Prestige A3+ R DTF Printer Error 42H, Blank Printing, and ET-8550 vs. KevinR2R Buying Guide

Question

I have a Prestige A3+ R DTF printer that I purchased in late 2022. Overall, it has worked well, but like many DTF users, I have struggled with white ink clogging. I have already replaced the printhead twice because of clogs that I could not clear.

Recently, after performing multiple head cleanings, the printer developed flashing red lights and displayed Error 42H. This was not the normal waste-ink-counter warning. I found liquid on the ribbon cable where it connects to the printhead, so I removed the cable, cleaned it, dried it, and reinstalled it.

After restarting the printer, the red lights and Error 42H disappeared, but now the printer goes through the printing process without putting any ink on the film. I suspect the printhead may have shorted. I checked the printhead fuse on the mainboard, and the fuse still has continuity.

Does a good printhead fuse mean the mainboard is probably okay? Should I replace the printhead ribbon cable and printhead?

I also have a second question. If I purchase another DTF printer from BCH Technologies, which would be a better choice for me: the converted Epson ET-8550 KevinV2 or the KevinR2R roll-to-roll printer? What is the current shipping time for the KevinR2R?

Answer

Error 42H: What It Usually Means

If your Prestige A3+ R is based on the common Epson L1800/1390-style electronics, Error 42H generally corresponds to the Epson 0x42 family of printhead errors. This is primarily a printhead temperature or thermistor-related fault rather than a normal paper-feed, carriage, or waste-ink error.

The important error codes in this family are Error 0x40, Error 0x41, and Error 0x42/42H.

Error 0x40 is associated with a printhead temperature/thermistor abnormality and can sometimes occur when the printer does not properly detect the printhead circuit, such as when the head or cable is disconnected.

Error 0x41 is associated with an X-Hot detection error before printing and may indicate an open circuit, abnormal resistance, damaged thermistor circuit, poor FFC connection, damaged cable, printhead failure, or mainboard problem.

Error 0x42, which may appear as 42H on some DTF controller or diagnostic software, is an X-Hot detection error occurring during flushing or head operation. In practical repair work, this is one of the codes that makes me especially suspicious of an electrical short involving the printhead, contamination around the FFC connector, a damaged printhead thermistor circuit, or damage to the mainboard's printhead-driving circuitry.

The fact that you actually found liquid on the ribbon cable where it connects to the printhead is therefore extremely significant.

Cleaning Fluid or Ink on the Printhead Cable Can Cause Serious Electrical Damage

Cleaning solution and ink should never be present on the electrical contacts between the FFC ribbon cable and the printhead.

Even if the liquid does not look particularly conductive, contaminants dissolved in the liquid can create an electrical path between adjacent contacts. The spacing between printhead contacts is extremely small. A small amount of moisture can connect circuits that were never intended to be connected.

That can damage the printhead itself, the FFC cable, or the mainboard's printhead-driver circuitry. In an unfortunate case, all three can be damaged during the same event.

This is why I would avoid repeatedly turning the printer on and off after an Error 42H when there is evidence of liquid contamination. Every additional power-up potentially applies voltage to a circuit that may already be shorted.

Does a Good Printhead Fuse Mean the Mainboard Is Good?

Unfortunately, no.

This is one point I would definitely correct before you purchase more parts. A printhead fuse that still has continuity only tells us that the fuse has not opened. It does not prove that the entire mainboard is healthy.

The fuse is only one protective component in the printhead power circuit. It is possible for the fuse to remain good while another part of the printhead circuit has failed.

For example, a head-driver IC, switching transistor/MOSFET, data circuit, output circuit, connector trace, or another component associated with printhead firing can be damaged while the fuse still measures normally.

Therefore, I would not use the good fuse as evidence that it is safe to connect a brand-new printhead.

Why the Printer May Now Produce Completely Blank Prints

The sequence you described is particularly interesting.

Originally, the printer displayed Error 42H. You then discovered liquid around the FFC connection, removed and cleaned the cable, allowed it to dry, and reinstalled it. The Error 42H then disappeared, but the printer began producing completely blank output.

There are several possibilities.

