Diagnostic of Mainboard and Printhead Epson L1800 Printer
- By Kevin Day
- On Jan 04, 2025
- Comment 0
Question:
My Epson L1800 printer has some issues. Please do the following: 1) Replace fuses on my mainboard if I can send it to you. Second, according to the shadowing problem in the images I posted, do I need a new printhead? I have some printheads here, too, but they aren’t fitting, even if labeled L1800.
Answer:
Thanks for contacting us, and I’m sorry for not addressing your concerns sooner. Printer problems are always urgent, and I want to make sure you get a complete, considered answer. Thanks for engaging with the BCH Technologies YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Please support us in continuing to develop valuable technical content for the community.
Now, on to your questions.
Replace Fuses on the Mainboard
Yes, we offer a mainboard repair service that includes fuse replacement. However, if you decide to send us the board for fuse replacement, please remember that we will not power on or test it after replacing the fuses. This is only a component replacement service; further diagnosis must be done separately.
Printhead Compatibility and Shadowing Issues
Your printer has a modular printhead converter board, enabling alternate printhead use. This converter board allows an L1800 printer to use a cheaper L800 or L805 printhead (approximately $250) instead of the original L1800 printhead, which costs $400. The L800 and L805 printheads are from the same printhead family, and to ensure no confusion with the L1800, sellers often call it L805.
Troubleshooting the Converter Board
If you suspect the converter board is to blame for the shadowing problem, then you should try the following steps:
Bypass the Converter Board
Some users have a collection of converter boards and will swap them as necessary since boards can develop quirks over time. You can check if you have another converter board working to determine whether the board or the printhead is not working.
Shadowing Problem and Print Head Issue
Shadowing issues could be printhead- or board-related issues. To isolate the cause:
Printer issues can be complicated because they are sometimes hands-on. So, we couldn't offer remote troubleshooting or assistance with printer repairs. We also provide an in-person evaluation and repair setup through our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). However, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks to get your printer processed once it is dropped off. We provide complete printer repair or specific part replacement with clear next steps.
We know that our repair rates may not fit everyone’s budget. This shared knowledge allows you to shop and explore your options; we also invite you to visit our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) and use the search tool on YouTube to find specific troubleshooting videos.
We appreciate your reply and want to thank you so much for your understanding and participation. We are here to assist you in solving your printing problems!
My Epson L1800 printer has some issues. Please do the following: 1) Replace fuses on my mainboard if I can send it to you. Second, according to the shadowing problem in the images I posted, do I need a new printhead? I have some printheads here, too, but they aren’t fitting, even if labeled L1800.
Answer:
Thanks for contacting us, and I’m sorry for not addressing your concerns sooner. Printer problems are always urgent, and I want to make sure you get a complete, considered answer. Thanks for engaging with the BCH Technologies YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Please support us in continuing to develop valuable technical content for the community.
Now, on to your questions.
Replace Fuses on the Mainboard
Yes, we offer a mainboard repair service that includes fuse replacement. However, if you decide to send us the board for fuse replacement, please remember that we will not power on or test it after replacing the fuses. This is only a component replacement service; further diagnosis must be done separately.
Printhead Compatibility and Shadowing Issues
Your printer has a modular printhead converter board, enabling alternate printhead use. This converter board allows an L1800 printer to use a cheaper L800 or L805 printhead (approximately $250) instead of the original L1800 printhead, which costs $400. The L800 and L805 printheads are from the same printhead family, and to ensure no confusion with the L1800, sellers often call it L805.
Troubleshooting the Converter Board
If you suspect the converter board is to blame for the shadowing problem, then you should try the following steps:
Bypass the Converter Board
- Could you remove the cables from the converter board and connect them directly to an original L1800-type printhead?
- This will restore your printer to factory settings, which can fix the double-printing or shadowing issue. However, remember that plenty of other configurations may also be causing the problem.
- If bypass doesn’t help and your L805 printhead still appears okay, try changing the converter board.
- A suitable option is the Printhead Conversion Breakout Board for L1800 to L805 (https://bchtechnologies.com/products/printhead-conversion-breakout-board-l1800-1390-to-l805-l800-adapter-riser-card-1).
Some users have a collection of converter boards and will swap them as necessary since boards can develop quirks over time. You can check if you have another converter board working to determine whether the board or the printhead is not working.
Shadowing Problem and Print Head Issue
Shadowing issues could be printhead- or board-related issues. To isolate the cause:
- Try using a known good board and printhead.
- Check that the connections are tight and the cables are in good shape.
- If this fails with different printheads and boards, a more significant issue is likely- a software setting or internal printer calibration misstep.
Printer issues can be complicated because they are sometimes hands-on. So, we couldn't offer remote troubleshooting or assistance with printer repairs. We also provide an in-person evaluation and repair setup through our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). However, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks to get your printer processed once it is dropped off. We provide complete printer repair or specific part replacement with clear next steps.
We know that our repair rates may not fit everyone’s budget. This shared knowledge allows you to shop and explore your options; we also invite you to visit our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) and use the search tool on YouTube to find specific troubleshooting videos.
We appreciate your reply and want to thank you so much for your understanding and participation. We are here to assist you in solving your printing problems!