24 Feb 10 Compatible Printer Ink Cartridges Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the explanation of “compatible printer ink cartridge”?

Compatible Printer Ink Cartridges - A. A compatible printer ink cartridge refers to a cartridge that has been designed and built according to the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) stipulations. Because these cartridges do not have the OEM’s brand, they are usually less pricey.

Q. Does incorporating compatible ink cartridges cause harm to my printer?

Compatible Printer Ink Cartridges - A. Certainly not. Like OEMs, compatible cartridge makers adhere to quality assurance practices which examine the cartridges at each step of the making process. Also, compatible cartridges are carefully tested and incorporate top quality inks which adjust to almost every printer requirement available.

Q. What about the print quality from a compatible inkjet cartridge?

A. The print quality that you get by using compatible inkjet cartridges does not pale in comparison to that of OEM cartridges due to the fact that top quality inks and other components are used.

Q. How long is the duration of a compatible printer ink cartridge?

A. Compatible printer ink cartridges generally come in special packaging that’s vacuum sealed. When nothing has affected the package it comes in, cartridges can be expected to have a multi-year shelf life. For the ultimate results, purchase the cartridge from a place which has great product return and that incorporates stock change out procedures so you know that the product is fresh.

Q. I put in a compatible cartridge and now only blank pages come out.

A. Ascertain that you have removed all relevant protective seals, labels and strips from the cartridge. Go back and read over the instructions for installing the cartridge. Check out the tips for troubleshooting in the printer manual. Go online to look for resolutions to other difficulties of this kind. Sometimes running a printer cleaning sequence will work.

Q. I’m not getting as many prints as the cartridge’s specifications claim.

A. Most cartridges determine yield based on a printing density of 360 DPI (dots per inch) and a 5% coverage of an A4 sheet. Assure that the printer you have is not set at a high density level like “presentation” or “letter quality.” Realize too that graphics (especially in volume) will use more ink.

Q. When I replaced for a new cartridge, the printer seemed like it took a prolonged period to get started. Now nothing prints.

A. In some cases, when you install a new cartridge, the printer must cycle to begin communications with the cartridge to screen ink levels. Try performing a few cleaning cycles to make the ink begin flowing into the print head.

Compatible Printer Ink Cartridges - Q. There are soft white lines on my printed output. Why?

A. The print head on the cartridge is equipped with miniature nozzles that let ink out onto the page. It is possible that several of these are blocked and are not putting any ink on the paper. Try some cleaning cycles to clear the problem.

Q. How much ink does a compatible ink cartridge hold in it?

A. Perhaps you will notice that you getting a higher productivity level (number of pages) when using a compatible inkjet cartridge. It is due to the fact that compatible cartridges usually contain more ink than OEM cartridges. Many times there is a possibility for a compatible cartridge to hold 100% more ink than you will find in OEM.