Epson P800 vacation scenario

[Kenneth Sky]

I will usually print an 8x10 once a week if I'm not using the printer for extended periods, but I am out of country for 2 months. Should I leave it on or off? If the latter I will disconnect the power plug to avoid the risk of a power surge.

[Schmoe]

I will usually print an 8x10 once a week if I'm not using the printer for extended periods, but I am out of country for 2 months. Should I leave it on or off? If the latter I will disconnect the power plug to avoid the risk of a power surge.

I’d love to hear what others say here, too. It seems to me that unless you’re printing automated scheduled jobs while you’re out, there’s no benefit to keeping it on. But I’m no print expert...

[langier]

If the 3880 is any indication of its replacement the 800, simply leave it on. The 3880 in the studio is left sitting for 3-4 weeks at a time, needs few cleanings and is then used to print a couple hundred prints before its left on its own.

The service tech says the best thing is to leave it on.

Since 2011, I think the black change-over valve was replaced a couple of times and it has probably had to be reset a couple of times for non-user parts at the end of their lives but keeps on printing away quite well. I think that the next time it has an issue, it may finally have to be replaced, but that's probably two to three years out.

(edit) I should add that I've had a second-hand 9900 for 8 years now. I had it serviced 3-4 years ago. Though I have to run a cleaning cycle every couple of weeks for after a week or two of sitting, it's doing just fine and all nozzles are firing on cue. It will sit for a week or two then up to a month for my travels and it keeps on printing just fine, though it takes more cleaning than the 3880 just across the room. It, too, is left on though both were cut-off with the rest of my community during the power blackouts a few weeks ago.

[Schmoe]

FWIW, my journey with printing never took off as I’d hoped, and my P800 has gone unused for months at a time. Only once did I need to initiate a nozzle clean. Otherwise it’s been just fine. I do live in a fairly humid environment though.

[BobShaw]

Well if I am out of the country for months I turn everything off at the switch board.
I haven't had any problems with the p800. It took a while of self cleaning once turned on.

[JeanMichel]

I have a P800 and a sc 6000. While I use the 800 daily and the 6000 less frequently, I do occasionally go away for a month or so and so far, knock on wood, have had zero issues with either printer when returning from the trips. The 800 just prints right away and the 6000 does a cleaning pass and is then just fine. A marked difference from my earlier 2400 and 24” versions.

[digitaldog]

I've gone months and months without printing on my P800, off, no clogs. And I'm in a very dry environment. I don't think you have anything to worry about with that specific printer.
If you had a 4900, my advise would be just the opposite.

[BernardLanguillier]

I have just printed with my P800 after not having used it for a few months in a pretty dry environment and didn't experience any issue with clogging.

Which is a major improvement over my now dead P9900 that was clogging every time after a few weeks of non usage.

Cheers,
Bernard

[Benny Profane]

After about three years with a P800, about five times gone over a month, sometimes three, and with a nozzle check and cleaning, no problem. Never turned off, although sometimes the local power company took care of that for me.

[Kenneth Sky]

Thanks to all your responses. I guess I'll just leave it on.