Luminous Landscape Forum

Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Printing: Printers, Papers and Inks => Topic started by: picman on February 16, 2017, 01:06:31 pm

Title: IPF8400 Ink Tank Problem?
Post by: picman on February 16, 2017, 01:06:31 pm
My IPF8400 has recently twice thrown hardware error 03800500-2F30.
After a little trouble shooting it appears that it was caused by empty ink tanks.

On the panel the tanks show some ink left, but when they were pulled they were dry.
Replaced the tanks with new ones and back in business.

What would cause the incorrect level indication?
Out of curiosity how does the printer measure ink levels?
Title: Re: IPF8400 Ink Tank Problem?
Post by: Geraldo Garcia on February 16, 2017, 09:40:05 pm
Out of curiosity how does the printer measure ink levels?

It doesn't. The carts have a chip that comes set as full. As the printer goes on printing it makes a 'guesstimate' of ink usage and records that on the cart's chip. That is what is displayed. The printers have no idea of the actual ink level and the 8400 is specially bad on this regard. Some nearly empty carts display 40% and go from that to empty.

As the 8400 have sub tanks, when you see the "!" on the ink level it actually means that the cart is dry and all the ink left is already on the sub tank, so you can replace the cart.

That said, I never saw an error message due to an empty ink cart, it simply says the ink ran out and asks for a new cart. There may be something else wrong with your printer, keep an eye on it.
Title: IPF8400 Ink Tank Problem?
Post by: Geraldo Garcia on February 17, 2017, 09:30:54 am
My IPF8400 has recently twice thrown hardware error 03800500-2F30.
After a little trouble shooting it appears that it was caused by empty ink tanks.

No, as I suspected it is not caused by empty tanks. This is what the service manual says about it:

Quote
Display message:
Hardware error. 03800500-2F30
Turn off printer, wait, then turn on again.

Code*:
03800500-2F30

Condition Detected:

Detectable area failure (when adjusting the
position of non-discharging nozzle)
The gap of detection position of nozzle
both ends is big.

Action:
Check the ink tube unit and surrounding parts.
Check the purge unit and surrounding parts.
Check the head management sensor and surrounding
parts.
Check the flexible cable unit and surrounding parts.
Check that the printhead is installed correctly.
Replace the main controller PCB.
Replace the printhead.
Replace the carriage unit.

It may be just a glitch, but if this error becomes frequent your printer will need service.