Epson 1390 DTF Printer Ink Light Stays On After Mainboard Replacement - What to Check

Question:

I watched your video, "1390 DTF Printer Printing Blanks or Burning Boards? Here's Why!" I already have a replacement mainboard for my Epson 1390 DTF printer, but after replacing the board, the ink light is still on. Besides the mainboard, what else needs to be changed or checked to get the printer working again?

Watch the referenced BCH Technologies video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh-jhT4noWE&lc=UgygAwnIlJgjYjM4s_l4AaABAg]

Answer:

A New Mainboard Does Not Automatically Fix an Ink-Light Problem

If the replacement mainboard is installed and the ink light remains on, I would not immediately assume that another major component needs to be replaced. The ink light is a symptom, and the important next step is determining exactly what error the printer is reporting.

On the Epson Stylus Photo 1390 platform, an ink-related error can involve the cartridges or cartridge chips, the CSIC cartridge-detection system, the CSIC ribbon cable, its connection to the mainboard, or related circuitry. Epson's service documentation specifically includes the cartridge memory chip, CSIC FFC, CSIC board, and cartridge-contact electrodes among the areas checked for a cartridge/CSIC recognition error.

This is especially important on a printer that has been converted for DTF printing because the original ink-cartridge system may have been modified with refillable cartridges, chips, chip boards, continuous-ink components, or other aftermarket parts.

First, Recheck Everything Connected to the Mainboard

Before replacing anything else, unplug the printer from power and carefully inspect every connector that was disconnected during the mainboard replacement.

Pay particular attention to the ribbon cables and connectors associated with the carriage and ink-cartridge detection system. A ribbon cable can look installed while being slightly crooked, not fully inserted, inserted on the wrong side of a locking connector, or damaged at the contacts.

The Epson 1390 service documentation specifically identifies the CSIC ribbon cable connection to the mainboard as one of the areas to inspect when the printer cannot recognize its cartridges.

Check for:

1. A ribbon cable that is not fully seated.

2. A ribbon cable installed crooked in its connector.

3. Torn, scratched, folded, or burned FFC contacts.

4. A connector latch that is not locked.

5. Bent contacts inside a connector.

6. Ink contamination or cleaning fluid on the ribbon cables or electronics.

7. Burn marks or damaged components on the carriage/CSIC circuitry.

8. Loose cartridge chips or poor contact between the chips and the printer's cartridge contacts.

Do not repeatedly power the printer on if you suspect a ribbon cable is incorrectly installed. A shorted or misaligned FFC can potentially damage the replacement board as well.

Use the Epson Adjustment Program to Find the Actual Error

Rather than troubleshooting only from the ink LED, the best next step is to retrieve the printer's stored error information.

The Epson 1390 Adjustment Program includes a Printer Information Check function, along with other service functions used for adjustment and maintenance of the printer.

If you have the correct Adjustment Program for your printer:

1. Connect the printer directly to the computer through USB.

2. Open the Epson Adjustment Program.

3. Select the USB port showing your printer.

4. Select Particular Adjustment Mode.

5. Find Printer Information Check.

6. Click Check.

7. Look at the most recent stored error, normally shown at or near the top of the error history.

The actual error information is much more useful than simply knowing that the ink LED is illuminated. Once you have that error, you can determine whether the printer is complaining about cartridge recognition, a sensor, the carriage system, a mechanical condition, or another electrical problem.

We also have a short video demonstrating how to retrieve Epson error information using this method:

Watch our Epson error-code checking walkthrough [https://youtube.com/shorts/FPZzpyYuZLE]

Check the Cartridge Chips and CSIC System

If the reported error relates to the ink cartridges or CSIC system, inspect the cartridge chips before assuming the replacement mainboard is defective.

Depending on how your DTF conversion is configured, make sure all chips are positioned correctly and making good electrical contact. If the printer uses refillable cartridges with individual chips, one bad or poorly seated chip may be enough to keep the ink light illuminated.

