Epson L1800 Printing Blank Pages: Understanding the F1 Fuse and White Wire Modification

Question:
My Epson L1800 is printing blank pages, and I've been troubleshooting based on videos about the F1 fuse. However, I noticed that there are two white wires connected to the F1 fuse. What does this mean, and how should it be handled?

Answer:

Why the Epson L1800 Prints Blank Pages

When the Epson L1800 prints blank pages, one of the common culprits is a blown F1 fuse on the mainboard. This fuse protects the power supply to the printhead. If the fuse is open (burned out), the printhead does not receive the required voltage, which results in completely blank printouts even though the printer powers on and moves normally.

The error often doesn't display as a code on-screen-it simply manifests as white or blank pages. This makes the F1 fuse a prime suspect in such cases.

What It Means If You See Two White Wires on the F1 Fuse

If you notice two white wires connected to the F1 fuse area, it usually means that the manufacturer or a technician has re-routed or bypassed the fuse. This is often done in the Epson L1800 because the original F1 fuse is located underneath the mainboard, which makes it hard to access. By soldering wires to the fuse pads and leading them to the top side of the board, the fuse becomes easier to test or replace in the future without disassembling the entire printer.

This isn't necessarily a problem-it's more of a service convenience. However, it does mean that:

• The wires are essentially an "extension" of the fuse location.

• If the fuse is blown, you will still need to test continuity across those wires to confirm.

• If improperly done, this kind of modification could introduce resistance or weak solder points.

How BCH Would Handle It

When we encounter this during repair, we usually desolder the two wires and replace the fuse with the original OEM-style fuse on the board. This ensures the circuit returns to its designed state, avoids any risk of loose wiring, and maintains a cleaner repair.

That said, if the wires were installed cleanly and the modification is stable, you can still use them to test the fuse function. Just make sure you're working with the proper rating replacement fuse, not a jumper, to preserve the safety of the board.

Key Advice

1. Never bypass the fuse with a jumper. Doing so may cause more severe damage to the printhead or board if another short occurs.

2. Check for root causes. If the fuse blew once, investigate possible shorts in the printhead or moisture issues.

3. Replace properly. Either replace the fuse on the wire extension or restore the OEM fuse position if you have the skills to desolder/resolder safely.

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, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Because of high demand, our services are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks after drop-off before we can work on your machine. We handle both complete printer repairs and part-specific jobs, with clear instructions on how to proceed. Still, we recognize that our rates may not be the lowest. That's why we encourage you to also explore self-help options-starting with our YouTube channel homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon next to "About" to find relevant videos, or take advantage of YouTube's suggestions for similar content from other creators.

Thank you again for contacting us and allowing us the opportunity to help. We truly value your support and trust in BCH Technologies.