Flashing Power Button and Black Screen on Epson ET-8550 Printer

Question: 
 
I just bought a new Epson ET-8550 printer. Although the power button is lit, it is flashing, and the screen is black and unresponsive. Can you help?
 
Answer: 
 
Welcome to BCH Technologies! Sorry for not getting back to you sooner; we know how urgent printer problems can seem. However, we invest the time required to consider each case to give the most precise and thorough guidance possible. Thank you for the continued engagement (particularly regarding our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies)); we genuinely appreciate the support! Your input is invaluable in growing and refining our technical abilities.
So, having already responded to your question regarding the Epson ET-8550, the flashing power button and black screen typically relate to a hardware issue. Still, it could also be a power supply board fault. Here are some detailed steps to troubleshoot the problem and possibly resolve it:

• Power Check: Ensure your printer is plugged into a working electrical outlet. If it is plugged into a power strip or surge protector, consider plugging it directly into the wall to eliminate the strip or protector as a potential issue.
• Check Connections: Inspect the power cable for apparent damage or wear. Make sure it is correctly plugged into both the printer and the outlet. If you see any fraying or kinks, you should replace it with a new one.
• FFC Cable (Flat Flexible Cable) Inspection: The FFC cable connecting the mainboard to the control panel can also cause an error. A loose or damaged FFC cable could also cause a black screen. Check the cable for damage closely. If the cable appears okay, reseat it—gently disconnect it and then reconnect it. Make sure it is inserted and seated correctly.
• Power Supply Unit (PSU) or Mainboard Fault: If the above steps haven’t solved the problem, you might have a more serious internal fault. Failure of the mainboard or power supply unit (PSU) can also keep the printer from responding. Their malfunction would cause the light on the power button to blink, and the screen would be black in this case.
• Service Options: If your Epson ET-8550 still has a flashing power button / black screen after doing the above, we at BCH Technologies can help diagnose the problem and carry out the repair. Here’s how we can help:
• FFC Cable Diagnosis: If you think the FFC cable is broken, we will diagnose it free of charge. If you could send it to us for a brief diagnosis, and if we confirm that it's a bad part, we can help you source a new one.
• Mainboard Repair: This is another self-evident reason, and a mainboard failure is common for these issues. We are experts in mainboard diagnosis and repair. If we can find the problem, we will fix or replace the board.
• Evaluation of Power Supply: If the power supply unit is the culprit, we offer a detailed assessment to resolve any related power issues.
• Complete Printer Repair: Where individual roles are impacted, we will repair your printer as a unit so that your printer runs faithfully after service.

Printer issues can be tricky to troubleshoot, and so many problems have solutions requiring physical intervention. So we cannot troubleshoot remotely or offer suggestions or support for repairing printers. We have a local diagnostic center available for on-site inspection and repairs (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service), and it's a first come, first served policy due to limited space and high demand. With that in mind, it may require several weeks before we can have your printer serviced. We organize our service to a professional repair of either the entire printer or parts (with clear instructions). That said, we know our rates are not the lowest. So, we suggest that you turn to self-help through online searches. Try YOUTUBE or go to the homepage of our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies), then search for specific videos by clicking the search icon next to "About" in the right menu bar of the YOUTUBE channel. Daily, I get dozens of requests asking if I have any videos related to a particular topic. Having made videos for the past nine years, keeping track of each is tricky. So, it would be most efficient to use YouTube’s search function. YouTube may also recommend related videos on other channels that can help you.
 
Thank you for contacting us, and we look forward to talking soon! We appreciate your continued confidence in BCH Technologies and look forward to assisting you with your printer repairs.