Also inspect the cartridge-contact area on the carriage. Epson's troubleshooting procedure for a cartridge/CSIC error includes checking for damaged cartridge memory chips, a damaged or disconnected CSIC FFC, damage to the CSIC board, and bent cartridge-contact electrodes.

If your DTF conversion uses a special chip board, chipless configuration, or other modification, you also need to make sure that system is compatible with the replacement mainboard and its current configuration.

The Replacement Mainboard May Require Setup or Adjustment

There is another important point when installing a different mainboard: replacing the physical board does not always mean the printer is ready to operate immediately.

Epson's 1390 service procedure lists several Adjustment Program operations associated with mainboard servicing, including copying EEPROM data when available, performing initial settings, setting the CSIC Printer ID, entering the printer serial number, and storing printhead-related information.

Exactly what needs to be performed depends on whether your replacement board is new, used, pre-programmed, or supplied specifically for a modified DTF printer.

Therefore, I would not recommend randomly writing values or initializing EEPROM data simply because the ink light is on. First retrieve the printer information and error history. Changing settings without knowing what is wrong can introduce additional problems.

If the Original Board Was Damaged, Look for What Damaged It

This point is especially important considering the subject of the video you referenced.

If the previous board actually burned or failed electrically, don't assume that the board itself was the original cause. Something connected to it may have caused the failure.

Before risking another mainboard, inspect the components and wiring connected to it, particularly anything that was modified during the DTF conversion. Depending on the original failure, this can include the printhead and printhead FFC cables, carriage electronics, CSIC wiring, motors, sensors, aftermarket wiring, and any areas where ink or cleaning solution may have reached electrical components.

For example, if an FFC cable has carbonized contacts or a connected component has an electrical short, installing a new board without correcting the original fault can potentially damage the replacement board too.

Search the Specific Error Before Buying More Parts

Once you retrieve the actual Epson error information, search for that specific error rather than replacing additional components based only on the ink light.

You can search Google for "BCH Epson Error" to find our information regarding Epson's more detailed service error codes. Search the exact code shown by the printer along with your model-for example:

Epson 1390 + [your error code]

The code can narrow the troubleshooting substantially.

If the Adjustment Program identifies an APG, carriage, PF, sensor, CSIC, or another subsystem error, troubleshoot that particular subsystem rather than treating every illuminated ink light as a mainboard failure.

Where to Get the Adjustment Program

The Epson Adjustment Program is a service utility associated with printer maintenance and adjustment. Depending on where your DTF printer was purchased, the seller or technician who supplied the printer may already have provided the appropriate program.

If you received an Adjustment Program with the machine, use the version intended for your exact printer model. Avoid randomly trying programs intended for other Epson models simply because they appear similar.

For your situation, the most useful information you can obtain now is the exact error reported under Printer Information Check. That will tell you much more than replacing parts one at a time.

Addressing printer problems can be complicated because so much of the diagnosis depends on hands-on inspection and testing. For that reason, we're unable to provide individual remote troubleshooting, repair guidance, or ongoing repair support. We do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service through our BCH Technologies printer diagnostic and repair facility [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Because demand is high, the service operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and there may be a wait of several weeks before a printer can be scheduled for drop-off. Our service can cover either a complete printer or certain individual parts, with instructions provided for the appropriate process. We also recognize that professional repair may not be the most economical option for every situation, so we strongly encourage self-help and online research when appropriate. A good starting point is YouTube, including the BCH Technologies YouTube channel [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. On our channel homepage, use the search icon near the About area to search for your printer model, symptom, component, or error code. We receive dozens of questions asking whether we have a video about a particular problem, and after producing videos for more than nine years, it is difficult to remember every video we've published. Using YouTube's search function is normally the fastest approach, and YouTube may also recommend helpful material from other repair channels.

Thank you again for watching our videos and for taking the time to contact BCH Technologies. In this case, before replacing anything else, I would focus on checking all mainboard and CSIC connections and then retrieving the printer's stored error information with the Adjustment Program. That exact error will give you a much better direction for determining why the ink light remains on.