Ink Monitor - useless

[Mrdavie]

I am sure this topic has been discussed numerous times, but it is so much easier to start a new discussion than to pinpoint an existing one that addresses my issue - which is...

I am utilizing third party cartridges on my Epson SureColor P400 (after the warranty expired). I know how to refill the cartridges. There are ICC profiles for the ink/paper combo. Prints look great! The problem is I have absolutely no idea when a cartridge is almost empty. I some cases I have had to re-prime the cartridge because the reservoir was empty. Additionally, I have to look at the Ink Monitor reminding me of the error of my ways. Is the money saved from utilizing third party cartridges/ink worth the fear, uncertainty and doubt about when a cartridge needs to be refilled?

From the beginning of computer/printing technology all the manufacturers and software developers have schemed to get the upper hand on their competition by placing some restriction on their product - such as the inability to utilize a printer's ink monitor on third party cartridges.

 

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

I don't have that problem. The levels track pretty well. Actually more in in there than it says.

The problem I have once in a while is that the refillable carts have an auto resetting chip that likes to do that before I pull the cart out to refill it. Like at power on time. Bloop! One cart now shows full.

Since I forget what they read yesterday, I miss that fact and run out of ink because it shows more ink than is really in there.

Of course, the OEM carts don't auto reset so they are never falsed into doing that.

I have taken to noting what the levels read before I shut down so I will catch a false reset and then pull that cart and fill it so it matches or has more than the indicator displays.

Stan

 

[NAwlins Contrarian]

I am utilizing third party cartridges on my Epson SureColor P400 (after the warranty expired). I know how to refill the cartridges. There are ICC profiles for the ink/paper combo. Prints look great! The problem is I have absolutely no idea when a cartridge is almost empty. I some cases I have had to re-prime the cartridge because the reservoir was empty. Additionally, I have to look at the Ink Monitor reminding me of the error of my ways. Is the money saved from utilizing third party cartridges/ink worth the fear, uncertainty and doubt about when a cartridge needs to be refilled?

From the beginning of computer/printing technology all the manufacturers and software developers have schemed to get the upper hand on their competition by placing some restriction on their product - such as the inability to utilize a printer's ink monitor on third party cartridges.

IMO the blame falls squarely on the shoulders of (1) the third-party cartridge / chip vendors, who sell products without having successfully reverse-engineered Epson's ink-monitoring system; and (2) the consumers who expect that they'll get something almost equally-good for a lot less money.

One of the realities of the home photo inkjet market is that the printer companies sell the printers at low (sometimes very low) prices with the business model that they'll make their money back on ink. If you expect them to sell ink at what you consider 'reasonable' prices, then you ought to be prepared to pay much more for the printer. Also, another reality is that the OEM ink is a much higher-technology, higher-quality product than any of the third-party ink, so there's also that aspect of 'you get what you pay for'.

But you know what? There's a fairly easy answer or two. Get a small kitchen scale, weigh full cartridges, and then occasionally remove and weigh the partially-used cartridges to see how much ink has been used. Figure about 1.0 or 1.1 g per ml of ink. Or, use clear third-party cartridges and occasionally remove them and visually inspect the amount of ink remaining.

 

[Gesture]

Or, use clear third-party cartridges and occasionally remove them and visually inspect the amount of ink remaining.

Good advice.

That's what I do with my office printers.

I much prefer third-party carts where you reset the chip manually (CanonPro-100 and MG6220 for me). Unfortunately, most 3rd party carts these days are the auto-reset.

 

[Mrdavie]

I refer to printers as "Ink delivery systems." You are correct, the manuf could give the printers away in exchange for a commitment to purchase their cartridges when ink is needed.

 

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

Not quite useless. Useful when the printer OEM tells you to go pound salt when it comes to supplying you with their ink.

I was quite prepared to pony up for a replacement, but said OEM has pulled their old model, which they still support, while the new one is pretty much unobtainable. Mine is several generations old now, but I kept on with it and the OEM ink until they dropped it. So, I had to do something in the meantime.

I finally got one of the new models, but the bottles of 3rd party ink are down to around half because they managed to get me through. At this point, I figure I'll scrap the old one before too long.

The rest of what you say matches my thinking. I am willing to buy the OEM ink and not have any hassles. And, putting ink into the carts from bottles I find to be a hassle. But, this time around, I will probably buy the OEM ink until they quit supplying it.

Stan

 

[NAwlins Contrarian]

Not quite useless. Useful when the printer OEM tells you to go pound salt when it comes to supplying you with their ink.

I was quite prepared to pony up for a replacement, but said OEM has pulled their old model, which they still support, while the new one is pretty much unobtainable. Mine is several generations old now, but I kept on with it and the OEM ink until they dropped it. So, I had to do something in the meantime.

I finally got one of the new models, but the bottles of 3rd party ink are down to around half because they managed to get me through. At this point, I figure I'll scrap the old one before too long.

The rest of what you say matches my thinking. I am willing to buy the OEM ink and not have any hassles. And, putting ink into the carts from bottles I find to be a hassle. But, this time around, I will probably buy the OEM ink until they quit supplying it.

Fair enough, and my "useless" was a reaction to / put-back of the OP's "useless", which I think unfairly casts Epson in a negative light. IIRC you have a still-working Epson 2200, and Epson stopped making ink for it. I totally understand why you would look at third-party cartridges and maybe also inks. I also totally understand why someone would want third-party cartridges for Piezography or Paul Roark's similar system.

 

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

Yep. An ancient 2200. Which will head in the direction of my oldest granddaughter now that I have finally managed to get a P5000 to replace it. If she doesn't mind the load-it-yourself method, that is

Stan

 

[NAwlins Contrarian]

Yep. An ancient 2200. Which will head in the direction of my oldest granddaughter now that I have finally managed to get a P5000 to replace it. If she doesn't mind the load-it-yourself method, that is

The Utes* are funny: sometimes they are interested in old-school devices and how they work--and other times they cannot imagine why anyone would want to do something as quaint as printing a photo. I hope your granddaughter enjoys your 2200.

*I prefer "Ute" to "yout" because a Ute is an actual person, but: