An avid Epson user in Sweden has discovered how to reset the Intelligent Chip on the Epson printers. What this means to all of us who own an Epson 680, 777, 870, 875, 1270, 1280, 1290 or 2000P printer is that we can now refill and reuse our empty cartridges. Following this procedure and refilling your cartridge is not illegal, nor will it void your warranty. But, you must understand, it is not an approved Epson procedure and they will not smile on you if you tell them you have been doing this.

The Procedure

1.  When the black or color ink out light flashes or is on steady, the indicated cartridge is low on ink. Make sure you have your “Designated Full” cartridge on hand. Either follow the on-screen help or press the orange button, visible when you lift the printer cover. When pressed, the print head will move to the cartridge removal position and the power light will flash. You must have a set of new Epson cartridges to use for resetting the chip. These are what we refer to as the “Designated Full” cartridges. You do not print with these, the are only for resetting the chip. Mark DF on these cartridges. They are not included as part of our refill kit.

2.  Flip up the clamp and remove the cartridge. Then, after removing the pull tab on your “Designated Full” cartridge, put it in the printer and close the clamp.

If you have a continuous flow system, you will have to reinstall the original cartridge clamps so the cartridges will make contact with the chips. If you are using the modified cartridge clamps with your CFS, put piece of folded paper under the color clamp so it will press the color cartridge down tight. Without clamps you will not be able to proceed.

Next, push the Orange Button and the print head will move to the right and perform a cleaning cycle. The red light should go off. If it does not go off, make sure the cartridges are seated all the way down so the printer makes contact with the chips. If there is still a red light, turn off your printer, disconnect the printer cable, turn the printer back on an try pushing the orange button again. When the carts move right, check to see that they are seated down all the way. Push the orange button again. When the cartridges return to the right, turn off the printer power and reinstall your printer cable. Turn the power back on and the red light should go off. If it is still on, give Epson a call, there may be something wrong with your printer.

(Note: If you have used your “Designated Full” cartridge a number of times, it may not show as totally full when you run the status monitor test.)

3.  If you get the red light off, do not turn off the printer power. Also do not start printing yet, you need to preserve the ink in your “Designated Full” cartridge. You will use this same cartridge every time you perform this Reset Procedure. Eventually, after about 20 times, you will have to get a new cartridge to run this procedure. Keep your “Designated Full” in a safe place and don't print with it.

4.  If you are not using a continuous flow system (CFS), take your empty cartridge to your bench and refill it following our Chipped Cartridge Refill Instructions. Let it rest for an hour or more (overnight is better) in a perfectly level position. Use a match book or something about 3/16 inch thick to prop up the back end.

If you are using a continuous flow system (CFS) then you do not need to refill your cartridges. Just keep them at the same level as the bottles while the DF carts are in the printer.

5.  If you have a CFS or after your refilled cartridge is aged, return to your printer. At this point the printer power should be on and the cartridges should be parked in their right hand position. Find the small white lever under the black cartridge holder, see photos. Using a small screw driver or pencil, move the lever towards the front of the printer until it is below the surface. Now slide the cartridges to the left hand cartridge removal position using your hand.

6.  Remove your “Designated Full” cartridge and install the CFS or refilled cartridges. Make sure the clamps are down tight or that you have fresh felt pads on the sides of the CFS cartridges. The cartridge must not rise up, not even 1/32 of an inch. This next step is very important? Slide the cartridges all the way to the right, using your hand, so they are in their original parked position. If you don't do this, your printer may become damaged when it starts to print. Don't worry about the lever, it can stay down. Do not turn off the power or push the orange button again.

Now, tell your printer to make a color print of any type (purge4.tif or purge6.tif is fine). When the first print is complete, the data from the new chips is transferred to the old chips. After this first print the old chips will read full just like the chips on the DF cartridges did.

7.  That's it,  your printer is now ready to use. The ink monitoring system will report that the cartridge is full or at the same level as your “Designated Full” cartridge. Print something, if necessary run a nozzle check. If nozzles are missing run a cleaning cycle to correct. Remember, don't run more than 3 consecutive cleaning cycles. Then print a multi-color print and run 3 more if needed.