Resolving Epson L1800 DTG Printer Error Codes 52H and 05H: Detailed Troubleshooting Guide

Question: 

Hello I emailed before about my dtg printer and you gave me some information, I still have a problem. I have changed the encoder strip already, I replaced the capping station not long ago. I have been in bur maintenance great but, now I can no longer print at all. Also i was printing in smaller designs but now even a simple block does not get printed. ERROR CODE 52H & PAPER INDICATOR RED LIGHT AND ERROR CODE 05H & REDINK indicator LIGHT ON  What should I do next?

Answer:

 Thanks again for following up. We are forever grateful to everyone at BCH Technologies for your continued participation and support, especially via our YouTube channel, https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies. This is what really helps us improve our technical skills and provide better solutions for the community.

Diving deeper into what could be wrong with your Epson L1800-based DTG printer, The 52H and 05H error codes you listed are related to the movement of the printhead carriage; without this functionality, there is no printing.

Error 52H—This error indicates that the printer cannot lock the printhead carriage. One reason your printer is blinding and clicking could be that it has a paper jam, something has gotten stuck in the gears, or even worse, it has an issue with one of the other components, such as degradation to the timing belt. Before doing anything else, please go to the carriage and check it to make sure there are no obstructions in the way. I often encounter it when the printhead carriage cannot reach either side of the printer due to the tubing. Also, if your printer has a breakout board that controls paper feed or paper reverse, this board could malfunction and cause this error.

Error 05H: CR (Carriage Return) encoder abnormal condition(scale down or fall speed. This could result from timing encoder sensor issues, motor driver failure, or slack in the timing belt. The problem could be because the mainboard has failed in more severe cases. Another cause of this error could be the encoder strip or sensor cable.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting:

Inspect for Obstructions and Deformations: Look around the printhead carriage area. You can search for paper jams, foreign objects, or dried ink build-up that could be causing trouble with the carriage's smooth movement. Again, make sure the timing belt is not out of alignment or too slack, as this can interfere with the carriage's functions.

Check the Timing Belt & Encoder Strip—You've already replaced the encoder strip, great. Make sure it is all still aligned properly, though. Tension that is too tight or loose will also cause a timing belt to fail. If the belt is off, this could cause 52H and/or 05H errors. Do the same thing and also carefully see if the CR encoder sensor is well in place. During use, the sensor can move a bit.

Inspect the CR Motor and Encoder Sensor: The Carriage Return (CR) motor moves the printhead back and forth. It could fail with a 05H error. Epson Adjustment Program: Scan the history of error codes in the Epson Adjustment Program to watch for repeated CR motor failure and such issues. Ensure the encoder sensor is working because a fault here could affect the reading of the printhead position, for example.

Check the FFC Cable: The Flexible Flat Cable (FFC) connecting the encoder sensor is just as important as communicating with components. This cable has come loose, is damaged, or wasn't properly connected in the first place, and because of this, your printer isn't getting accurate position data—hence the error codes you're seeing. Inspect the cable for any breaks and make sure it is properly connected to both the sensor and mainboard.

Mainboard problems: In extreme cases, the mainboard has issues, and because of that, there are two errors. This can be a root cause after you have checked the others if they are good. Diagnosing and replacing the mainboard is usually something that should be left to professionals.

Universal Steps for Riding Out the Recovery Phase:

Printer problems can be complex to handle as they are very hands-on. So, we cannot offer or reply to remote troubleshooting, hints, or support suggestions for printer repairs. We provide an on-site evaluation at our local diagnostic facility ( https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service ) on an appointment basis due to the overwhelming number of printers we receive. Well, it could be a few weeks before we deploy your printer to drop it off with Bungie. Repairing a complete printer or repairing only certain parts can easily be achieved through our variety of services, and instructions on what to do for mail-in or local drop-off services are also readily available. But we understand that our pricing isn't the best. So, we strongly advice you Google it as help. Do fraud charges not provide you with examples? Start by searching on YouTube or going to our YouTube channel homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) and typing your question in the search field beside "About" at the top menu bar. Unlike the previous generations of consoles used for video games, modern HDMI ports are as plug-and-play as devices get. So, I get dozens of queries daily asking for videos on certain topics. I have been making videos on YouTube for nine years and have challenged myself to remember every single one. So, you should be able to use the YouTube search feature to find relevant videos. On top of that, YouTube may recommend relevant videos on other channels to help.

Disagree Agree Opt to provide more Relevant articles Thank you for contributing your input, Kevin. We trust that this guide can assist you to solve your problem, and we thank you for stay with BCH Technologies!