Canon iP4200 "operator error"

[The Hat]

This is sadly not always true:

I bow to you superior knowledge on your case but I also taught that the print head can burn out
a lodge board all right but not the other way round.

If the lodge board is duff (Dead) then there is no communications with anything anywhere
and youd be lucky to get the darn thing even to switch on.

But I live and learn..

 

[PeterBJ]

MiniMe wrote:
I agree that the build quality of the newer Canon models seems flimsy compared to the older models and there is no dispute that the older high capacity clear sided carts are better for refilling. Who is to say that that newer models won't provide as much service/purchase price as the older ones? They have not been on the market long enough for anyone to make general assumptions on that.

The new models offer perks the old models don't such as wireless printing, Apple Airprint, etc. In my humble opinion this forum is stuck in the past with little foresight for new solutions to the problems that these new models pose to efficient and cost effective refilling.

See this thread showing the longevity of the older canon printers by jimbo123: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7752 and compare Smile's experiences: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=5609&p=1 I think the newer printers will wear out long before the impressive number of pages jimbo123 has got from his older printers.

If you prefer longevity and ease of refill or want a newer printer with all "bells and whistles" is a matter of personal preference. Some older Canon printers were also made in an "R" version, capable of both wireless and wired network operation. And if wireless printing is a must with an older printer without network capability, a wireless printer server can solve the problem.

I have lent a niece a Canon MP540, for which I provide refilled cartridges. In half a year it has now printed 1400 pages, 50 A4 photos and rest plain paper documents. It is still in perfectl working order, but I wonder how long it will last. I will report when it quits or develops the problems mentioned by Smile. Time will tell how much difference in build quality matters.

I admit I like the older PGI-5/CLI-8 models better than the newer models, but that is my personal preference.

I don't think the forum is stuck in the past because some members prefer the older Canon printers. You will also find threads dealing with the best ways of refilling the newer printers with the opaque cartridges.

 

[MiniMe]

Peter I have read many of your posts in the past and respect your opinion. Correct me if I am wrong but seem to recall that you made a post that we need an info thread on reliable refillable carts for Canon. There are many threads for Epson that provide users with alternatives to OEM for those printers but any effort to do this for Canon is met with fierce resistance.

There are thousands of the newer model MG and MX Canon printers sold each day. Most of the people that buy them are not printer geeks like me or you and have very little tolerance to swapping 220's that they have to hunt for on ebay or other more respected retailers. Then the purging, chips swapping, plugs etc. For those lower use users refilables are a much simpler option.

For the hard core geeks that want to use the newer 225/226 carts why don't we start to think outside the box. Why not drill a 3/8" hole on one side of the top of the cart on the reservoir side and glue on a piece of clear acetate?

Everyone here needs to take a page from aaa's saga and think for themselves to provide solutions that the new barricades that the printer manufacturers are putting up, and will continue to put up against us in the future.

EDIT

Hehe I've got some scrap/crap 226's and all the gear (adhesive ipad screen protectors..lol), I will start on a prototype tomorrow night. The proper glue will be the key! German refillers will need to drill on the bottom. Remember that you heard it from me first.

 

[PeterBJ]

MiniMe wrote:
Peter I have read many of your posts in the past and respect your opinion. Correct me if I am wrong but seem to recall that you made a post that we need an info thread on reliable refillable carts for Canon.

No, I never asked for such a thread. Before I started refilling I have used compatible BCI-3e/6 and PGI-5/CLI-8 cartridges. The results were acceptable for plain paper documents, but photos had a yellow/green cast with the compatible BCI-3e/5 cartridges and the PGI-5/CLI-8 cartridges caused a magenta cast. The cartridges were brand digitalst@r or st@rink. The cartridges didn't damage my printers, and I have mentioned that I found these cartridges acceptable. I only used them once, I never refilled them. But refilling OEM cartridges with Image Specialists refill inks gives much better colors for photos, and the cost is only half that of the compatible carts.

There are many threads for Epson that provide users with alternatives to OEM for those printers but any effort to do this for Canon is met with fierce resistance.

I don't know much about Epson cartridges, maybe the refillable cartridges are popular because the OEM cartridges might be difficult to refill? The transparent and windowed Canon cartridges are easily refillable, so there is no need to buy refillable cartridges. I don't know the price of a set of transparent refillable cartridges to replace the opaque cartridges, but I would recommend getting a set of windowed Canon OEM cartridges and refill these. In mine and many other forum members' opinion the best refillable cartridges for Canon printers are Canon OEM cartridges. They are high quality, which some 3rd party refillable cartridges might be, but others are certainly not. See this horror story: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7360&p=1

There are thousands of the newer model MG and MX Canon printers sold each day. Most of the people that buy them are not printer geeks like me or you and have very little tolerance to swapping 220's that they have to hunt for on ebay or other more respected retailers. Then the purging, chips swapping, plugs etc. For those lower use users refilables are a much simpler option.

The forum is here to help newcomers with solving these problems, and good low profile plugs plus aluminum tape for an extra line of defence against leaks are available from dealers both in the US and the EU. For those who print very little, I would recommend using Canon OEM cartridges, even if they are expensive. To start refilling you need to invest in inks and accessories and if you print very little the pay back time will be long. But when you have refilled one or two set of cartridges you have saved enough money to buy a new printer. So refilling OEM cartridges is what I would recommend for most users.

