My HP Designjet Plotter decided it can't find the black ink cartridge this morning. The Cartridge is just a couple of weeks old and was working fine last week. Anybody experience this problem and know of a cheap fix?
In the last few years I've probably tossed half a dozen 450C cartridges simply because my plotter couldn't recognize them on powerup. Most were full or nearly full. I don't have a solution other than to install a new cartridge, but I share your frustration at this annoying and expensive problem.
> My HP Designjet Plotter decided it can't find the black ink cartridge this morning. The Cartridge is just a couple of weeks old and was working fine last week. Anybody experience this problem and know of a cheap fix?
Assuming the cartridge hasn't been sitting on the shelf for two years before putting it in the machine...
Try this:
Where the cartridges load is a circuit board looking contact strip. Using Isopropyl alcohol, scrub it, making sure there is no ink residue, or anything else for that matter, affecting the contacts. We've also used some of that stuff used for audio connectors...it basically removes any oxides that may have formed, rendering the contacts less than good. Usually though, just alcohol works fine.
The cartridges are new direct from HP less than a month ago. I cleaned the contacts with alcohol as suggested, but that didn't fix the problem. It shows the black cartridge as not being found and the magenta cartridge as being defective. I tried two new cartridges in place of the ones in the plotter which are also just a couple of weeks old and got the same error messages.
> The cartridges are new direct from HP less than a month ago. I cleaned the contacts with alcohol as suggested, but that didn't fix the problem. It shows the black cartridge as not being found and the magenta cartridge as being defective. I tried two new cartridges in place of the ones in the plotter which are also just a couple of weeks old and got the same error messages.
Hmmm. You getting any error codes?
Have you checked the Ink Cartridge Status information from the menu?
I contacted HP Tech support and they say the firmware in the plotter may not be compatible with the newer ink cartridges they are sending out. This may be true because both cartridges giving me problems were just purchased from HP recently.
Hopefully there is a firmware update available.
> I contacted HP Tech support and they say the firmware in the plotter may not be compatible with the newer ink cartridges they are sending out. This may be true because both cartridges giving me problems were just purchased from HP recently.
I think they're doing what Keurig is doing...preventing the machine from working with unauthorized or copied cartridges.
Let me know if you need a service manual...lot of diagnostic stuff in it. Hopefully HP can update the firmware.
Good luck!
I have found the guys at lpscomputer extremely helpful! Shoot them a message 🙂
That Occurs With Other HP Plotters.
I work with a surveyor who last year bought an 11x17 printer. Each time the demo cartridges were empty it would not work with new full cartridges. The third unit HP sent him finally kept working.
Be persistent.
Paul in PA
HP Designjet 500 Plotter Problem Solved
After a Repairman visit it turns out the problem was the HP cartridge. Replaced the HP cartridge with a refilled cartridge from a local ink and toner shop and that fixed the problem. The Repairman said it is possible that HP has changed their cartridges and a firmware upgrade may be needed.
HP Designjet 500 Plotter Problem Solved
Glad you got it fixed. Plotter problems are frustrating. I replaced my plotter in November.
been our experience that if you recycled cartridges, jams it up, stick with HP cartridges