Can You Refill an HP 45 Cartridge with Quick-Drying Water-Based Eco-Solvent Ink?

Question

I watched your video, "5 Industrial Secrets to Refill HP 45 Cartridges [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdgEGViEdZg]," about refilling HP 45, HP 15, HP 40, 2580, C8842A, 45si, CG339A, 51645A, and B3F58A cartridges. Can I refill one of these cartridges with a new quick-drying, water-based eco-solvent ink? Will it work correctly?

Answer

The direct answer is no-we do not recommend filling an HP 45 cartridge with quick-drying water-based eco-solvent ink.

The HP 45, including part numbers such as 51645A, is a thermal inkjet cartridge originally engineered to use a compatible pigment-based black ink. HP describes the HP 45 ink and cartridge as a coordinated system designed for dependable firing and print performance. A liquid being water-based does not automatically make it suitable for this cartridge.

Why the Ink Type Matters

The HP 45 is not simply a container that releases any liquid through small holes. It includes an integrated thermal printhead with microscopic nozzles and heating resistors. During printing, each resistor rapidly heats a tiny quantity of ink, creating a vapor bubble that forces a droplet through the nozzle.

For this process to work properly, the ink must have tightly controlled characteristics, including:

• Viscosity

• Surface tension

• Boiling and bubble-formation behavior

• Pigment-particle size

• Electrical conductivity

• Drying rate

• Binder and resin content

• Resistance to foaming and sedimentation

HP notes that inks with different characteristics or contaminants can create problems inside thermal inkjet cartridges because the ink formulation must work correctly with the printhead.

A quick-drying eco-solvent formulation may contain resins, co-solvents, binders, surfactants, or other additives intended for a completely different printhead technology. Even when the product is advertised as "water-based eco-solvent ink," that description does not confirm compatibility with an HP 45 thermal inkjet cartridge.

What Could Happen If Eco-Solvent Ink Is Used?

The cartridge might appear to work briefly after filling, but temporary output does not mean the ink is compatible. Several failures may develop:

Clogged nozzles: Quick-drying additives and binders can dry inside the microscopic nozzle openings. Once this occurs, normal priming or cleaning may not restore the cartridge.

Overheated firing resistors: Thermal inkjet ink helps manage the heat generated by the firing chamber. An incompatible formulation may not boil or cool the chamber correctly, which can damage the resistors.

Kogation: Some ink ingredients can bake onto the heating resistors, forming a residue similar to scale on a heating element. This changes the resistor's heating behavior and can permanently reduce nozzle performance.

Poor priming or ink starvation: Incorrect surface tension or viscosity may prevent the cartridge's internal foam and ink-delivery system from supplying ink consistently to the printhead.

Leaking or dripping: Ink that is too thin may pass through the nozzle plate uncontrollably, causing puddling, dripping, or contamination inside the printer.

Weak or inconsistent printing: The cartridge may produce missing lines, faded text, overspray, feathering, or irregular drop formation.

Permanent cartridge failure: Once an incompatible ink damages the resistors or dries inside the firing chambers, replacing the ink may not recover the cartridge.

What Ink Should Be Used Instead?

For these cartridges, use a black pigment refill ink specifically formulated for the HP 45 thermal inkjet printhead. The supplier should clearly identify compatibility with HP 45, 51645A, or the related cartridge model you are refilling.

Do not rely only on descriptions such as:

• Universal black ink

• Water-based ink

• Eco-solvent ink

• Fast-drying ink

• Pigment ink

• Inkjet-compatible ink

Even pigment ink may be unsuitable if its particle size, viscosity, surface tension, or thermal properties were designed for Epson piezoelectric printheads, Canon cartridges, industrial coders, or another HP cartridge family.

The safest choice is an ink formulated and tested specifically for the HP 45 cartridge architecture. HP identifies the original HP 45 as a pigment-based black cartridge, supporting the need for a compatible pigment formulation rather than a general-purpose eco-solvent product.

Can the Cartridge Be Cleaned If Eco-Solvent Ink Has Already Been Added?

If only a small amount was added and the cartridge has not been used, you may be able to remove the ink and flush the cartridge with an appropriate cartridge-cleaning solution. However, successful recovery is not guaranteed.

Avoid immediately adding HP 45-compatible ink on top of the eco-solvent ink. Mixing two formulations can cause pigment agglomeration, thickening, separation, or chemical reactions between their binders and surfactants.

If the cartridge has already printed with the incompatible ink, watch for missing nozzles, distorted text, dripping, excessive heat, or rapidly declining output. Stop using it if these symptoms appear. Continuing to fire dry, blocked, or improperly cooled nozzles can permanently damage the integrated printhead.

Because HP 45 cartridges contain their own printhead, the damage usually remains limited to the cartridge rather than the printer's main printhead. Nevertheless, leaking ink can contaminate the carriage contacts, service station, paper path, and surrounding printer components.

Addressing printer and cartridge problems can be complicated because many failures require direct, hands-on inspection. For that reason, we cannot provide individualized remote troubleshooting, repair instructions, or ongoing technical support for printer repairs. We do offer in-person evaluation and repair through our local printer diagnostic and repair facility [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Due to high demand, service is provided on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take several weeks before an appointment or printer drop-off becomes available. Our services can cover either a complete printer or certain removable parts, with instructions provided for the applicable service. We also recognize that professional repair is not always the most economical option, so we strongly encourage customers to begin with independent online research. You can search YouTube or visit the BCH Technologies YouTube channel [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. On our channel homepage, use the search icon near the "About" section to look for videos related to your cartridge or printer model. We receive dozens of requests each day for specific videos, and after producing content for more than nine years, it is difficult to remember every video by title. YouTube's search function is generally the fastest way to locate relevant content, and it may also recommend helpful videos from other creators.

Thank you again for watching our video and taking the time to contact BCH Technologies. We sincerely appreciate your support. To protect the HP 45 cartridge, please use only a refill ink specifically formulated for the HP 45 thermal inkjet system and avoid the quick-drying water-based eco-solvent ink.