Diagnosing Ribbon Cable Damage After a Printer Short Circuit
- By Kevin Day
- On Dec 04, 2024
- Comment 0
Question:
After cleaning and reinstalling my printhead, I noticed smoke coming from where the wires connect to it. I suspect the printhead was still wet and shorted out. The printer now smokes every time it tries to spit on the waste pad. Fortunately, I quickly unplugged the printer and saved the motherboard.
If a short circuit fries both the printhead and the motherboard, are the ribbon cables (FFC cables) still usable if there are no visible burn marks?
Answer:
Thank you for contacting us, and I’m sorry for the delay in addressing your question. I understand the concern about this situation and appreciate your patience. Printer issues can be complex and require careful thought to diagnose and resolve effectively.
At BCH Technologies, we’re grateful for your engagement and support, especially on our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Your feedback plays a vital role in enhancing our technical expertise and resources.
To answer your question, I would like to know if a flat flexible cable (FFC) is still helpful after a short circuit requires a thorough inspection and testing process. Here are the steps to follow:
Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. For this reason, we cannot provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. However, we do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service) through our local diagnostic facility. This service is structured to repair the entire printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed.
Just so you know, our repair service operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and demand is high, so there may be a wait before your printer can be evaluated. If you want more help, we encourage you to explore self-help resources, starting with our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon on the channel homepage to find specific topics.
Thank you again for your question and for supporting BCH Technologies. We’re always here to help!
After cleaning and reinstalling my printhead, I noticed smoke coming from where the wires connect to it. I suspect the printhead was still wet and shorted out. The printer now smokes every time it tries to spit on the waste pad. Fortunately, I quickly unplugged the printer and saved the motherboard.
If a short circuit fries both the printhead and the motherboard, are the ribbon cables (FFC cables) still usable if there are no visible burn marks?
Answer:
Thank you for contacting us, and I’m sorry for the delay in addressing your question. I understand the concern about this situation and appreciate your patience. Printer issues can be complex and require careful thought to diagnose and resolve effectively.
At BCH Technologies, we’re grateful for your engagement and support, especially on our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Your feedback plays a vital role in enhancing our technical expertise and resources.
To answer your question, I would like to know if a flat flexible cable (FFC) is still helpful after a short circuit requires a thorough inspection and testing process. Here are the steps to follow:
1. Visual Inspection
- Burns or Damage: Carefully inspect the FFC for signs of burns, melted sections, or discolouration. Shorts often leave visible marks.
- Connectors: Check the gold contacts on the FFC cable for scratches, corrosion, or burn marks. Any damage to the connectors can lead to poor connectivity.
2. Continuity Testing
- You can use a multimeter set to go into continuity or resistance mode.
- Could you place one probe on a conductor at one end of the cable and the other probe on the corresponding pin at the other end?
- Listen for the multimeter’s beep or look for a low resistance reading (close to 0 ohms), indicating good continuity.
- Test every conductor in the cable this way.
3. Check for Shorts Between Pins
- Could you place the multimeter probes on adjacent pins at the same end of the cable?
- A short circuit will result in a low resistance reading between adjacent pins.
- Repeat for all pins to ensure there are no unexpected connections.
4. Inspect Insulation
- Slightly bend the cable to see if the insulation cracks or peels. Damaged insulation can compromise the cable’s integrity.
5. Test in the Printer (Optional)
- If the cable passes all tests, you can cautiously reinstall it to test printer functionality.
- Monitor for issues such as poor print quality, error messages, or unresponsiveness from the printhead.
6. Send for Professional Analysis (Optional)
If you’re unsure about your testing results or suspect hidden damage, you can send the cable to BCH Technologies for a quick, complimentary evaluation. We’ll determine whether it’s safe to use or dispose of securely.Tips for Preventing Future Issues
- Please always make sure the printhead is completely dry before you're free. Moisture can lead to short circuits.
- After a short circuit, inspect all related components—printhead, mainboard, and ribbon cables—for potential damage.
- Avoid using cables that are worn, bent excessively, or show signs of wear and tear.
Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. For this reason, we cannot provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. However, we do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service) through our local diagnostic facility. This service is structured to repair the entire printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed.
Just so you know, our repair service operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and demand is high, so there may be a wait before your printer can be evaluated. If you want more help, we encourage you to explore self-help resources, starting with our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon on the channel homepage to find specific topics.
Thank you again for your question and for supporting BCH Technologies. We’re always here to help!