The Truth About Computer Printers and Ink Cartridges

Many people know that computer printers and ink cartridges are expensive, but did you know that in order to get your money’s worth the cartridges have to be replaced periodically? A popular way to use your printer is by printing off documents and pictures. But printing only uses about a third of the ink cartridge and it wears out much faster than other aspects of a printer. So when do you need to replace an ink cartridge or color toner? It depends on how often your printer prints, so check with the manufacturer for more specific guidelines.

The Truth About Computer Printers and Ink Cartridges

As you know, printers are expensive to buy initially. However, some printers use large ink cartridges that cost almost as much as the printer itself. Then when it is time to replace these ink cartridges, they can be even more costly than buying a new printer. If a cartridge runs out and you don’t replace it, your computer will still print in black and white only. So what are the “ins” and “outs” of buying an ink cartridge?

Ink cartridges come in many sizes (counts) in order to save money for printing more pages or bigger documents.

The larger the cartridge, the less often it needs replacing.

Heavier usage may require more frequent replacements.

Your printer will tell you when your ink cartridge is running out of ink. For example, it may print with a message saying something similar to “Check Cartridges” or “Check Ink Level.” You can also inspect an ink cartridge by looking at an empty cartridge and peeling back the tape that is on the top of it (usually blue or yellow). You will see a sponge-like material inside, which is what absorbs and transfers the ink from your printer to paper. When this sponge wears out, you will need to replace it.

The Manufacturer’s Guidelines

For individual models of ink cartridges, it is best to contact the printer manufacturer directly to find out when the ink cartridge must be replaced. Most manufacturers have websites where you can learn about their models of printers and view technical specifications. Some online retailers also sell their own brand of printers so they can provide product information and support directly through their own website. If you call your printer manufacturer for specific details about replacing your ink cartridge, make sure to ask for enough information so that you can change a cartridge yourself if necessary.

How often you should replace your ink cartridges will vary. If you don’t know whether you are using your printer enough, here are some indicators to help you determine whether to replace or not:

* If you are printing lots of documents, the cartridge will need replacing sooner.

* If your printer has a big printout of your document already done (like one that says it is “printed”), it could be time to change the ink cartridge. Most printers only have a small amount of ink in each cartridge when they first come out of the box, so if used frequently for printing and scanning right after they are purchased, these cartridges will need replacement more often than regular users would.

* If you are printing out many copies at one time, the cartridge will need changing more often.

* If the ink cartridge does not have a clear window so you can see if there is ink inside, it is possible to tell by looking at the top of your printer. You’ll be able to see the cartridge and how much ink is left in it. There may also be indicators on your printer that tell you when to change an ink cartridge, but these things vary from model to model (and sometimes even by printer brand). For example, the Epson Stylus C-120 says “Replace Cartridge” when an ink cartridge needs to be replaced.

* If you are printing pictures, the ink cartridge needs replacing more often.

* If you have printed more than half of the ink cartridge- you will run out much sooner.

Changing a Cartridge on Your Own

If you have your manufacturer’s specific directions, it is not hard to change an ink cartridge on your own. First, make sure that your printer is on and set up for “manual” printing (if possible). Refer to your owner’s manual if necessary for details about how to do this. Then find a computer or phone book with the phone number of your printer model’s manufacturer and call them. They will be able to tell you what model of cartridge to use and may even have information about how many pages can be printed before a cartridge needs to be replaced. Although this is the best way to go, sometimes the instructions are different from model to model, and in some cases, the manufacturer won’t even have a phone number.

Now that you know how much ink your cartridge has left in it (and how often you are printing), it’s time to replace your black-and-white cartridge with one that has more ink in it. You can do this by following these steps:

1. Turn on your printer.

2. Find the ink cartridge that needs to be changed.

3. Open the cartridge holder and pull the used cartridge out of its slot. Make sure not to touch the contact (where it connects to the computer) and try not to shake it or turn it upside down, as this could cause problems with your printer’s electronic system. Be careful not to touch any part of the ink cartridge that may be exposed, such as where you put your fingers in during installation or other places where ink may have spilled out of a cartridge that was left sitting for a long time without being changed (or was damaged in some way).

4. Remove the new ink cartridge from its packaging. Some newer models are designed to be broken into two pieces so that you can more easily set them up by peeling back a plastic covering (usually blue or yellow) and then snapping the cartridge into place. If this is your first time replacing an ink cartridge, it’s usually easiest to use a sticky note to ease insertion of the new ink cartridge, then remove it after you’ve inserted it all the way in place. You can also use an alcohol wipe to rub any visible spots on the ink cartridge before inserting it (this will help prevent smearing).

5.

Conclusion

Try to avoid touching the contact on any part of the ink cartridge with your hands, as this may cause it to become less effective. If you get ink on your hands while changing an ink cartridge (and are not wearing gloves or some other hand protection), wash your hands thoroughly to remove any remaining ink and avoid getting it on anything else you may touch.

* Insert the new cartridge into its slot and press down slightly if necessary. If you have a sticky note nearby, place it over the contacts (where they connect to the printer) and press firmly for several seconds until the sticky note is firmly in place, then move the note off of the contact area.