Ink Cartridges Blog

To reset the ink Level (method 1)

1. Paste a thin strip of tape over the upper horizontal row of copper contacts on the back of the ink cartridge.
2. Insert the cartridge into the printer and close the lid.
3. The printer will now start to move. Wait untill a message appears on the screen indicating that the ink cartridge is installed incorrectly and click OK.
4. Open the lid of the printer and remove the cartridge.
5. Remove the strip of adhesive tape and this time paste it over the Second row of contacts (from top) horizontally.
6. Insert the cartridge back into the printer back again and closed the lid. The printer will again start to move untill another message appears. This time, the message will indicate that the cartridge cannot be recognized. Click on OK again.
7. Open the printer and remove  the cartridge once more.
8. Remove the tape and insert the cartridge back into the printer and close the Lid.
9. The printer should now indicate that the ink cartridge is full ! 

Resetting the ink Level (method 2)
Works only in some cases

1. Place a thin strip of tape over the bottom row of horizontal contacts.
2. Insert the cartridge into the printer and close the lid.
3. The printer will now begin to move. When the error message appears on the screen click OK.
4. Open the lid of the printer and remove the cartridge.
5. Remove the tape and place it over the very top horizontal row of contacts on the cartridge.
6. Insert the cartridge into the printer and close the lid. The printer will begin to move again. When the message appears stating that the cartridge cannot be recogmised Click OK again.
7. Open the printer and remove  the cartridge.
8. Remove the tape and insert the cartridge in the printer and close the lid.
9. The cartridge should now read Full again.

Compatible Brother LC-37 (Brother LC37 ink cartridges) and Brother LC-57 (Brother LC57 ink cartridges) ink cartridges are usually extremely reliable and trouble free however when installing them they can occassionally not register as being New of Full. The Brother printers sense the ink levels internally rather than via a chip on the cartridge itself so they are relatively easy to troubleshoot. The main problem is caused by ink not flowing correctly from the ink outlet hole on the ink cartridge itself. The following video runs through several procedures which help to solve any issues which may occur when installing a new set of brother cartridges.

A common problem with Ink Cartridges (especially Lexmark,HP and Epson) is that the printhead (the part where the ink actually contacts the paper) becomes blocked due to the ink clogging or drying up. This regularly occurs with HP and Lexmark ink cartridges as the printhead is built in to the ink cartridge. When a cartridge has been left sitting for sometime or a printer has not been used for a while the printhead becomes partially or fully blocked. The result of this is poor print reproduction,missing colours or at its worst no printing at all ! The following video is a good example of how to unblock the printhead using very hot water and or alchahol.

Have your Ink Cartridges ran out of ink? Maybe not. Try resetting the chip on your ink cartridge to get that extra amount of ink that always gets left in the bottom (this can often be a considerable amount). This will mainly work for Epson printers only  as the chip reset feature is not the same on most other ink cartridges!

The Latest Compatible Ink Cartridges to flood the market are the Canon PGI-520/CLI-521 series. As usual Canon have developed a very complex “Opto-electrical” chip which will take some time for the manufacturers of compatible ink cartridges to replicate. It’s interesting also to note that these new series of Canon ink cartridges have even less ink in them than the preceded Canon PGI-5/CLI-8 series. So nothings changed Printer manufacturers continue to exploit the end user by once again manufacturing printers which use Expensive, low volume ink cartridges. As with the old series of Canon PGI-5 and CLI-8 cartridges the new PGI-520/CLI-521 series (non chipped) are the ONLY alternative at this time to less than halve your printing costs! As with the older canon cartridges these require you to remove the Microchip from the Genuine Canon cartridge and attatch them to the compatible cartridge. Once this is done you simply install them and follow the instructions included with the cartridges. They work fine and the only drawback is that they will not show the ink levels. Most people are more than happy to use them due to the savings involved. If you wish to go back to using the Genuine cartridges again simply pop them in your machine and all the ink levels will appear again as normal. Let me point out several points that MUST be followed when changing to the non chipped cartridges.

1. Remove the Micrchips carefully. They come off easily if you use a sharp scalpel to cut the 2 little plastic lugs.(do not use excessive force or pry at them)

2. Do not MIX the Microchips ! You MUST keep the black with the corresponding black and the cyan with the corresponding cyan etc. ( mixing them up will cause them to NOT work).

It all sounds daunting however it really is quite easy to do and the savings are HUGE. Well there you have it only 2 choices - Pay big dollars for the Genuines or more than halve your printing costs and by using the compatibles. The video below is for the Canon CLI-8 however the procedure is exactly the same for the 520 and 521 series.

NOTE: Ink Hub now has the Canon PGI-520/CLI-521 compatibles (with chips ALREADY fitted !)
Canon PGI-520BK