Does the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-5850 Have a Waste Ink System?

Question:
I'm using an Epson WF-5850 and would like to know if this printer has a waste ink system.

Answer:

Now, regarding your Epson WorkForce Pro WF-5850: yes, it does have a waste ink management system, but it's designed differently compared to many consumer Epson printers. Instead of only relying on internal pads that soak up excess ink, Epson's higher-end WorkForce Pro models, including the WF-5850, are equipped with a replaceable maintenance box (sometimes called a waste ink container).

How the Waste Ink System Works

• Waste Ink Pads: In traditional Epson printers, excess ink from head cleanings and purges is absorbed into permanent pads inside the printer. Once saturated, these pads trigger an error, often something like "Service Required" or error code 000031, indicating that the waste ink pad has reached the end of its service life.

• Maintenance Box in WF-5850: The WF-5850 simplifies this by using a removable maintenance box. This box is designed to collect waste ink and can easily be replaced when full. You'll typically see a message such as "Replace Maintenance Box" or error code 80C0 when it needs changing.

Advantages of the Maintenance Box

• Easy Replacement: Unlike permanent pads that require disassembly to replace or reset, the WF-5850's maintenance box is user-replaceable. You just slide out the old one and install a new one.

• Cleaner Maintenance: This system reduces the mess and risk associated with manually cleaning or replacing saturated pads.

• Longer Printer Life: Since you can swap out the waste ink container, you don't face the same hard stop that occurs in models with non-replaceable pads.

What to Do if You Get a Waste Ink Error

1. Check the Maintenance Box Status: Your printer's control panel or software utility will usually show if the box is nearing full capacity.

2. Order a Replacement: Epson sells official maintenance boxes, and third-party suppliers may also carry compatible options.

3. Reset Not Required: Unlike older models where you had to reset the waste ink counter, replacing the maintenance box automatically resets the counter.

Handling printer issues like waste ink overflow or error codes often requires direct physical work on the machine. Because of that, we're not able to provide remote repair or hands-on troubleshooting support. However, we do offer an in-person diagnostic and repair service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Since demand is high, services are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks before we can take in your printer. Our repair options include complete printer servicing or targeted part replacements, depending on your needs. That said, we also encourage you to explore self-help solutions through online research. A great starting point is our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Using the search feature (magnifying glass icon next to "About") will help you locate specific videos more efficiently from our nine years of content. YouTube may also suggest related tutorials from other creators that can provide further help.

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