HP Photosmart C5180 all the problems in one topic

[honda4life]

Hello everyone.

I needed to print larger amounts of pages on HP Photosmart C5180 from now on.
I dicided to buy a refillable set with InkTec ink:
h t t p : / / w w w . coralgraph.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=184
Very good seller, good support, couldn't be better (transparent cartridge).

Okay, first using the original cartridges until empty (XL Black).
100+ pages, in multiple presentations with print settings on draft and lowest ink volume settings.
First issue: My computer is incredibly slow when printing large amounts, the hard disk is busy all the time, I think it's not a RAM shortage. All not needed HP crap disabled but still no good solution.
The printing stops if the computer "lags" a few minutes.
It's a network printer. I'm using Windows Vista, no problems on brother's pc with Windows 7.
Am I something missing to reduce almost crashing laptop due hard disk usage?

Black cartridges empty, so replaced all with refillable.
Here is the real problem I think.
The printer pumps in half a cartridge of black ink, so my guess is that level detection is very unreliable with draft settings / lowest ink volume settings.
The print quality is really bad, like problems "starting" the first printer sweep, lines,... After cleaning cycle and calibration a bit better.
After waiting a day all problems dissapeared and the result is better than original ink.

Okay, problem solved you think.
400+ pages later, printed again presentations.
Printer stops due lagging computer, so printed the missing pages again.
After 2 pages there are small lines in presentation. (guess I can't see this in text prints).

So... What can be the problem????
I think the problems started with the too empty original cartridge. (but that is solved?)
I think the line printing problem is a thermal problem due not enough cooling from the lowest volume ink?


Greets from Belgium!

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

I know almost nothing about your printer, but I have a couple of hints.

First, it sounds like you paid about $1 per page in draft mode. Not cheap, but maybe not so bad if the pages use a LOT of ink.

You computer may be very busy with printing if the pages are mostly pixel graphics or PDF files. So that could be normal. For text it should not be busy at all.

Ink monitoring tends to be just guesswork--it counts drops and warns you when there's really still ink in the cartridge. But I think because they can't really tell how much ink is in a sponge. If your cartridges don't have sponges, it could use a different system. Check the directions, but my HP printer says it's OK to print until the pages get light (i.e., until it's REALLY out of ink).

If it quits printing, check for warnings on the printer. You may have to cancel the alarm before printing continues. Also check the print queue on your printer. You may have to kick it to get it printing again.