i keep losing MP830 scanner units, now i'm thinking i may be the culprit, lost 2 in the past 10 days

[jimbo123]

i keep losing MP830 scanner units, now i'm thinking i may be the culprit, lost 2 in the past 10 days, see below for details

- 02/19/15: 6 year old #1 MP830 scanner, stated making noise, refused to travel, gave scanner error, still prints fine. installed new out box #2 MP830

- 03/30/15: #2 MP830, just 6 weeks old, scanner died w error "scanner is not operating properly", still prints fine. installed newly purchased working scanner unit into #1 MP830, scanner worked fine

- 04/09/15: #1 MP830 w new scanner unit died after 10 days w error "scanner is not operating properly", still prints fine

now i'm thinking it may be me and how i am using it.

the only thing that has changed is that i started to scan more off the platen, often with the lid up, cuz i was too lazy to close it each time.

could my laziness by not closing the lid be causing my 9 yr old scanner units to prematurely die ?

note that these were made in 2006, so getting on 9 years old, could age and my use/abuse be the cause ?

any other thoughts or ideas ?

J

for more info see my what i thought was a successful surgery thread
http://www.printerknowledge.com/thr...p830s-2-hour-surgery-all-are-doing-fine.9913/

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• Active Printers: MP830, MP980, PRO-100
• Stored Printers: MP830, IP4500, MX700, MX860, MX870
• Method: German Durchstich Method
• Ink: Hobbicolors and OCP
• Misc: Squeeze bottles - so much easier than syringes

 

[The Hat]

Leaving the lid open while scanning is not going to make your scanner suddenly break, on the other hand it may have been the way you’ve stored it, or it may not have been locked properly. (Got loose)

But I know one thing you shouldn’t do and that is to operate your scanner with the lid open because it’s not good for your eyes and can lead to blindness..

 

[stratman]

the only thing that has changed is that i started to scan more off the platen, often with the lid up

The issue with leaving the lid upright is potentially using more ink/toner from "sky shots", scanning the air, which leads to black stripe(s) on the copy depending on whether what is being scanned is large enough to completely cover the full area of the paper used to make the copy with.

Another issue is with light scatter from the ambient light intruding around/under the document being scanned. This can result in a poorer scanned image even if there are no black stripes as mentioned above.

How this affects the life of the lamp or the CCD sensor I do not know.

Could there be an issue with power regulation, either within the printers or, more likely based on multiple printers affected, from the wall outlet? In case you are swapping print heads between the machines (a common denominator along with the ink cartridges), I have not heard of scanner unit malfunctions related to print heads.

 

[stratman]

But I know one thing you shouldn’t do and that is to operate your scanner with the lid open because it’s not good for your eyes and can lead to blindness..

At least you won't get hairy palms like something else you've been told not to do.

 

[The Hat]

I shouldn’t be encouraging you but…

 

[turbguy]

Suggest you get a dedicated scanner and dedicated printer.

 

[jimbo123]

have heard that from others who scan with the lid open with no problems, but from now on will keep it closed when scanning, can't hurt.

as mentioned in another thread my last spare MP830(#3) had a broken idler pulley assembly
http://www.printerknowledge.com/thr...-left-side-is-missing-or-has-come-loose.9923/

PeterBJ was kind enough to send me a spare so to see if i can get #3 working.

in the meantime i took #3's scanner and put in on #2. so i am back in business as far a a fully functioning MP830.

the scanner/ADF removal and reinstall took me an hour first time, now can do it in under 15 min. the ribbon cables are no fun to re-attach. i did catch error 5400 w 6 flashing lights(logic board temp too high). that didn't make sense since it worked yesterday, so i pulled things apart, reseated all the ribbon cables carefully/securely and all was fine.

like most stuff in life, pretty easy the second time around.

much thanks for the help, advice and parts from the forum members here

J

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Active Printers: MP830, MP980, PRO-100
• Stored Printers: MP830, IP4500, MX700, MX860, MX870
• Method: German Durchstich Method
• Ink: Hobbicolors and OCP
• Misc: Squeeze bottles - so much easier than syringes