Bulk Ink Refill Supplies for HP 96/97 and Canon 240XL/241XL: Which BCH Ink-Only Bottles to Buy and What to Do About a Leaking Cleaner Bottle

Customer Question 

I received my order today and successfully refilled my HP 96 black cartridge-no issues at all, and it prints perfectly. I used the ID30-KCMY-AC ink you recommended. I'm refilling HP 96 Black, HP 97 Color, Canon 240XL Black, and Canon 241XL Color. The priming clips are awesome.

I have a few questions:

1. My empty HP 96 cartridge took a lot more black ink than I expected-my small black squeeze bottle is almost empty after one refill. Which bulk black squeeze bottle should I buy if I want the same black ink as the kit? I'm looking at ID30-KKK-AC and ID30-KKKBULK-are these the same black ink, and what's the difference?

2. If I only want more squeeze bottles of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black-without buying tools and instructions again-what item number should I order? I'm looking at ID30-KCMY-INKONLY-UN and ID30-KCMY-INKONLY-CN.

3. One suggestion: please consider putting the printhead cleaning solution in a ziplock bag in the future. The cap on the AS-CLN-GREEN bottle was a bit loose and about half leaked out, soaking the bottom of the box.

Answer

And I'm really glad to hear your HP 96 refill went smoothly and the print quality is perfect-when the refill is done correctly, that cartridge can hold a surprising amount of ink, so your observation is completely normal.

1) Why did the HP 96 take so much black ink-and which bulk black bottle should you buy?

The HP 96 Black is known for having a relatively large ink capacity compared to many common cartridges, especially when it has been run very low or fully depleted. It's normal for a first refill after "empty" to drink up a lot of ink. Also, if you prime the cartridge properly (which you did-those priming clips really help), the cartridge can accept ink more efficiently because trapped air is removed and the sponge/ink chamber can load more completely.

Which item to order for bulk black (same black ink family)

Both items you listed are intended to supply black ink in the same refill system family:

• ID30-KKK-AC - This version includes accessories (helpful if you want extra refill hardware on hand, backups, or you're refilling multiple cartridge types regularly).

• ID30-KKKBULK - This version does not include accessories (better if you already have the tools/clips/needles and just want more ink).

So the main practical difference is accessories vs. ink-only packaging. If you already have your refill tools and your process is working well, ID30-KKKBULK is usually the most cost-efficient way to keep up with how much black the HP 96 consumes. If you want extra backup accessories (or plan to expand refilling), ID30-KKK-AC makes sense.

2) Which "ink only" item should you order for CMYK refills without tools?

If you want only squeeze bottles of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black without buying tools and directions again, the item you want is:

• ID30-KCMY-INKONLY-UN

That's the correct "ink-only" option for topping off your supplies when you already have the refill tools.

Quick note on color ink usage (HP 97 and Canon 241XL)

It's also normal that color can behave differently than black:

• HP 97 tends to be more sensitive to air ingestion and needs good priming/contact.

• Canon 241XL color often depletes unevenly (one color runs out first), so it's smart to keep spare CMY on hand even if black is your main usage.

If your refills are printing perfectly now, you're doing the process right-getting the correct ink-only replenishment is the next step.

3) About the leaked AS-CLN-GREEN cleaning solution: thank you for the packaging suggestion

Thank you for pointing that out-and I'm genuinely sorry your package arrived with the bottom soaked and the AS-CLN-GREEN bottle partially leaked. That's frustrating, especially when everything else was properly bagged.

Your suggestion is a good one: placing the cleaning solution bottle in a ziplock bag (like the other items) adds a simple layer of protection in case a cap loosens during shipping. I appreciate you taking the time to share that, and I'll make sure this feedback is noted for improving future packing.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. Because of that, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility, Printer Repair Service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so it might take a few weeks before we can get your printer in if you decide to drop it off. Our services are structured to repair either a whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we acknowledge that our rates aren't the most economical. For that reason, we highly recommend self-help through online research. You can start by checking out YouTube or visiting our channel homepage, BCH Technologies on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Look for specific videos using the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of questions every day asking about videos for specific topics, and after creating videos over the past nine years, it's tough to remember every single one-so using YouTube's search function is the fastest approach. Plus, YouTube may suggest other relevant videos from other channels that could help as well.

Thanks again for your order, your thoughtful note, and for supporting what we do. I'm glad your HP 96 refill turned out perfect-and I hope the part numbers above make it easy to restock exactly what you need.