Leaving printer ON all the time? Does that hurt it?
Evan
Should I turn my HP 820 (if it matters) OFF when I'm not
using it, or is it o.k. to leave it on for extended periods?
Rob Levandowski
> Should I turn my HP 820 (if it matters) OFF when I'm not
>using it, or is it o.k. to leave it on for extended periods?
I can't speak for HP printers, but with Xerox laser printers, it's
recommended that you turn the printer off if you will not be using it for
an extended period of time (and the printer supports being turned off).
In particular, turning off a Xerox XPrint color laser printer overnight
can extend the life of the photoconductor belt. It gives the OPC material
a chance to "rest" without being energized by the printer engine.
Some printers, such as the Xerox 4508, have no power switch. They go into
a deep "sleep" mode when not in use. If the printer has no power switch,
it should be OK to leave it on overnight. However, if it will be
unattended for any lengthy period of time (i.e., a week on vacation, etc.)
prudence says that unplugging the printer is a good idea. Any laser
printer has parts that get hot enough to start a fire if a sufficiently
serious malfunction occurs. While such a malfunction is exceptionally
unlikely, my reasoning is that yanking the plug before going off to the
Bahamas is a good way to avoid Murphy's Law. :)
Personally, I turn my personal laser printer off when I'm not using it.
As it predates Energy Star and sleep modes, it generates heat (from the
fuser) at all times when it is on. During the summer, that's heat I don't
need. It's also a signifigant power draw I don't need on my electric
bill.
--
Robert Levandowski
Desktop Printing Analyst, VAR Support Team
The Document Company -- Xerox
robert_le...@mc.xerox.com
CIF Associate -- University of Rochester -- Rochester, NY
rlvd...@uhura.cc.rochester.edu
Frank Quan
In article <31e52233...@news.tiac.net>, Top...@tiac.net says...
>
> Should I turn my HP 820 (if it matters) OFF when I'm not
>using it, or is it o.k. to leave it on for extended periods?
turned it off for a few days the ink would dry up in the nozzles and it would
leave streaks when I print. I now use a Epson Color Stylus II, and I still
leave it on all the time, old habits I guess.
Hugh Rice
Evan (Top...@tiac.net) wrote:
: Should I turn my HP 820 (if it matters) OFF when I'm not
: using it, or is it o.k. to leave it on for extended periods?
Most modern inkjet printers (all HP 600 and 800 series for instance),
use a "soft" power switch. In general terms, the switch communicates
to the controller in the printer to shut the system down. What is most
important is that the pens (ink-jet cartridges) be properly serviced and
capped before the printer enters an idle or "off" state. The pens
must be properly treated to maximize their life.
Specifically, pressing the power button causes the printer to stop what
it is doing, eject the paper, and cap the pens. During this time, power
itself is still applied to the printer. After everything has been cleaned
up, the printer goes to an idle, or sleep state. However, the digital
systems in the printer are still active. The printer in not *all* the way
powered down.
Just letting the printer print and finish, without pressing the power button
accomplishes nearly the same thing. The printer still properly caps and
maintains the pens, but remains in a state that is a bit more "awake," and
of course the power LED stays on.
The DeskJet 820C is still on enough, even after the power button is pressed
to turn the printer off, that it will wake up and start printing if a print
job is sent to it. Other printers, the DeskJet 850C for instance, are even
more "off" than the 820C when the power button is pressed. Simply a different
implementation.
I have seen similar behavior in printer from manufacturers other than HP.
ADVICE:
1) For an inkjet printer from any manufacturer: Don't power it down with a
power strip, or by pulling the plug. There is a good change that the
pens will not be properly maintained. It is best to leave AC power
applied to the printer (keep it plugged in) all the time.
2) For some printers (DeskJet 800 series for instance), there is a
calibration process that occurs on new pens that requires the printer to
be idle, but still powered up for a few hours. (The calibration maximizes
the life and print- quality of the pens.) Turning the printer off by
removing AC power prevents this from properly occurring. The 820C runs
the process anytime the printer is plugged in, the 850/855/870 must be
turned on for this to work.
NET: When in doubt, leave the printer plugged in and turned on. I won't
hurt anything, and may help.
