Epson 3880 uses different chips in USA and in Europe?

[Harry Briels]

Today I received a set of used ink cartridges for my Epson Pro 3880 (not empty) from San Francisco.
My printer identifies the LK, LLK, VM, LC and Y as not OEM carts and as a consequence I can not use these.
It is a matter of different chips used in the US versus Europe.
I took the ink out of these carts, but that ink has become rather expensive because of not being able to use these carts!
Harry

 

[cls]

The Epson Pro Series never had Regional locked Cartridges.
I have seen alot of forgein Design Artist and Graphic Artist on various exibithions and events printing with the 38X0 Series on their event booth. Almost everyone brought the printer with all the equipment from abroad, but when required they checked local shops and bought missing ink cartriges righ away.

The 38X0 neatly packed in a shock resistant flight case with ALOT of foam inside is really a powerfull "tool" to print ondemand on a "moving" location suchs as exibitihons or international photoshootings.

So basically NO there are really no regional differences with the Chip

 

[martin0reg]

I did not bought carts from USA for my 3880 yet - but I would have!

And like CLS says, this reallly would be a surprise.

There is no indication or sign on the carts regarding different regions...
...but what about the chip numbers?
I have here for example two empty carts (used by myself)
- LLK, exp 2012, chip number F2151
- LK, exp 2012, chip number F2171
and a full PK, exp 2015, chip number F2127
Question is: are these numbers all different and totally random or identical for each color? If identical this would mean globally the same..!?

 

[Harry Briels]

I think that the conclusion that no different chip numbers are used regionally is possible but not certain!
Attached I show in an Excel file that 5 of 8 carts I purchased in the US (5807 LK, 5809 LLK, 580A viv M, 5805 LC, 5804 Y) are not accepted by my Pro 3880 (purchased some months ago).
Three carts are accepted ((5808 MK, 5801 PK, 5802 C)
How can I solve this problem?
Thanks for your help!

 

[The Hat]

I have also tried to get to grips with chips codes on my Pixma Pro 1, they too have all different numbers, the ones I checked have different code numbers on all of the colours.

I examined 32 chips, almost 3 sets in total and none of them had the same code number, all were OEM chips, each set had a different batch number and all worked without a hitch, these cartridges work in all regions.

 

[3dogs]

Harry,
Sorry to say but you have bad carts, there is NO regional chip in the 3880.
When removing the chip from OEM cart to use it on Cone cart it is essential to make sure that the chip stays with the correct colour. It is not possible to use a magenta cart with a cyan chip...it will not work.
I have used the same set of Cone carts for four years now refilling, removing and putting back..........I have no issues......
HARRY..........THERE IS ONLY ONE INK SELLER THAT HAS THE 3880 nailed 100% and that is CONE!
EVERYONE who stuffs around trying others ends up paying MORE for refilling than using OEM carts.
If Cone went out of business I would quit printing.......end of story.

 

[3dogs]

@3dogs,
I haven't moved any chips so that did not cause the problem. It is just strange that Epson OEM carts with their original chips are identified by my Pro 3880 as illegal!
The printing situation is rather strange on my new 3880.
The LCD shows 4 empty carts, but I can still print the same high quality photos.

As far as Cone Inks are concerned.
So far it was extremely expensive to buy Cone inks in the USA from Europe because of postage and custom charges.
Cone now has a distributor for all of Europe located in Poland but they charge rather stiff prices €50,73 ($55,19) for a 220 ml bottle of Cone-color Pro Ink.
I buy Lyson inks which are also of top quality in Germany at €48,00 ($52,00) for a 250 ml bottle.
I am quite satisfied with the Lyson inks.
Harry

Harry,

I did not say you had swapped chips. I said and reiterate you have been sent defective or pirate carts from the USA.

My comment on chip swap is an advice warning to ALL readers.

On ink and the 3880. I have warned you on what ink to use with your new 3880.
Do not even bother to post a request for help later on when your very expensive and normally long lived print head dies prematurely due to ink.....and it will......I can almost promise you that right here and now...you will get NO sympathy from me. I put the advice in bold print for a good reason.

 

[Harry Briels]

As I described in the beginning of this thread, I bought a set of 8 empty carts in the US.
When I tested this set, before any filling and resetting, I got the message on the LCD that the printer identified 5 out of 8 carts as "non-genuine cartridges".
There was thereafter the message "Continue? " and the choice "Accept" or "Decline"?

When I selected "Decline" the printer would not print.
When "Accept" was selected the printer printed at perfect quality, notwithstanding the fact that several carts on the LCD were shown as empty (blank).

So the only negative seems to be that the ink level is not visible on the LCD for those carts that are showing a blank level on the LCD.
I did reset several times the carts that show a blank ink level, even with different resetters, but to no avail.
Is there anything I can do to correct this situation?

 

[jtoolman]

Harry, I will share my experience with you on so called "Empties" and I have had over 150 so called Empties pass through my hands. As you know I use only OEM inks from EPSON large volume carts to refill my modified ( very simple and minimally non invasive method ) OEM carts, so ink will never be an issue with head damage possibly due to ink bad 3rd party quality issues.

When a cart has been used to where the printer originally reads it as empty and it is then reset, it will appear to have been properly reset. Light turns solid green and goes out, BUT it will be recognized by the printer as NON GENUINE and just like in your situation you can choose to continue.
You will be able to use those carts after choosing to continue BUT you would have to do that EVERY time you decide to print.
So back to your carts. The possibility is that they were reset, after being declared as empty. Remember that so called empties or even as low as them weighing about 80 grams will still have about 20 TOTAL MLs of ink which makes them appear as not being "Empty" will be basically ruined for further use when they are reset. For this OEM Cart refilling system to work, the carts and chips MUST come from carts that were still weighing at the very least 85 and more grams. And who in their right mind would SELL carts that have that much ink still in them right?

This is what I've experienced in my research.

Regards
Joe

 

[Harry Briels]

Thank you Joe, for your clear explanation!

If I could purchase new chips for the carts that now are not recognized that would solve this recognition problem.
You know the Epson printer business so in and out.
Could be so kind as to you show me a way to purchase just the chips for T5809 LLK, T580A VM, T5808 LC, and T5804 Y?

The seller could put these on a piece of cardboard and send them by normal mail to me.
I am more than prepared to pre-pay a good price for these chips.
I still had an old chip of the LK cart that had been refused by the printer too.
I did put it on the cart and the chip was recognized.

Thank you again for your help!
Harry