Epson SureColor F170 Main Board Fuse Replacement: What Fuse Do You Need for F301 and F302?

Question

I have an Epson SureColor F170 with a CG19 Main-B main board. I need to replace fuse F301 and possibly F302, but I cannot find these fuses anywhere. Do you carry them, and what type of fuse do I need?

Answer

For the Epson SureColor F170, the main thing to understand is that this printer is closely related to Epson's EcoTank-style desktop printer platform. Internally, the F170 is very similar to models such as the Epson ST-2000 or ET-2750, except it is configured as a sublimation printer and does not have the same scanner assembly found on some EcoTank models. Because of that shared platform, many of the board-level protection components are similar to those used in Epson EcoTank main boards.

For the F301 fuse, and possibly F302 depending on what you find during testing, you can use the same style of Epson main board surface-mount fuse that we list for other Epson main boards. The part we recommend checking is our F1/F2/F3 Epson mainboard fuse here: Epson Mainboard Fuse for F1, F2, and F3 Locations [https://bchtechnologies.com/products/f1-fuse-also-f2-f3-for-epson-mainboard-fix-error-0x9a-or-031006-on-wf-7720-wf-7710-wf-3640-et-8550-xp-15000?_pos=1&_sid=58287279b&_ss=r].

Although the product title mentions other Epson models and error codes such as 0x9A and 031006, the important point is the fuse type and application. Epson uses these small surface-mount fuses as protection devices on the main board. They are often used to protect voltage lines that feed the printhead circuit, carriage circuit, sensors, or related control sections. When a fuse opens, the printer may fail to initialize properly, report a fatal error, or show symptoms that make the printer look like it has a bad printhead, bad carriage board, or bad main board.

Before replacing the fuse, I strongly recommend testing it with a multimeter in continuity mode. Do not rely only on visual inspection. These fuses can look perfectly normal even when they are open. With the printer unplugged and the board removed or safely accessible, place one probe on each side of the fuse. A good fuse should show continuity or very low resistance. A blown fuse will show open circuit or no continuity.

If F301 has no continuity, it is likely blown and can be replaced. If F302 also shows no continuity, then it may also need to be replaced. However, it is important to remember that a blown fuse is usually a symptom, not the original cause. The fuse may have blown because something downstream drew too much current. On Epson printers, common causes include a shorted printhead, ink contamination on the printhead cable, a damaged or misaligned FFC ribbon cable, corrosion on the printhead terminals, a damaged carriage board, or a shorted component on the main board.

For that reason, replacing F301 or F302 without checking the cause can result in the new fuse blowing immediately. Before installing the replacement fuse, inspect the printhead cables carefully. Look for ink stains, burned pins, bent contacts, torn cable ends, or any sign that the cable was inserted crooked. Also inspect the printhead connector area and the carriage board. If there is ink contamination, clean it properly and allow everything to dry completely before powering the printer again.

If the printer had a previous printhead failure, liquid spill, or cable connection issue, it is also possible that the printhead itself has an internal short. In that case, replacing the fuse may temporarily restore power to the circuit, but the printer can blow the fuse again as soon as it tries to initialize or fire the nozzles. This is why we normally suggest checking both the fuse and the load side of the circuit before applying power.

When replacing the fuse, you will need proper micro-soldering tools. These fuses are small surface-mount components, so excessive heat or force can lift pads from the board. Use flux, controlled heat, and avoid pulling the component while the solder is still solid. If the board pad is damaged, the repair becomes more complicated because the trace may need to be rebuilt or jumped.

So, in practical terms: yes, you can use our Epson mainboard fuse listed for F1/F2/F3 applications for the F170's F301 and possibly F302 locations, because the F170 uses a board design closely related to the ST-2000/ET-2750 family. Just make sure to test the fuse first, confirm whether F301 and F302 are actually open, and inspect for the underlying cause before powering the printer back on.

Addressing printer issues can be complicated because many of these repairs are hands-on and depend heavily on what we see during inspection. Because of that, we are not able to provide remote troubleshooting, step-by-step repair support, or personalized repair diagnosis for printer repairs. We do offer in-person evaluation and repair service through our local diagnostic facility: BCH Technologies Printer Repair Service [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Due to high demand, service is handled on a first-come, first-served basis, so it may take a few weeks before we can accept a printer for drop-off. Our repair services are arranged for either a complete printer or specific parts, with instructions provided on how to proceed. We also understand that our repair rates may not be the most economical option for every situation, so we highly recommend self-help through online research whenever possible. A good starting point is YouTube, including our channel homepage: BCH Technologies on YouTube [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. Once you are on the channel, use the search icon next to the "About" tab on the right side of the menu bar to search for your specific model, error code, board issue, or fuse topic. We receive many questions every day asking for videos on specific repairs, and after many years of creating videos, it is difficult to remember every single one. YouTube's search function is often the fastest way to locate the most relevant BCH video, and it may also suggest helpful videos from other repair channels.

Thank you again for reaching out and for supporting BCH Technologies. We appreciate your question, and we hope this helps you identify the correct fuse and approach the F170 main board repair more safely.