| Does HP "time out" their LaserJet toner cartridges ? I know that HP has some kind of "timer chip" in some (or maybe all) of their ink jet printer cartridges. I found that out the hard way when I bought my brother an HP ink jet printer, and it stopped printing when the cartridge got "too old" according to HP. It wouldn't print, even though it had planty of ink in the ink jet cartridges. Maybe some of you have experienced this?
Does the same thing happen with HP Laser Jet toner cartridges? I'm starting to think so. I print mostly in grey scale on my HP LaserJet 3550, but I noticed the 3 toner cartridges indicate they are almost empty on the printer menu screen...even though I hardly used them over the last year.
Does anyone here know if HP also "times out" their LaserJet toner cartridges, when HP decides they get "too old"?
I'm wondereing if HP assigns a maximum length of time that they think a toner cartridge should be used...just like they do with their ink jet cartridges. Beyond that time, I'm thinking HP may indicate the toner level in the toner carts is low or empty...even when that may not be the case. HP "times out" their ink jet cartridges. I was told it was for safety of the ink jet printer, but I think it's a marketing ploy.
Anyone here have any thoughts on this?
Thanks |
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| Re: Does HP "time out" their LaserJet toner cartridges I use a HP5500 and a HP5550 Color LaserJet at work. Toner cartridges are individually indicated on the panel. Depending on the work we do the cyan may indicate replacement before the yellow, but only by maybe 3% of total life left. We never had a problem with faulty indication of low toner when it was 50% full for example. You might want to try toner refill kits such as »www.tonerrefillkits.com. I did experience the HP inkjet timing out right during tax season. I had bought and used the unit during April 2010, printing about 30 double sided sheets of tax forms. Left it alone for a year. I go to print new tax forms April 2011 and it says its out of ink. 60 sheets and its out of ink? |
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| reply to Airplane777
I have an LJ3330MFP multi-function laser printer and there is no "timer chip". This model is about 8 years old, however- I can't speak for the newer ones.
Since this one just keeps on going, I haven't had any need to shop for a new printer. |
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| reply to Airplane777
Hi all:
Thanks for your posts.
I forget the HP model for the ink jet I had. Maybe the older ink jet cartridges didn't time out. I definitely think it's a marketing ploy that HP is using to "time out" the ink cartridges. Do other manufactures do the same thing?
Since I posted this, I recently found out on an HP forum that even when "greyscale" is chosen on an HP LaserJet printer, that color is still being used...even to produce gray scale. Can't grayscale be done with just the black laserjet toner cart? Just use more or less of the black. So is that also a marketing ploy by HP?
I was told that I can go into my printer diagnostics screen and turn off all color carts and print just in black. I might try that.
Even so, I don't understand why HP uses color to print in grayscale. Cause I certainly don't see any color when it actually prints out.
Is there a technical reason HP needs to use color laser toner when printing in gray scale?
Thanks |
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Reviews:
·Millenicom
·AT&T Southeast
·Verizon Wireless..
| Probably used to enhance color photographic printing somehow. On top of the line commercial printers they can use 8 or more different colors for inkjets. I have seen 2 different blacks available and 2 different grey cartridges. All designed to enhance greyscale and color photo reproduction. So without a "proper" grey maybe HP uses the other colors to help the accuracy of the greys produced. I do know you can stop the use of color supplies by going deep into the menu and setting up profiles for printing that turn off the use of the color supplies. Our print shop staff told me they do it to save money on our early draft print jobs. |
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