Reset the Chip!

MIS Associates has what may be a slightly easier to follow version of these instructions on their web site, but note that Benny deserves all the credit for discovering this method.

Don't like the idea of moving levers and swapping cartridges? Feel like your mechanical skills are, um, questionable? Now there's an even easier way. MIS Associates, in the U.S., and Inkrefill, in Canada, are now selling a software program that can reset the chip in certain Epson printers without removing carts or playing any other games.

Another option is the "Ink Level Reset System" (ILRS) developed by JetTec, in the U.K. This system uses a hardware chip reset device. You remove the chip from an Epson cartridge, insert it in the resetter, and can then reuse the chip. This system normally ships as a kit complete with a cartridge pre-filled with JetTec ink. It seems to be readily available in the U.K. (do a Google search on the terms ILRS, Epson, Ink and you'll find plenty of matches), it's hard to come by in the U.S. Global Ink has them listed on their order form, complete with ink, and InkjetArt.com says they have a limited supply of the resetter by itself.

There is one very important thing to consider, however. Resetting the chip so that you can use the last of the ink in the cartridge runs the risk of running one or more chambers of the cartridge completely dry. And doing that can cause clogs, and even permanently damage the printer. Many people will say it appears to be safe to reset the carts to full, and then use them until the level drops about 25%. But there are no guarantees, and you're on your own if you do this. In fact, I tried this trick, and ran the light magenta dry before I hit the 25% used level. After replacing the cart, I ran a nozzle check and had one clogged nozzle. Fortunately a cleaning cycle took care of it. Running the cart dry and burning up a print head could void your warranty, too.

Never Replace Another Cartridge?

There are now several vendors of products that can eliminate cartridge swapping forever. Known as Continous Ink, or Continous Flow Systems, these products connect large bottles of ink to the printer's heads with flexible plastic tubing. When the ink runs low (which can take a pretty long time), just add more ink to the remote bottles. Note that I have no experience with most of the vendors and products I discuss below. I am not recommending or rating any of these products (although I'll be happy to evaluate them if the vendors want to send me some free samples ). For now, however, you're on your own.

MIS Associates had the first system for these printers, which they call a Continous Flow System. It's much cheaper than the other choice, but requires a lot of assembly by the purchaser, and might not be for everyone. It also requires you to start with an OEM Epson ink cartridge, and to use one of the approaches to resetting the chip. See more at MIS Associates web site. And if you're considering a purchase, be sure to read James Hill's user report.

MIS now also sells a version of the CFS that is completely pre-assembled. It also includes empty, virgin carts. This new version wasn't posted on the web site the last time I looked, but you can get information, or order it, by calling MIS.

A Canadian company, Inkrefill has an agreement with MIS Associates to resell MIS products, including the CFS, in Canada. They are also selling the same chip reset software. This company tells me that they hope to have USB versions of the reset software available sometime in August, and dropped hints of "a 'little surprise' combination hardware software device in the works."

The MIS system is also available from Digital Art Supplies

More recently, NoMoreCarts.com has introduced a version of their Continous Ink System for the 1270. It's pre-assembled, which makes it relatively easy to install. It also comes with a new, empty set of cartridges, so you don't need to worry about emptying an OEM Epson cart. Most interesting, the cart comes with a write protected chip! No reset software is necessary, although with some PCs you'll need to turn the printer off and back on to reset the software. But, and it's a big but, this package is dramatically more expensive than the MIS package.

I've added a couple of user reviews of this system, too. One is from "Travissimo!". The other from Steve Mason.

Another company, MediaStreet is selling a CIS system which appears to be identical to the NoMoreCarts product, at the same price.

And WeInk.com is now selling a product they call the Ultra Flow II Continuous re-inking system. The original Ultra Flow appeared to be a rebranded MIS system, but I believe this new system is different. WeInk claims the new system allows the cartridges to be removed from the printer, or the lines from the bottles, without losing the seal. It is available with or without ink, and the ILRS chip resetting hardware is available as an option. WeInk is also offering refill kits for these printers.

What appears to be the same system is also available from Camel Ink Systems. One interesting difference is that the ILRS chip resetter is included in this version. And the Camel Ink product is cheaper than the WeInk + ILRS combination.

3rd Party Inks

For a long time, the Epson's chipped cartridge design kept the 3rd party ink suppliers at bay. But now that the chip's been "defeated", the supply lines are open. There are quite a few companies supplying third party inks. Many of these seem to be the same pre-filled, chipped cartridges sourced from China. I have absolutely no knowledge of these inks, their quality, lightfastness, gas fade resistance, or anything else. If you're interested, however, a search on any internet search engine should find plenty of options.

Again, I have no direct experience with these products.

MIS Associates, Inc. ( www.inksupply.com) has several interesting products to offer, including replacement cartridges, bulk ink refills and a continuous flow system. Click on the "MIS" link at left, or click here. The ink which is likely to be of most interest to Epson owners is the "Lightfast" Ink, although their Quadtone and Hextone (B&W inksets) and Archival pigment inkset may be of interest, too.

NOTE: There have been some quality control questions regarding these inks. A number of people have reportedly gotten the wrong inks. Instead of 2 different bottles of cyan (one regular and one light), these people got two bottles containing regular cyan ink. Note that one was labelled as photo (light) cyan, but contained the wrong ink. MIS made good, and shipped these people the correct ink for free, but not until they had expended significant time and effort trying to figure out what was wrong. And at least person received the wrong ink in the replacement bottle.

Inkrefill is offering the same products for Canadian customers.

The first 3rd party ink system announced for the chipped Epson cartridges was the ILRS system from JetTec, which I discuss above. It includes a device to rewrite the memory on the cartridge chip. You remove and save the chips from your old Epson carts, use a chip reprogrammer to reset the ink levels, and then attach the chips to the new carts. You can get some more information at JetTec.

As I said above, a Google search will find lots of companies selling this product in the U.K. The only U.S. source I've come across is Global Ink. They list it on their web site, but I've not confirmed that it's in stock.

Mediastreet sells both "Plug 'n Play" dye inks and Generations brand pigment inks. I've emailed Mediastreet and asked if they'll provide me with a sample print to test, so hopefully I'll have some information to share eventually.

NoMoreCarts.com used to resell the Mediastreet inks, but recently introduced their own product, called "OEM Match" ink. I've also asked NoMoreCarts if they'd be willing to supply me with a sample print to test.

InkJetArt.com is now selling prefilled replacement carts for all (I think) of the Epson printers using chipped carts which they claim to match the Epson OEM inks at about 1/2 the price. What I'm not sure of is whether these carts include a new chip or not. Of perhaps more interest, InkJetArt is also selling Lyson Fotonic inks in prefilled cartridges for the Epson 1270/80/90 printers, as well as in bulk for use with CIS systems.

Digital Art Supplies offers both the MIS pigment and B&W inks, and the Lyson Fotonic inks for sale.

Finally, WeInk.com has introduced a new dye based and two new pigment based inks for the Epson printers. One of the pigment inksets includes built in UV protection.

I have received sample prints made with the OEM Match, Mediastreet Plug 'n' Play, and Lyson Fotonic inks. And I've been promised a sample with the new dye based inks from WeInk. As soon as I get the WeInk prints, (and have room in my test chamber), I'll put all of these to the test, against the standard Epson ink (new and old, I hope). If anyone is using a different 3rd party ink (other than the MIS, which I'm already testing), and would like to help, please e-mail me. But before we all get too excited, remember that there haven't been any independent tests of these inks' longevity, either.