Epson ET-4800 Says "Waste Ink Pad Full" Even With an External Waste Tank Kit: Why It Happens and How to Clear the Error

Question: I bought your external Waste Tank Kit for my Epson ET-4800 a while back. It worked fine, but now I'm getting the same error saying the waste tank/pads are full-even though I'm using your kit. What can I do to fix this?

Answer:

An external waste bottle kit prevents future waste ink from soaking the internal pads-but it does not automatically reset the printer's internal waste ink counter.

Your Epson ET-4800 tracks "waste ink fullness" in firmware memory using an internal counter. Every time the printer runs cleanings, flushes, and borderless maintenance routines, it increments that counter. Once it hits a threshold, the printer will throw a maintenance/waste-ink-full warning (and sometimes a hard stop), even if you have redirected waste ink into an external bottle.

So you may have solved the physical waste ink problem (where the ink goes), but the printer is still stopping because of the logical problem (the counter value stored in memory).

Why This Happens Even If the Bottle Is Working Perfectly

1) The printer is counting cleanings, not measuring your external bottle

Epson consumer EcoTank models generally do not have a sensor that measures the level in your external bottle. They simply assume waste ink is going to internal pads and use a counter to estimate saturation.

2) Heavy use and repeated head cleanings accelerate the counter

If you've recently had clogs or ran multiple cleanings, that can push the counter to the limit quickly-even though all that ink may have gone safely into your external bottle.

3) The message often refers to "waste ink pads" even if you don't use pads anymore

Many Epson models still use wording like "waste ink pad is at the end of its service life" or "waste ink is full." That language doesn't change just because the waste ink is redirected.

What You Can Do to Fix the Problem

Step 1: Reset the waste ink (maintenance) counter

BCH Technologies does not sell reset software or reset keys, but there are reputable third-party options many customers use for Epson maintenance counter resets:

• InkChip (https://inkchip.net)

• WIC Reset / WIC Support (https://wic.support)

These services typically work by providing:

• A small utility you run on a computer, and/or

• A paid "reset key" that allows the software to zero out the waste ink counter.

This reset clears the printer's memory of the waste ink estimate. It does not remove ink that is already inside pads if the pads were ever used previously.

Important note: Always verify your exact model (ET-4800 specifically) in the compatibility list on the website before purchasing anything.

Step 2: Understand the difference between "Resetting the Counter" and "Fixing Saturated Pads"

Even if you're using an external waste bottle today, the printer may have spent months (or years) dumping waste ink into the internal pads before the kit was installed. That means two things can be true at once:

• The counter is full (firmware stop)

• The pads may also be physically saturated (real mess risk)

If the pads are physically saturated

Symptoms can include:

• Ink smell or ink staining near the bottom of the printer

• Moisture or ink seepage underneath

• Ink pooling near the waste pad area

In that case, resetting the counter alone may get the printer running again, but it doesn't eliminate the risk of leakage. The external waste bottle helps prevent additional ink from saturating the pads going forward, but it doesn't reverse old saturation.

Step 3: "What if my waste tank has a chip?"

Some Epson designs (more common on higher-end models with replaceable maintenance boxes) use a chip-based maintenance box system. In those cases, a simple software reset may not work, because the printer is reading chip status, not just a counter.

For printers that rely on a chip on the maintenance tank/box, you may need:

• A replacement chip, or

• A dedicated physical resetter designed for that chip/tank type, or

• An OEM replacement maintenance box (model-dependent)

The ET-4800 family typically uses an internal waste pad system with a counter rather than a user-replaceable maintenance box, but if your setup includes an add-on tank or a chip-based accessory, that distinction matters. The key takeaway is: if a chip is involved, resetting may require hardware-software alone may not be enough.

Error Codes Mentioned

In your message, you referenced the "same error about the waste tank being full," but you didn't include the exact error code text or number. Epson's wording and behavior can differ depending on whether it's:

• A warning,

• A maintenance required condition, or

• A hard stop (service required)

If your printer displays a specific code (letters/numbers) along with the message, that exact code is worth writing down because it can confirm whether you're dealing with:

• a maintenance counter limit,

• a maintenance box/chip issue,

• or a related service/pad condition.

A few practical reminders while using an external waste bottle

• Make sure the external bottle is not overfilled and the tube is not submerged too deep (backpressure can cause problems).

• Confirm the waste line is not kinked or pinched.

• Ensure the bottle is placed below the printer's waste outlet level to avoid siphoning/backflow issues.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. So, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, step-by-step suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility, BCH Technologies 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 accept your printer for drop-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. Thus, we highly recommend that you resort to self-help via online research. You can start by checking out YouTube or visiting our YouTube channel's 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 queries every day asking about videos for specific topics. Having created videos over the past nine years, it's challenging to remember every single one. Therefore, using YouTube's search function would be most efficient. Plus, YouTube might suggest relevant videos from other channels that could assist you.

Thank you again for reaching out, and I appreciate you choosing our waste tank kit. I'm sorry you ran into this warning again, but in most cases the fix is simply resetting the printer's waste ink counter (and then continuing to use the external bottle so the pads don't keep soaking up ink).