Hope this helps,
Hugh Rice. Note: I work for HP on inkjet printers, but I am NOT an official
spokesman for HP. What I write here I believe to be true, but
use this advice at your own risk.
Tom Miller
I believe the 820 is an inkjet printer, and it is not doing much when
it is sitting there not printing. I'd turn it off at night. A laser
printer is always firing up the heating element and burning
electricity, so I'd turn it off if I wan't going to use it for several
hours.
In <rlvd_cif-110...@news.frontiernet.net>
rlvd...@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Rob Levandowski) writes:
>
>In article <31e52233...@news.tiac.net>, Top...@tiac.net (Evan)
wrote:
>
>> Should I turn my HP 820 (if it matters) OFF when I'm not
>>using it, or is it o.k. to leave it on for extended periods?
>
>I can't speak for HP printers, but with Xerox laser printers, it's
>recommended that you turn the printer off if you will not be using it
for
>an extended period of time (and the printer supports being turned
off).
>In particular, turning off a Xerox XPrint color laser printer
overnight
>can extend the life of the photoconductor belt. It gives the OPC
material
>a chance to "rest" without being energized by the printer engine.
>
>Some printers, such as the Xerox 4508, have no power switch. They go
into
>a deep "sleep" mode when not in use. If the printer has no power
switch,
>it should be OK to leave it on overnight. However, if it will be
>unattended for any lengthy period of time (i.e., a week on vacation,
etc.)
>prudence says that unplugging the printer is a good idea. Any laser
>printer has parts that get hot enough to start a fire if a
sufficiently
>serious malfunction occurs. While such a malfunction is exceptionally
>unlikely, my reasoning is that yanking the plug before going off to
the
>Bahamas is a good way to avoid Murphy's Law. :)
>
>Personally, I turn my personal laser printer off when I'm not using
Cyrus K. Namazi
Actually, nowadays laser printers are all capable of dropping back
into a "sleep" mode in which they consume less than 20-25 watts.
The ones that are "Energy Star" certified are all equipped with
this feature which, among other things, turns the fuser heater
off.
Inkjets, as someone from HP explained, are to be turned
off only from their own On/Off switch - if you do decide to
turn them off.
Cyrus Namazi
AMD - Sunnyvale
.................
Edwin Pawlowski
Don't think it matters much with an inkjet. I'd have it plugged into a
surge protector though.
Laser printers (older ones) had the heating element on all the time in
ready mode. New ones are better like that.
> rlvd...@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Rob Levandowski) wrote in article
<rlvd_cif-110...@news.frontiernet.net>...
> In article <31e52233...@news.tiac.net>, Top...@tiac.net (Evan)
wrote:
>
> > Should I turn my HP 820 (if it matters) OFF when I'm not
> >using it, or is it o.k. to leave it on for extended periods?
>
> I can't speak for HP printers, but with Xerox laser printers, it's
> recommended that you turn the printer off if you will not be using it
for
> an extended period of time
> Personally, I turn my personal laser printer off when I'm not using it.
> As it predates Energy Star and sleep modes, it generates heat (from the
> fuser) at all times when it is on. During the summer, that's heat I
don't
> need. It's also a signifigant power draw I don't need on my electric
> bill.
This is true. Inkjets only draw a couple of watts though, when not in
use.
Tom
On Thu, 11 Jul 1996 15:50:03 GMT, Top...@tiac.net (Evan) wrote:
> Should I turn my HP 820 (if it matters) OFF when I'm not
> using it, or is it o.k. to leave it on for extended periods?
I dunno, but the printer has an automatic "on" feature, so I never have to
bother with turning it on before printing. :)
jhk
In article <4s5s61$4...@news.vcd.hp.com>, hr...@vcd.hp.com says...
> vcd
What about an epson stylus pro? Can i leave it on all the time?
InkJetGuy
Dear Troubled Ink-Jet user/consumer:
In answer to your question as to whether it "hurts" an ink-jet printer to
leave it "ON" all the time [excessively]" . . .
