How to Troubleshoot a Non-Responsive Epson Stylus Photo 1390 DTF Printer: PF Encoder Sensor or Mainboard Issue?

Question:

I own an Epson Stylus Photo 1390 DTF printer. When I turn it on, nothing moves except for the ink circulation pump, which is working. I hear a faint beeping, but I am unsure if the issue lies with the CR motor, PF motor, or the encoder sensor. The encoder strip behind the carriage seems fine. I noticed that the green board in front of the PF motor drive assembly, which normally has a red light on, doesn’t light up. Could this board be the problem? I’ve attached a picture of the encoder sensor board that I believe may need replacing. I have several orders waiting and need advice on which parts to order.

Answer:

Thanks for getting in touch with us! We at BCH Technologies thank you for your involvement and support, mainly through our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Your questions and feedback help us hone our technical knowledge, so we are happy to be of service on this one.

Since your printer is not powering on completely, let us solve the power-related symptoms first;

Problem with power on and an article on how to check the mainboard:

If only the ink circulation pump is working and the rest of the printer stands still, this can be a mainboard failure. It controls most of your printer's main functions, such as starting the PF motor power and other critical components. One sign of a failed mainboard is if pushing the power button does literally nothing other than make feeble beeping sounds, which are usually indicators of failing hardware.

Also, if there is no red light on the green board in front of the PF motor drive assembly (as shown below), this is another huge clue that your mainboard is not receiving or distributing power. Without this light, the PF motor and everything that goes with it will not work.

Solution: In this case, you must repair or replace the mainboard. We offer main board repair services for your ordering at ( https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service ). When the printer is completed (ideally powering correctly), it should undergo further diagnostics if necessary.

How to Make Use of Epson's Adjustment Program to Diagnose

If the printer is specific, you can use the Epson adjustment program to get more information about the error after fixing the mainboard issue. To accomplish this, open the program, choose Particular Adjustment, and then Printers Info. This will show the last five errors that occurred with your printer. E-02, PF Motor Error, or Encoder Sensor Error error codes can help with paper feed assembly-related problems.

Check PF Encoder Sensor:

If the error codes specify a problem with not-feeding paper, a problem may have occurred with the PF Encoder Scale Sensor. You can send me a detailed error code, and we can further troubleshoot the problem.

Examine FFC Cables And Breakout Board:

The condition of the FF or Flex flat cables, which connect to important subsections of the printer—PF sensor, PF motor, and mainboard—is another problematic issue that can hamper optimal performance. Make sure these cables are firmly attached and in good condition. One of these communications failure compensations is to detect the FFC cables that are loose or damaged, and if alert, it'd error out.

Also, disabling the PF signals with a breakout board to print DTF on rolled film might interfere with the printer's normal function. Check for a bad breakout board or miscommunication issues, causing the power supply to the PF motor to not be operable.

Printer issues are notorious for being a hassle because they are hands-on problems. Therefore, we do not provide services such as remote diagnostics, recommendations, tips, or advice about print repairs. Our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service) has offered an in-person evaluation & repair since we entered a peak season and is based on first come, first serve. Thus… it may be a few weeks before we can have your printer bring it or mail it to us. With detailed directions of what to pursue next through mail-in or local drop-off services, we have set it up so our services can be used to fix a whole printer or particular segments. But we understand that our pricing is not the most cost-effective. So, we strongly advise you to turn to online help for self-learning. You may start by visiting your channel's homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) or search for a video you want to watch using the search icon next to "About" on the Menu Bar at the top right.

Thanks for contacting us, and we hope this helps you get your printer up and running again soon!