bit about no one making replacement tanks while the
manufacturer's are quite expensive, small and have chips built in??

Is there really no other for someone who primarily wants to use it for
photos please? Or do I not go for a Canon?

Sick of HP's lack of reliability, EPson's lack of service and horror stories
about spending your whole life cleaning the heads before EVERY photo (I once
did have a 740i). Where do I go for KNOWLEDGEABLE reviews please?

I use my ip5200 primarlly for photos. It does a stellar job, though
for color rendering I find it a tad punchy. The ease of refilling and
the fact it offers decent text on top of really decent color is fine.

If your bag is photos, the ip3300/3500 will have a serious downside in
terms of resolution and the lack of a dye black for photos.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/printers.html

The ip6700D is a pure photo printer, 6 tank, same ratio of ink heads
per tank, but no pigment black. There is a downside that text
suffers, and there is a higher cost to print as the light inks tend to
get used more, but aside from that it's. But if you are not doing
text often, it's not an issue.

While it could be refilled by your local shop, some won't do it
because the chips can't be reset.

All offer pictbridge, and most stores would agree to testing so long
as you leave the prints. The mp830 is close enough to the ip4300/
ip5200 that it should be adquate for testing purposes.

My vote for canon was due to my Epson r200 experience, which was less
than stellar. Since that time I got into an older stylus 1520 and
1280 and feel better about models not price marked sub $100. I still
prefer Epson for color rendering, and HP as well. Canon in my opinion
lacks a certain maturity as far as options in it's driver.

 

[measekite]

snip

Does anyone know if I should now just go out and buy a Canon and if so,
which Canon uses multi colour tanks and no stupid chips to give false
readings on the ink level (and stop you refilling the carts) please? I
really am sick of these HP's pathetic reliability

You should buy a Canon IP4300 and use Canon ink for the best results and
less risk to your equipment with reduced fading.

 

[measekite]

All Canon's now use chips on the tanks, however they also use optical ink
sensors, so when it says it's empty it really is. Is is possible, and not
difficult, to get around the chips and refill or use compatable tanks

You may find a tank that works but there is no ink that is even remotely
compatible to the new ChromaLife inks by Canon.

 

[Burt]

Not sure about either of these as I am a bit nervous about going from an
(admittedly not working) HP with 6 colour tanks in three cartridges to one
with only four, and the bit about no one making replacement tanks while
the manufacturer's are quite expensive, small and have chips built in??

Is there really no other for someone who primarily wants to use it for
photos please? Or do I not go for a Canon?

Sick of HP's lack of reliability, EPson's lack of service and horror
stories about spending your whole life cleaning the heads before EVERY
photo (I once did have a 740i). Where do I go for KNOWLEDGEABLE reviews
please?

I expect that the ip4300 produces photo prints that are as good as my wife's
ip5000 (with MIS inks). They both have one picoliter nozzles and four
dye-based carts as well as one pigment-based cart for text printing. The
price is right If you hurry and buy one (they are being closed out as there
is now an ip4500 in the pipeling), you can refill the cartridges, and these
cartridges can be purged and used for quite a long time. You would need an
additional set of carts so you can trade out a set when you are running low
on any ink. That way you can refill anytime. I read a post recently from
someone who bought two ip4300 printers at once as the cost of the printer
was less than the cost of the set of carts it comes with and they got a
spare printhead/printer in the bargain! Two downsides - these printers
occasionally can't recognize the chip in an OEM cart that hasn't yet
registered low or empty, and you lose the ink monitoring function. The
latter is no problem as you can easily check ink levels - the carts are
transparent.

 

[news.rcn.com]

I use my ip5200 primarlly for photos. It does a stellar job, though
for color rendering I find it a tad punchy. The ease of refilling and
the fact it offers decent text on top of really decent color is fine.

If your bag is photos, the ip3300/3500 will have a serious downside in
terms of resolution and the lack of a dye black for photos.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/printers.html

The ip6700D is a pure photo printer, 6 tank, same ratio of ink heads
per tank, but no pigment black. There is a downside that text
suffers, and there is a higher cost to print as the light inks tend to
get used more, but aside from that it's. But if you are not doing
text often, it's not an issue.

While it could be refilled by your local shop, some won't do it
because the chips can't be reset.

All offer pictbridge, and most stores would agree to testing so long
as you leave the prints. The mp830 is close enough to the ip4300/
ip5200 that it should be adquate for testing purposes.

My vote for canon was due to my Epson r200 experience, which was less
than stellar. Since that time I got into an older stylus 1520 and
1280 and feel better about models not price marked sub $100. I still
prefer Epson for color rendering, and HP as well. Canon in my opinion
lacks a certain maturity as far as options in it's driver.

Now you are getting me really nervous as to whether the Canon will actually
be any better than my Photosmart 7550!

Might I have to accept a drop in photo colour quality to get the reliability
of the Canon for a year or so until the heads die on me? And if I insist on
optimum photo quality, will I have to go with the iP6700D and pay through
the nose for the ink, or doesnt the 6700 work that way?

Then there seems to be something called an iP9500 which might be even better
and use even more (irreplaceable) ink!!

 

[zakezuke]

You should buy a Canon IP4300 and use Canon ink for the best results and
less risk to your equipment with reduced fading.

