Technical information

184
184
1. Remove all 4 ink cartridges and PRINTHEAD from printer. Using a water-dampened (distilled
water recommended) lint free towel, thoroughly clean PRINTHEAD’s rear electrical copper contacts and
interfacing carriage electrical copper contacts. Ensure no ink residue or towel fibers remain following
cleaning. Re-install PRINTHEAD and all ink cartridges, retest: http://inkjet411.com/?page_id=1451
2. If the 'Incompatible Printhead' error condition remains, attempt to perform the 'Tap 41'
diagnostic test below to check the printhead's electrical health:
NOTE: If the service menu access procedure below does not work then see ‘Photosmart Plus B serie s’
printers – refer to Diagnostics document (pdf file) here: http://inkjet411.com/?page_id=1813
Tap 41 PRINTHEAD Health Diagnostics:
a. Using two fingers, gently tap the ‘Return’ and ‘Home’ keys on touchscreen until the Engineering
Menu is displayed (for example, press the button 3-4 times each in alternating succession). Using arrow
keys navigate to Service Menu.
b. ……..or if a keypad is available: Press * and # keys simultaneously. Service Menu should be
displayed.
c. Use arrow keys to advance to the Special Reports Menu. Select OK.
d. Use arrow keys to advance to the ‘print mech button tap’ menu. Select Ok.
e. ‘Code = 0’ will be displayed. Use arrows keys to change value to ‘41’ (i.e. press and hold ri ght
arrow key).
f. When ‘code = 41’, select ‘OK’. The diagnostic test pattern will print.
NOTE: The Tap 10 self-test print may also be initiated via ‘code = 10’ (use to verify all nozzles are
firing)
g. Check the 4th line at the top of the printed report; an electrically good/stable PRINTHEAD will
state “Pen OK”………if any other message is displayed then the PRINTHEAD has likely failed and may
need to be replaced.
h. Re-seat PRINTHEAD and repeat ‘Tap 41’ test to check electrical performance.
3) If, after following the steps above, this does not remedy the problem, then you may have an
electrically defective PRINTHEAD* in the printer and it may need to be replaced with a new one. The
PRINTHEAD is normally covered under HP warranty for 1-year, otherwise you can obtain a new
PRINTHEAD assembly (note that printhead prices will range between $50 and $90 - it suggested to only
purchase a new OEM/HP printhead assembly).
*The HP 564 ink-series printer models have an electronic PRINTHEAD within the base of the carriage
assembly [responsible for pulling ink from the 4 (or 5) ink cartridges and then firing the ink droplets onto
the paper] – this assembly will eventually fail. Rate of failure largely depends on printed content,
frequency of printing and printer duty cycle (i.e. HP rates them to a duty cycle of "up to 1000 pages a
month", which translated is ~12,000 printed pages maximum over printer life, but the typical/average
printhead life is closer to ~5000 pages). A failure of the PRINTHEAD is unrelated to the ink refill process
or use of refilled ink cartridges and normally occurs in time with all semi -permanent printhead-based