Replace all cartridges at the same time when switching to refillables? (PGI-550/CLI-551)

[floK]

Hi @The Hat and thank you for the clarifications.
So the conclusion is that, in order to switch to refillable cartridges, I have to waste a big part of the very precious Canon ink It's a little painful, as I"ve just bought my new Pixma IX6850 and hoped to enjoy a little longer the original quality... Though, if I think to savings, the pain becomes much supportable

The ARC cartridges say to refill when the printer says they're empty, because that's the only time they'll reset. But Precision Colors recommends refilling when the printer warns that the ink level is low, otherwise you'll get foam in the sponge and problems with ink flow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lioycomsMkQ (around 06.50). Tricky.

Yes, this is a bit strange!
On Octoink (which, as I know, is in a very close relationship with Precision Colors) it is also specified that the ARC cartridges should be refilled only when empty (I put again the link to this very good article: http://www.octoink.co.uk/kb/questions/199/Troubleshooting:+PGI-550,+CLI-551+Auto+Reset+Chips)

Would it help to re-prime the cartridge as shown in Octoink's video at http://www.octoink.co.uk/products/Canon-550%2d551-Refillable-cartridge-set.html when refilling an empty refillable? Or is priming only possible with a clean, dry sponge?

From what I understand, the priming is possible only the first time (when the cartridge is new).

L.E. I just saw your reply, @The Hat, it's clear now.
L.L.E. However, I wonder if similar issues with the sponge can't happen in the ARC cartridges, too?

 

[stratman]

On Octoink (which, as I know, is in a very close relationship with Precision Colors)

AFAIK, they are two separately owned businesses separated by thousands of miles by the Atlantic ocean. Octoink is in England and Precision Colors is in Canada. Both proprietors are members of this forum and both sell similar products.

Is there something else?

 

[floK]

Sorry, my fault. I made a confusion between Precision Colors and Image Specialists.
I've certainly absorbed too much information about refilling, last days

 

[The Hat]

OEM cartridges are by their nature very special so they can’t not be copied by other manufactures and they are the clear leaders for refilling, but you must follow the refilling rules exactly to insure trouble free printing when using them.

Compatible refillables cartridges vary quite a lot so there are good one and there are dreadful ones, some of them work very well but have to be monitored to make sure they stay that way, and the other type well, some don’t even work for one refill before causing trouble.

Caveat Emptor..

 

[Vorkolor]

Well, I tried filling the cartridges and replacing only the cyan. The refillable cartrige seems to work just fine next to the Peach cartridges.(No OEM carts in the printer.)

I'm a bit grumpy that the printer claimed the Peach cyan was empty, though. The reservoir is a quarter full.

 

[floK]

@Vorkolor I'm glad you confirm that the refillable cartridges can work in combination with the compatible ones.
Meanwhile, I found this article from which I quote:
"Thus, the Canon printers also work easily with a mix of compatible refill cartridges and Canon original cartridges. However, you should generally refill cartridges if possible use the set complete as it can be color variations else when mixing compatible ink with original ink - in the text black cartridge alone, it would be easy because nothing is mixed." (automatic translation, sorry)

 

[mikling]

It would seem you are getting a little bit confused by two different opinions, because believe it or not they are both correct but for two different types of cartridges.

The ARC fitted refillable cartridges should only be refilled when the printer indicate they are empty, BUT the other advice not to use the cartridge beyond low ink warning is specifically for OEM cartridges which uses a redsetter, not ARC's

This is the problem of refilling using ARC equipped compatibles ( sometimes a necessary evil) as opposed to using a resetter. With a resetter, we can preserve the sponge condition with an early refill and also reset and ink level and chip level are coordinated. With memory retentive ARCs this is not possible. As a result, if you want to preserve sponge condition, then you end up having the ink level and chip level out of sync, unless you top off early, then top off again on a reset of the ARC. Griping? Well it could be worse....No ARC at all.

So for those who have printers for which a resetter is available....you have a gift from the gods of refilling. Life without that resetter is certainly not as good.

 

[The Hat]

@Vorkolor I'm glad you confirm that the refillable cartridges can work in combination with the compatible ones.
However, you should generally refill cartridges if possible use the set complete as it can be color variations else when mixing compatible ink with original ink

Canon printers can have several different types of cartridges fitted that will all work together but there’s one exceptions to that rule. *

There are 4 types, OEM original cartridges, or you can have compatible filled cartridges and then there are the 2 refillable types of cartridge which can be fitted with different types of ARC chips.*

The normal ARC chip will reset when the printer is powered off or you remove that cartridge to refill it, this type of ARC chip cartridge will work with any OEM or compatible cartridge, but the newer ARC chip* type that only resets after been declared empty must to be fitted as a complete set. (No mixing allowed)

Mixing OEM cartridges with compatible filled cartridges can give you colour shift in your prints, because compatible filled cartridge tend to have a slightly different colour ink set, they may not give a good overall colour match on your paper, its preferable to use all the same ink brand in a set of cartridges to minimise and stop this..

 

[Vorkolor]

but the newer ARC chip* type that only resets after been declared empty must to be fitted as a complete set. (No mixing allowed)

I unplugged my printer and turned it back on again, and the single refillable (together with single-use non-OEMs) didn't reset to full, which means it's what you call the "newer" type.. So my experience is that the "newer" type can indeed be mixed with others. Haven't tested it with OEM carts.

 

[floK]

@The Hat, from what you say, it follows that the old chips were better than the new ones: they could be replaced one by one and could be filled all at the same time (that I also consider much more convenient).
What were their drawbacks?

As for color matching, I think this is not the priority for 90% of those that are looking to replace the OEMs. I mean I don't believe that the majority of people are printing fine-art photography on their printers, but more office, graphic works or technical drawings - which are not so perfect-hue-pretentious. And, for "normal" pictures, I think that a good photo lab is a better (and even cheaper) option than using refillable cartridges.
I hope not to offend anyone. I know there are many hobbyists here, but ... this is the truth.