Using Ecotank 542 Durabrite ink for refilling WF-4730

[blue_lazer]

I'm considering buying the Epson WorkForce WF-4730 because it is the cheapest pigment ink printer with CISS and chipless firmware available. Original ink is very expensive. I'm aware that third party refill ink will almost never be exactly like OEM quality, so I was thinking, can I use Ecotank 542 ink to refill 802 cartridges? Will the ink formulation be close enough to print accurate colors like original ink without needing to create ICC profiles?

I'm also considering other models around this price range. For example, I would prefer a printer with a rear feed and straight feed path (which this model doesn't) as I am planning on printing stickers and possibly 130 gsm cardstock, which may be prone to jamming.

 

[pharmacist]

You might be surprised how good aftermarket ink is. Have a look at my Epson WF-7840 printer (which uses the 405/405XL cartridges, the EU-version of the 802/802XL cartridges in the US). I am using aftermarket pigment ink from Inktec formulated for HP pigment printer (I bought this type of ink because since it is formulated for bubblejet printers like the HP, it is automatically compatible with Canon pigment printers (Maxify) and also piezo printers of Brother and Epson, so I can use it in all pigment ink compatible printers).

See last post with pictures and scans of a copy of a children's book cover using both original Epson 405/405XL ink and with Inktec HP5088 pigment refill ink:

https://www.printerknowledge.com/threads/epson-ecotank-et-16600-vs-wf-7840dtwf.15804/

 

[pharmacist]

Concerning stiffer and thicker medium: my Epson WF-7840 can do this so thicker paper does not need to make a sharp U-turn and can be fed from the back rear:

 

[blue_lazer]

I was looking into the WF-7310 or WF-7840 models as well as they can print A3 size and has a rear feed.

However, I was not able to find refillable solutions for the 802 or 812 cartridges. From what I’ve read, supplies are region locked so 405 compatible cartridges will not be compatible with 812.

As for using third party ink, what’s a good brand in the US? Is Inkowl a good brand?

 

[pharmacist]

nope but you say the WF-7430 is can be made chipless ? Go for it and use refillable 802/812 carts or CISS and use chipless firmware. I suggest to use Inktec or InkOwl or go for precisioncolors.com pigment ink.

 

[blue_lazer]

Nah not the current WF 7xxx series A3 printers sadly.

I’m also keeping an eye out on local marketplaces for a WF 71xx, 76xx, or 77xx series printer (the previous generation) as self resetting chips and chipless firmware is available. However, most of them that I’ve seen are either broken (with some hardware related error code) or hasn’t been used in more than a month with the seller not having ink (likely clogged printhead by now).

 

[pharmacist]

It is so sad in the USA you cannot have aftermarket or refillable cartridges. Would it be possible to flash an EU-version firmware into an US-version printer, because the hardware should be same ?

 

[blue_lazer]

Is there some law in Europe that prevents printer companies from making it too difficult for third party compatible chips to be produced?

I’m not sure if it would be possible to flash firmware from a European model onto an American model. However, I saw someone on r/sublimation in Reddit say they’re looking into flashing ET-16650 firmware onto a WF-7840 to make it chipless.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Sublimation/comments/zh5269

 

[pharmacist]

Because the EU has enforced laws that aftermarket cartridges or refillables should be possible. HP already was sued for pushing unintentional firmware upgrades rendering aftermarket cartridges useless. It would be nice the American Congres would follow the same path making american citizens to have the right to choose to use aftermarket cartridges or refillables. Often at aliexpress.com you will find refillables or chips or resetters with the explicit warning: ONLY for EU printers.

 

[blue_lazer]

I really wish so too, but I highly doubt that will happen any time soon, and any attempts to pass such a law will probably be massively lobbied against by printer companies.

Not to mention IP protection, printer companies could file for a patent to prevent certain design elements from being used. Several years ago Epson sued a third party cartridge manufacturer for patent infringement, Epson won.

I’m glad they haven’t considered making paper proprietary… Oh wait, Dymo did that with their thermal printers.

I might consider importing one from EU but shipping wth a freight forwarder is going to be expensive