This is measekite, his only purpose in this group is to promote OEM
ink. He owns an ip4000, a fine printer in it's day, and still
passable. I have the mp760 which is basicly an all in one version.
At least burt and my self, and i'm sure others, own canons in the
class you are looking at. The ip5000 is really the first generation
of the current canon class. I bought into the ip5200 just before the
ip4300 was released.

Anyhow, the ip4300 is an obsolete model. Not that I wouldn't buy
one, but it's just not presently sold on the new front. The ip5300 is
a model I don't know of as it might by EU only, and the ip4500 is one
I've just not met as it's not in any store yet.

Not to say the obsolete models are bad, canon every year or so re-
packages last year's model, sometimes adds a couple features, among
which this year is "Camera Phone Printing".

 

[Burt]

This is measekite, his only purpose in this group is to promote OEM
ink. He owns an ip4000, a fine printer in it's day, and still
passable. I have the mp760 which is basicly an all in one version.
At least burt and my self, and i'm sure others, own canons in the
class you are looking at. The ip5000 is really the first generation
of the current canon class. I bought into the ip5200 just before the
ip4300 was released.

Anyhow, the ip4300 is an obsolete model. Not that I wouldn't buy
one, but it's just not presently sold on the new front. The ip5300 is
a model I don't know of as it might by EU only, and the ip4500 is one
I've just not met as it's not in any store yet.

Not to say the obsolete models are bad, canon every year or so re-
packages last year's model, sometimes adds a couple features, among
which this year is "Camera Phone Printing".

Zakezuke - Glad to see your recent return! Except for my first i960, I've
generally bought my printers at the end of the product run when they were on
closeouts. My second i960 and both ip5000's cost me $100 each, new, in
factory sealed. I looked up the specs on the ip4500. Sexier outer box, but
not too much different from the ip4300 as far as I could tell from a quick
glance. I saw the ip4300 today at Staples in San Francisco for $69. Not a
bad price considering that the ink carts alone would cost more! Likewise
the ip6700 which is on sale for $79 at the same store. Either of these is a
great buy in my estimation and would serve most purchasers very well.
Considering the quality of my photo printing, I don't regard my i960's or
ip5000's as obsolete. I guess that if you need the (painfully slow)
duplexing function or dual paper path then one would regard the i960 as old
stuff. On the other hand, if you consider print quality they are still all
very good printers. Measekite used to chide me for buying "old technology"
when I purchased my i960's. Apparently he hasn't had the urge to move up to
any of the printers that have come out since his beloved ip4000. My feeling
is that if it serves him well his decision is a good one. Likewise, mine.
If I were the OP I would run, not walk, to my nearest Staples for one of
these units, depending on which suited their purpose most. First, however,
I would look online on the outside chance that I could substantially beat
the Staples price.

 

[zakezuke]

Now you are getting me really nervous as to whether the Canon will actually
be any better than my Photosmart 7550!

Might I have to accept a drop in photo colour quality to get the reliability
of the Canon for a year or so until the heads die on me? And if I insiston
optimum photo quality, will I have to go with the iP6700D and pay through
the nose for the ink, or doesnt the 6700 work that way?

Then there seems to be something called an iP9500 which might be even better
and use even more (irreplaceable) ink!!

It took me a second to connect iP9500 with the pixma pro9500 a3+
printer. I wasn't sure it was an iP model. It is a 10 ink pigment
printer. This is new in canon consumer models, and it's release was
delayed by a year.

It would be better to contrast these models with the pixma pro 9000
(newer version of the i9900). Lower resolution but 8 ink tanks. The
last a4 model to have the same specs was the ip8500 which no longer
exists.
"The iP5200 is another of Canon's 5-color printers that leaves me
wondering why I own and use the 8-color i9900. When I see just how
good the photo prints look when using only the three primary colors
(cyan, magenta and yellow), I don't know why I need those other ink
colors, or the added expense. With the 1-picoliter size ink droplets
the prints are virtually grainless. I can only visually see
imperfections after scanning a print at 600dpi and then zooming in
really close. Holding a 4×6" print in my hand and getting it as close
as possible, I can see nothing to complain about at all. For the
average to the hypercritical user I am sure that this printer will
satisfy your photo printing as well as your everyday printing needs.
The color is simply brilliant, the prints last and you'll certainly
not be waiting for this printer to do its job."
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/canon_ip5200_pg4.html

That was my selling point on the ip5200, which is similar enough to
the ip4300/4500 that it makes no odds.

The ip6700D is worth looking at as well. It ditches pigment black in
favor of light inks which really add a smooth quality to facial tones,
and skys.

Whether it's worth the money, it would be best if you took your
pictbridge compatable camera and shot off a print from each one on
each printer.

Canon heads are under warranty. That last for a year or slightly
more. I like others in this group have had free printheads shipped
after the warranty period. Printheads are roughly 2/3 the value of
the printer. End of life of a printhead is about 10 tank changes
(each color 10 times), reality is higher like 15 or 20 based from
other users. But assuming 10, assume an added cost of about 1.25 per
ink tank you replace.

If you plan to use OEM ink, ink is about 2/3 the value of the printer,
and printers come with a full set of ink. So if 2 to 3 years down the
road the head burns out, you have a choice of replacing the printer,
or replacing the head.

If you plan to use aftermarket ink, assuming a replacement head after
every 10 tank refills is still a stellar deal.