(Last Updated: 5th August 2009)

Epson inkjet printers have a built in printhead that can allow you to use the printer almost indefinitely but invariably you find the printer declares itself requiring a service because it has filled its waste ink pads.

The waste ink pads in an inkjet printer are like a highly absorbent  nappy /diaper which soak up the ink that your printer uses to keep its jets clear of clogs. In Epsons the need to waste ink is quite high because of the cold Piezo-electric process and inks used, especially Durabrite (pigment) inks. There's an argument that Epson does this deliberately to increase their ink sales but, whatever the reason, you can bet the waste ink will stop your printer working long before your printer has reached it's printheads life-end point.

Solving this problem is a two part approach.

Resetting the waste counter

Your first issue is how to reset your printers "service required" message. If you can't get this resolved there's no point going further.

Since this, and related, guides were first written there was a large problem with fake, scam or simply dishonest sellers providing digital or CD disks with false promises of "fix all".

The utility they invariably provided was and remains a free one. Unfortunately because of eBays Guide policy I can't link directly but if you search using these terms you will find the relevant site which has the domain "ssclg.com"(yeah I don't understand the policy either!)
Search keywords: "ssclg utility epsone"

Sadly this utility is by no means the magic bullet that was promised and newer printers have not been supported for nearly a year or more now. In addition Epson made it even more difficult with a built in limitation on when you could reset the waste counter. Waiting for the dreaded "service required" message often meant you were too late so planning in advance became a requirement. An example of this was the D88 model printer which would only reset if you used the resetter before the "service required" message.

IMPORTANT: The SSC reset utility can have some undesired effects so it's always important to check the SSC forums before you attempt to use it. Any use is completely at your own risk. Of course, if your printer is already showing "service required" you may decide you've nothing to lose.

A great deal more has happened in this arena since this article was first written so I'll be updating the related article shortly.. but now let's get back to the main thrust of this article... waste ink tanks..

Installing the waste ink tank

Ok... so once you've figured out how to reset the waste ink counter you could just leave the printer right? WRONG! If you continue to use the printer without sorting out the waste ink you're going to find yourself with a printer surrounded by a growing puddle of ink. All fine if you're not worried about your carpets, etc... but I suspect you'd prefer to avoid this.

The solution is to redirect the waste ink flow to an external tank.

There are a number of possible ways to handle this and the choice of container is entirely up to you, however there are some important factors you need to take into account.

1. The ink flowing from the printer must never go higher than the pad that sits underneath the printhead (roughly 3 or 4 cm's above the base of the printer). Ignoring this allows the ink to flow back into the pad, soiling the underneath of the printhead and promoting clogging.
2. When using with a continuous ink system, be careful not to set the waste tank too low, especially if the system uses a spongeless cartridge. In some instances you can create a syphon effect that empties your ink into the tank. Definitely not good!
3. The waste tube in the actual printer is limited in length so your external tank should use an extension to allow it to reach the tank rather than trying to pull the tube out of the printer. The reason for this is that any force used on the tube can disconnect it from the waste pump. If this happens the entire waste ink cleaning system becomes inoperative and repair is very, very difficult.
   

When I first wrote this article I was purchasing items rather than selling but obviously things changed as I've been selling waste ink tanks myself for the best part of 18 months now. Obviously my own kits take those rules seriously but along the way I've learned to incorporate a few additional key features that go a bit further...

• Low profile, wide-base containers are harder to knock over and spill than tall, thin-base bottles.
• Tubing needs to be securely attached and leak proof, not just pushed loosely through a container lid.
• Tubing/Fitting diameter is important to ensure the waste ink can flow successfully out of the pump and not cause back-pressure issues that soil the printhead or blow the tube off the pump. 3/32" inner diameter absolute minimum!

Granted I am biased so you should take this with a pinch of salt but it does seem that many of the waste ink collectors available on ebay (or elsewhere) are provided more as afterthoughts, made from spare part CIS kits rather than tailor made taking into account the issues or physics involved.

Final Comments

Many of the point raised above sound a little alarming and may put you off carrying out this modification. However in the end it's worth bearing this important pro-con balance in mind.

Pro's

• When modified, an Epson printer like the R200 can continue to be used for years and after many "service required" resets.
• By redirecting the waste ink to an external tank you also remove any need to change or clean the pads inside the printer.
• An official Epson service often costs as much as a new printer itself.
• Your printer may well be scrapped if you don't reset it so there's not a lot to lose.
  

Con's

• You do run the risk of essentially breaking your printer beyond repair and of invalidating your printers warranty
  

More information

Obviously I'm maintaining this and other guides on eBay so they should help but you can use these keywords to locate other related information and sources using your favourite search engine:

• wasteink
• octoinkjet
• protection counter reset
• SSC utility
• a10_ipr
  

If you find this guide useful please remember to vote for it.. If you don't, please let me know why rather than just voting it down. Thanks.