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Author Topic: Leave Epson SC P800 on or off?  (Read 3911 times)

stevierose

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Leave Epson SC P800 on or off?
« on: February 18, 2017, 12:36:30 pm »

I just bought and set up my SC P800. I print infrequently--every 2 weeks or so. Is it better for me to leave the printer with power on or off?

Thanks!
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Mark D Segal

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Re: Leave Epson SC P800 on or off?
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2017, 12:51:12 pm »

Epson's intention is that printer be powered off when not in use. There are settings in the software to have this done automatically after a specified time interval.
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Mark D Segal (formerly MarkDS)
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Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: Leave Epson SC P800 on or off?
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2017, 01:08:25 pm »

Epson's intention is that printer be powered off when not in use. There are settings in the software to have this done automatically after a specified time interval.
Thanks, Mark. So that means I really do need to read the manual?   ;)
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Mark D Segal

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Re: Leave Epson SC P800 on or off?
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2017, 01:28:13 pm »

Thanks, Mark. So that means I really do need to read the manual?   ;)

Well, Eric, what can I tell you - you know the story "real men don't read manuals" - don't know where that leaves the rest of us......but just sometimes it does help!  :-)
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Mark D Segal (formerly MarkDS)
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Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: Leave Epson SC P800 on or off?
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2017, 03:30:44 pm »

Well, Eric, what can I tell you - you know the story "real men don't read manuals" - don't know where that leaves the rest of us......but just sometimes it does help!  :-)
Probably.

But when I replaced my ancient 3800 with the P800, it was just as comfortable as an old shoe. At least I did have the sense to get appropriate profiles for all the papers that I use, which meant building new print presets for LR, but otherwise there has been virtually no learning curve.

But I guess I'll have to curl up with a nice manual one of these winter evenings.
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BobShaw

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Re: Leave Epson SC P800 on or off?
« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2017, 10:42:43 pm »

Epson's intention is that printer be powered off when not in use. There are settings in the software to have this done automatically after a specified time interval.
Perhaps, but I often wonder if Epson's intention is to just sell more ink.
I know with my 3880 that if I leave it on it maybe does two passes and then is ready to print. If I turn it off it seems to go back and forwards for ages.
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Mark D Segal

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Re: Leave Epson SC P800 on or off?
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2017, 10:31:01 am »

Perhaps, but I often wonder if Epson's intention is to just sell more ink.
I know with my 3880 that if I leave it on it maybe does two passes and then is ready to print. If I turn it off it seems to go back and forwards for ages.

Yup - so do other printers. Do you know what's happening under the hood during these procedures to underpin any suspicion about the motives? I don't - I've also wondered about what the machines are doing. I don't have first-hand knowledge of this, but I suppose they are charging the ink delivery system to assure that air doesn't travel into the printhead; that may also include self-checks for air-drops, clogs etc. and others may be doing cleaning cycles if the firmware or your settings determine they should. Could be numerous things, of which I would impute selling more ink for the sake of it to be pretty low on the list - even if these functions did use a bit of ink this particular activity is unlikely to be a commercial goldmine for them.
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Ferp

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Re: Leave Epson SC P800 on or off?
« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2017, 05:31:18 pm »

Epson's intention is that printer be powered off when not in use. There are settings in the software to have this done automatically after a specified time interval.

If that's Epson's intention, then why in the 3880 control panel (maintenance mode) is there the option to disable the power off timer?  Moreover, IIRC there was a 10/2013 firmware upgrade that specifically introduced this option for older printers?  I can't find anything in the user guide about turning the printer off when not in use, only that if you are going to turn it off you should use the printer's power button first, rather than turning it off at the wall.   

My 3880 is always on and doesn't clog and so far hasn't self-combusted.
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stevierose

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Re: Leave Epson SC P800 on or off?
« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2017, 06:14:51 pm »

Thanks, Mark. So that means I really do need to read the manual?   ;)

Thanks for everyones' answers. I really appreciate it. I actually do read the manual, but, sometimes those with actual experience in using a product over time gain empirical knowledge that contradicts the manual, or refines the recommendations in the manual. That is why I posted the question.
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Mark D Segal

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Re: Leave Epson SC P800 on or off?
« Reply #9 on: February 19, 2017, 07:19:25 pm »

Thanks for everyones' answers. I really appreciate it. I actually do read the manual, but, sometimes those with actual experience in using a product over time gain empirical knowledge that contradicts the manual, or refines the recommendations in the manual. That is why I posted the question.

As Ferp points out, the manual does not come down hard and clear on this matter, so just as well you asked about it. Epson could have introduced the bypass to "power off" in response to user requests. Perhaps it doesn't matter much whether it is left on or off; however there was a time (some years ago) when shut-down between sessions was more broadly recommended - had to do with the capping station. Perhaps with more recent technology that is no longer an issue. I still power down any machinery I'm not using. Perhaps it's a lower risk issue, but shut down may be safer given that power system reliability is never 100%.
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Ferp

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Re: Leave Epson SC P800 on or off?
« Reply #10 on: February 19, 2017, 10:02:17 pm »

I am not an Epson tech (IANAET), so this is a bit speculative, but I had the impression that all recent Epson printers parked the head over the capping station when not printing in order to seal it and prevent it drying out.  It's possible that older printers did not do this.  The 2200 was a bit different. 

The 3880 does a bit more, because if you don't print for several minutes (five? ten? never measured it), the printer goes into some sort of standby mode, and from what I can gather it also de-pressurizes the ink supply system, and to print again it has to re-presssurize  it.  At least that's what it seems like to me.  Again, IANAET.  I can't see that actually turning it off is going to do any more.  The P800 surely behaves similarly?

If you're worried about power reliability you need a UPS and surge protection.
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Mark D Segal

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Re: Leave Epson SC P800 on or off?
« Reply #11 on: February 19, 2017, 10:28:41 pm »


If you're worried about power reliability you need a UPS and surge protection.

I have that, but I still prefer not to leave open circuits when it's unnecessary. Anyhow, I think we're agreed that these days it may not make much difference - but I'm always prepared to change my mind on the basis of duly qualified advice.
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Mark D Segal (formerly MarkDS)
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