How to Fix a Procolored DTF L1800 Printer That Stops Midway and Won’t Power On

Question:

My Procolored DTF L1800 printer stopped working after the film roll ran out and jammed. Initially, it would start printing and stop midway without producing anything. A tech had me unplug some wires for a reset, and after plugging them back in, the printer stopped turning on. The power light won’t come on, the carriage is unlocked, and the printer won’t function. I live near Statesville, NC, and would prefer to bring it in for repair. Can you help?

Answer:

Let’s break down your issue and provide some practical steps and background:

Common Causes and Fixes for Your Issue

1. Midway Stoppage with No Output:

This symptom often relates to the film sensor or paper end detection system. When the film roll finishes and causes a jam or reaches the end, the printer may throw a logic error, thinking it’s still out of film or paper, halting the job immediately after it starts. On some Procolored DTF models, the firmware halts printing if it detects that the media is missing, incorrectly loaded, or the film sensor is dirty/misreading.

Fixes:

• Check if the film sensor is obstructed or has adhesive residue. If so, clean it gently using isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free swab.

• You can trick the sensor by covering it with a small piece of tape to simulate paper presence—but only temporarily for testing.

• Check the print driver or software settings to see if there’s a media detection override option (rare but present in some RIPs).

2. Printer Not Powering On (Dead Power Switch):

Unfortunately, the step where a technician had you unplug several wires likely resulted in hardware damage. If the blue power LED no longer lights up and the carriage is now unlocked, this often means the mainboard has lost control, or worse, shorted out.

Potential Causes:

• A disconnected or fried power supply board or mainboard.

• A blown fuse on the mainboard (standard on L1800-based designs).

• A misaligned or reversed connector plug-in during reassembly.

Fixes:

• Check the fuse (often labeled F1 or F101 on the board). If you have a multimeter, test it for continuity.

• Verify all connectors are firmly plugged in the correct direction. Ribbon cables inserted upside-down are a common issue.

• If you're familiar with voltage testing, measure the output from the power supply board to ensure it's sending 24V or 42V DC (depending on your board variant).

If none of these steps resolve the issue, the mainboard is likely damaged and may need replacing or a component-level repair.

3. Unlocked Carriage:

The carriage's freedom of movement indicates that the stepper motors are not energized, which again points to either a bad power board or an unpowered/shorted mainboard.

What You Can Do Now

Given that your printer used to power on before unplugging those internal wires, there's a good chance that the unplugging and replugging process damaged something critical. If you feel this is beyond your scope, and considering you’re near Statesville, NC, we would be glad to look at it for you.

You can explore our local repair service here: BCH Printer Repair Service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service).

However, please do not drop off your printer without first getting approval from Abby. Our shop is often overbooked and operates strictly on a waitlist basis.

Our current diagnostic base fee is $300, with labor charged at $65/hour (parts not included). Depending on what you need, we offer full printer repairs or component-level fixes (like mainboard repair). If you cannot fight with the manufacturer or don't want to risk international shipping, this could be your best option.

What About Return/Refund Options?

Since this sounds like a relatively recent purchase, you may still have options:

1. If purchased on a platform like Amazon or eBay, initiate a return. Amazon offers a 30-day return and a 90-day A-to-Z Guarantee claim.

2. If you purchased the product via credit card or PayPal, you can file a chargeback if it doesn't work as advertised.

3. Persistence is key. We’ve seen people win disputes even after a year or more—if you’ve got the energy to follow up, don’t give up easily.

One Final Note

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. So, we cannot 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). Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Getting your printer to drop off may take a few weeks. Our services are structured to repair 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 recommend that you resort to self-help via online research. You can start by checking out YouTube or visiting our YouTube channel's homepage (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.

Thanks again for reaching out and for trusting us with your printer journey. We're rooting for a quick and smooth fix—and we appreciate your continued support!