can't reset cartridges for my Epson 1400

[Paul W.]

I have an Epson 1400 equipped with refillable carts, the chips are version 6.0. I'm going to be away from the printer for about 10 days and would like to pull the carts and insert a new set of carts filled with Piezoflush. (I've filled a set of carts with Piezoflush for a 1430 that I've mothballed and get perfect nozzle checks once a month.} These carts have served me well, and I've been able to reset its ver 6.0 chips easily. The resetter is from InkJet Mall.

I have a new set of ver 6.3 carts that I'd like to use, and after I filled them with Piezoflush I tried to reset the chips, but the LEDs didn't show any thing, red or green. I did load the printer with these carts when I first got them, and the resetter gave me green lights for all six. The carts were empty so I didn't want to damage the printer and didn't choose to run the carts.

Then I remembered in that early test that I was using an older resetter. I dug it out of storage and tested the batteries, they showed weak so I installed new batteries, but still unable to reset the 6.3 chips with either chip setter.

I hope I didn't damage the chips with all this testing.

 

[mikling]

Your vendor has not supplied you with the best situation for the 1400 vs. the 1430. Typical of .....
In any case. The SP1400 can run V6.0 chips which operate just like the OEM chips for this printer.
The Artisan 1430 initially was introduced in the USA with the ability to also run V6.0 but this lasted for the very first shipment and thereafter the firmware had been changed so that the V6.0 chips would not operate on the 1430. These required a V6.3 chips.

The 6.3 chips operates on a completely different architecture. In fact, the architecture reverted BACK to the V1.0 and a couple generations thereafter. Th V6.3 no longer operates on an independent basis. It operates by having the Black as the master server and the other 5 colors are clients or slaves. As a result, the resetting is controlled by the Black. You can have slave V6.3 chips from other series e.g. TO98 function with the TO79 master black. All slave chips are identical.

Needless to say the V6.3 also works on the SP 1400. However the situation is not ideal for the user. They are NOT resettable with an external resetter like the V6.0 When a chip goes bad, it is difficult to determine whether it is the master black or the slave chip has failed. Resetting can sometimes be problematic when other slave chips are suddenly mixed or when a new master is introduced with existing slaves. The ability to have second sets for swapouts do not make sense and the round robbin reset is unavoidable. There are times when the ARC chips will refuse to reset, requiring a cold start with no cartridges. Understand that the V6.3 was provided to get around the firmware changes....and there are some drawbacks.

It is these things that most ink vendors do not understand even the large ones nor care. For if they did, they would have pointed you to get the V6.0 for the SP1400.

 

[Paul W.]

Thanks, mikling... I was hoping you'd join this thread, you know a lot about the various chip issues.

I have both a 1400 and a 1430. I've mothballed the 1430 with ver 6.0 chips, and filled the carts with Piezoflush. As I said earlier, this computer has been "asleep" for many months, but I do give it a nozzle check once a month with great success. My 1400 has a set of 6.0 carts, filled with the Eboni 6 inkset. I reset those (externally) very easily when reinking. I have two sets of carts on the shelf, a brand new 6.0 set, empty and sealed with plastic, and a 6.3 set filled with Piezoflush.

The 1400 is my daily workhorse for now. I bought the 1430 as an Epson refurb and it will become my main printer when the life span of the 1400 runs out. I run a nozzle check on the 1400 every 2,3,4 days to minimize clogs. This printer has a set of ver. 6.0 chipped carts as well. I want to replace those with another inkset containing Piezoflush as well, while I'm away. (NOTE: maybe I should chance it and not bother with all this.)

Anyway, yesterday, for my 1400 storage, I tried filling a set of ver 6.3 chipped carts with PFlush, but was not able to get them recognized. I tried resetting these carts with an external resetter, to no avail. I also have a set of brand new, never loaded, 6.0 carts from InkJet Mall. I could use those. Thanks to you I understand the difference between the two versions.

As for the 1400: just now, Thursday, I tried setting (external) just the Black 6.3 cart and got a green light. I thought the 6.3s were not externally resettable. Should I load these carts again, and let the K cart be the master and let it set the remaining 5? In other words, the K master does the job of resetting instead of my external resetter? My second choice would be to break open that new set using 6.0 chips, fill with Piezoflush and use that for my 10 day storage.

One more thing... I have two resetters, as explained in my initial post. Is there a difference? I think IJM claimed its resetter was more universal.

All for now, and thanks so much. I hope I was clear... it got confusing for me! Looking forward to your comments,

Paul

 

[Paul W.]

Good news... firing up my confidence on how to use the 6.3 carts in the 1400: I used my resetter to set only the K cart. Then I installed that cart, followed by installing the five slave carts. The head went back and forth, behaving as it should. All six carts were recognized in the on-line chart, at about 3/4 full (of Piezoflush). One cart, I think it was the light cyan, oddly showed 100% full. Anyway, most carts looked good, a couple were missing several lines. Am not too worried about that. I'll let the Piezoflush work its magic overnight and expect to see some improvement in the am. And I'll be able to take my trip with peace of mind.

I guess that's the way these 6.3 chips work. I much prefer the 6.0, sounds like you would agree. Next vendor I deal with I'll make sure they're 6.0s.

Regards,

Paul

 

[Paul W.]

mikling,

PS: I have a concern though...

The Artisan 1430 initially was introduced in the USA with the ability to also run V6.0 but this lasted for the very first shipment and thereafter the firmware had been changed so that the V6.0 chips would not operate on the 1430. These required a V6.3 chips.

But I'm running 6.0 chip cartridges in my 1430, and didn't have any problem doing so. Is it possible, hopeful, that these 6.0 carts have been improved? Or maybe I have one of the very first 1430s. Of course, I've only run the 1430 under two settings... 1) the color OEMs and 2) when those ran out I installed the 6.0 chip cartridges filled with Piezoflush and the printer's been in mothballs ever since.

Paul

 

[Paul W.]

Sorry to be monopolizing the thread here... but this should be my last post because the nozzle check on my 1400, with Piezoflush in the 6.3 carts, was perfect this afternoon. I simply took my time, every few hours I'd run a check (sometimes running just one head clean), so's to let the Piezoflush work, each check getting better.

Thanks to all, especially mikling, for giving me the basics of different chip versions for different printers.

Paul

 

[Paul W.]

It's been almost three weeks since I installed Piezoflush in my printer. I did a nozzle check when I got home and it was perfect, as I had hoped. Now I'm going to install my inked cartridges. How do I go about that? Do I simply remove the cleaning carts, insert the inked carts, and run the cart cleaning app till the nozzle check no longer is pink (the tinted color of the storage fluid) and shows black?

Should be simple... just want to avoid any gotchas.