For the hard core geeks that want to use the newer 225/226 carts why don't we start to think outside the box. Why not drill a 3/8" hole on one side of the top of the cart on the reservoir side and glue on a piece of clear acetate?

I wouldn't dare do this. The slightest air leak into the ink chamber will cause a disastrous ink leakage into the printer. Both Canon OEM and 3rd party cartridges are made from polypropylene, a plastic that is difficult to to get a reliable bond to. The glue is critical, some hot melt glues have an acceptable bond, others not. There are also special liquid glues for polypropylene, but these contains some nasty chemicals and might be restricted to professional use only.

Everyone here needs to take a page from aaa's saga and think for themselves to provide solutions that the new barricades that the printer manufacturers are putting up, and will continue to put up against us in the future.

I think aaa's ciss is very elegant, but it is hardly a project for a beginner. Furthermore a ciss demands that you print regularly to avoid problems. As far as I know only a few members have mastered the art of getting a ciss to work reliably with a Canon printer. Epson printers seem to be much more ciss friendly.

Hehe I've got some scrap/crap 226's and all the gear (adhesive ipad screen protectors..lol), I will start on a prototype tomorrow night. The proper glue will be the key! German refillers will need to drill on the bottom. Remember that you heard it from me first. smile

I look forward to see your design, but please post it in a new thread, we have already strayed too far away from the original topic which was about a pixma 4200.

 

[lbs129]

I ended up ordering a new Pixma MG5250 today. I will still keep the iP4200 since I like it to much to scrap it and maybe buy I new print head if it feels right. I'm sure the MG5250 will be good enough for me since I am no heavy user, and the scanner functionality is tempting. One can also buy cheap ink cartridges for the MG5250 and many other printers from SweBurn.com which is a store I can really recommend. Refilling isn't anything for me, not for the moment at least.

Thanks for your help and advice!

Best regards,
Johan

 

[The Hat]

I ended up ordering a new Pixma MG5250 today. I will still keep the iP4200 since I like it to much to scrap it and maybe buy I new print head if it feels right. I'm sure the MG5250 will be good enough for me since I am no heavy user, and the scanner functionality is tempting. One can also buy cheap ink cartridges for the MG5250 and many other printers from SweBurn.com which is a store I can really recommend. Refilling isn't anything for me, not for the moment at least.

Thanks for your help and advice!

Best regards,
Johan

Good to hear youre going to hang onto the iP4200 and save it till later, a wise choice and one you wont regret.

Youll find the MG5250 a better printer but it will eat up ink compared to the 4200
and those aftermarket carts youll be using should help keep the ink costs down considerably.

When youre ready to give refilling a bash come back to us and we will give you all the necessary low on what equipment and cartridges
youll need and guide you step by step through which ever method of refilling that suites you best..

Happy Printing..

 

[PeterBJ]

Hi lbs129

Congratulations with the new printer.

Even if you have no intention of refilling for the present, I recommend that you keep the orange clips from the Canon cartridges when you install them in your new printer. When the Canon cartridges are empty, reattach the orange clips and keep them in place with rubber bands. This protects the cartridges against drying, so they will be suitable for refill, if you later decide to start refilling. Don't throw empty Canon OEM cartridges away, they are valuable for refillers. If you don't need the cartridges, then maybe some family or friends would be happy to receive them.

 

[13mh13]

Hello!

My first post here!!

I have EXACTLY the same issue as the OP ... same printer, same Error Message, same 5-pulse flash on front LED/button.
Don't know when I bought the iP4200 (2011 ???), but it went thru some extensive use (2013-2016) when I was eBaying --- maybe 500 shipping labels, BK ink only. Mostly printing labels in grayscale mode. But for mot of the other time ... totally unused! It may have even never been turned on 2017-2019!! My three color inks and small black (all "8") have been dry since 2012. I only use the main large BK ink cart.
I think the print head has gone out. I can get replacement (China; eBay), for about $24 (delivered here to USA).
The price of replacement inks is very cheap on eBay as well (2 large BKs for $5, delivered!!) ... and they work just fine.

So I'll ask:

1. Is it worth it to bet on a defective PH, sink $24 into the replacement, and pray for a win?
2. I've heard that newer printers are not so well made. Given how little I use any printer, should I just go for the $24 Chinese PH ... or will other things fail ... even with almost no use?
3. Does running this printer with ONLY the BK cart. full (the others installed but empty or very low), endanger the life and reliability of the PH. I'm guessing fluid ink helps cool the PH's ink-heating element .... right?

 

[The Hat]

I reckon you should get a Mono laser and forget about inkjet printers, because I’m amazed how long you’ve got out of the iP4200, the ink your buying is only coloured water and not fit for any print head, and as for the new $24 head, don’t bother it’s not going to work either.. Sorry but you did ask..

I'm guessing fluid ink helps cool the PH's ink-heating element .... right?

I reckon you’ve answered this question yourself..

 

[13mh13]

I and as for the new $24 head, don’t bother it’s not going to work either.. Sorry but you did ask..

Why won't it work?