The answer is, "YES", definitely leaving your ink-jet printer "ON" will
not only "hurt" but, it will even "kill" your pocketbook for a variety of
reasons, the least of which, is the amount of electricity consumed and
charged to your electricity bill however, there is one (1) chief problem
which will cause you undo economic pain:
1. Each ink-jet printer has a "purge unit" which, "cycles" itself
automatically every four (4) hours and, thereby "sucks a spit of ink from
each and every one of your color and black ink cartridges.
ESPECIALLY, the CANON based-ink-jet engines more commonly known
under the following trade names: APPLE Color Printer (Model: m9200G/A);
CANON BubbleJet Model's BJC-800, 820, 880 (all series in this 800 group);
and, the IBM 4079, 4079 Plus and, 4079 PS (all models of the 4079).
For any further information concerning ink-jet printer cartridges and
printer problems, you may be well advised to contact the following WWW
site: http://www.cartridge1.com. This firm is a "global imaging
actuarial". They "set" the rates on ink-jet cartridge prices that many
Original Equipment Manufacturers consult with. In addition to setting the
going market rates on ink-jets, they also publish a newsletter called the
CARTRIDGE ONE NEWS. They are part of a global information network and
literally are the "who" in "who knows what about which machine", when it
comes global ink-jet industrials.
Hope this helps you and many others as an additional information source.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul
Patrick Chase
In article <4tcgno$i...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, inkj...@aol.com (InkJetGuy) writes:
|> 1. Each ink-jet printer has a "purge unit" which, "cycles" itself
|> automatically every four (4) hours and, thereby "sucks a spit of ink from
|> each and every one of your color and black ink cartridges.
The post quoted above seems to imply that all ink-jet printer purge
automatically every 4 hours. This is not correct.
I can state with certainty (speaking only for myself and not my employer,
of course) that the HP DeskJet 8x0 series, the 1600C, and the 1200C do not
behave in the manner described. That is, they do not periodically "purge"
while idle. I am fairly sure, though not absolutely positive, that other HP
DeskJets (e.g. the 5x0 and 6xx series) do not purge while idle either.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Patrick Chase Absolutely not speaking for Hewlett-Packard...
H-P San Diego
Ken Rumsey
In article <4tf98o$5...@news.sdd.hp.com>, pat...@sdd.hp.com says...
> In article <4tcgno$i...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, inkj...@aol.com
(InkJetGuy) writes:
> |> 1. Each ink-jet printer has a "purge unit" which, "cycles" itself
> |> automatically every four (4) hours and, thereby "sucks a spit of ink
> of course) that the HP DeskJet 8x0 series, the 1600C, and the 1200C do
> not behave in the manner described. That is, they do not periodically
> "purge" while idle. I am fairly sure, though not absolutely positive,
> that other HP DeskJets (e.g. the 5x0 and 6xx series) do not purge while
> idle either.
While I can't speak for other's printers, my HP 550C sits quietly all day
and does nothing unless printing. Unless this "purge cycle" is completely
silent. :)
--
Ken Rumsey
kru...@magicnet.net
Matt Pierce
InkJetGuy (inkj...@aol.com) wrote:
: Dear Troubled Ink-Jet user/consumer:
: In answer to your question as to whether it "hurts" an ink-jet printer to
: leave it "ON" all the time [excessively]" . . .
: The answer is, "YES", definitely leaving your ink-jet printer "ON" will
: not only "hurt" but, it will even "kill" your pocketbook for a variety of
: reasons, the least of which, is the amount of electricity consumed and
: charged to your electricity bill however, there is one (1) chief problem
: which will cause you undo economic pain:
Actually, leaving the HP printers which I am familiar with (540->6XX->8XX
series) will *not* do them any harm. It is true that they will consume
electricity while on (common sense here) but it won't be powering any
motors or the printheads so the energy consumption is very small.
: 1. Each ink-jet printer has a "purge unit" which, "cycles" itself
: automatically every four (4) hours and, thereby "sucks a spit of ink from
: each and every one of your color and black ink cartridges.
The above statement does not apply to the HP printers which I am familiar
with because once they cap the printheads, they won't do *anything* with
them until another print job comes along so no "purge unit cycles" will occur.
Matt Pierce
Speaking for myself only and *not* HP.