The printhead may have been electrically damaged during the original short. The FFC cable may also have damaged or burned conductors. In some situations, a ribbon cable can be damaged badly enough that a trace becomes open. Once that happens, the electrical condition that originally caused Error 42H may disappear simply because electricity is no longer reaching that portion of the printhead circuit.

In other words, the disappearance of Error 42H does not necessarily mean the printer repaired itself. It can sometimes mean that the electrical failure changed.

That is why I would remove the printhead and inspect the FFC cables very carefully. Look for darkened contacts, carbon marks, discoloration, corrosion, missing plating, melted areas, pinholes, cracked traces, folded contacts, or contacts that appear noticeably different from neighboring contacts.

I would also examine both ends of the cables and the connectors on both the printhead and mainboard.

If liquid was found on the cable, replacing the affected FFC cable is relatively inexpensive insurance. I would be reluctant to trust a contaminated or questionable cable with a replacement printhead.

I Would Not Install a New Printhead Yet

I understand the temptation to replace the ribbon cable and printhead together and see whether the machine works. However, because you experienced Error 42H and actually found liquid on the electrical connection, I would be more cautious.

Before installing an expensive new printhead, I would want reasonable confidence that the mainboard's head-driving circuit has not been damaged.

A damaged mainboard can destroy a replacement printhead. Likewise, a shorted printhead can damage an otherwise good mainboard.

This creates the classic DTF repair problem: you cannot safely prove that one expensive component is good by connecting another expensive component that you know is good.

If you have another working L1800-style printer, I would also be very cautious about taking its known-good printhead and plugging it into this questionable mainboard. That can turn one broken printer into two broken printers.

Testing the Printhead and Mainboard

For the printhead itself, resistance and diode-type measurements can sometimes reveal obvious shorts or abnormal readings before the head is connected to a mainboard.

We have a reference sheet specifically for testing L1800/1390-style printheads with a multimeter. You can find it on the L1800/1390 Printhead Multimeter Test Sheet page [https://bchtechnologies.com/products/test-sheet-for-l1800-1390-printhead-testing-with-multimeter-digital-download-instant-download-delivered-to-your-email].

On the mainboard side, I would not stop at the F fuse. The printhead-driver circuitry and the printhead data/output paths are also important. A board can have a perfectly good fuse and still be incapable of firing the nozzles.

This is especially relevant when the printer behaves normally mechanically-the carriage moves, film feeds, and the machine acts like it is printing-but absolutely no ink is fired. Assuming the ink system is properly primed and the printhead is physically receiving ink, completely blank output can point toward loss of printhead firing voltage, loss of firing/data signals, a damaged FFC, a failed printhead, or damaged mainboard circuitry.

So in your particular situation, my suspected components would be the printhead, the contaminated FFC cable, and the mainboard printhead-driving circuit. I would not automatically assume that replacing only the head and cable will solve it.

Question #2: KevinV2 ET-8550 or KevinR2R?

For the second question, the choice between our converted Epson ET-8550 KevinV2 and our KevinR2R really depends on how you actually print.

If your workload is similar to mine-perhaps around 40 sheets on a normal weekday and 100 to 200 sheets during a busy weekend-you probably will not enjoy standing beside a sheet-fed printer feeding film one sheet at a time. For that type of production, I would choose the KevinR2R.

If your orders are more sporadic and you might print only two or three times per week, or occasionally go considerably longer between jobs, the KevinV2 ET-8550 would probably fit your workflow better.

KevinV2 Epson ET-8550 DTF Conversion

The KevinV2 is our converted Epson ET-8550 platform.

If you already own an ET-8550, you can send it to BCH Technologies for conversion through our ET-8550 DTF Conversion Service [https://bchtechnologies.com/collections/printer-repair-service/products/conversion-of-et-8550-printer-labor-only].

You can also purchase a complete converted printer through our KevinV2 Converted Epson ET-8550 DTF Printer page [https://bchtechnologies.com/products/a3-dtf-printer-w-white-ink-epson-et-8550-kevinv2].

The major advantage of KevinV2 is its suitability for intermittent use. After finishing a printing batch, you perform the recommended after-job maintenance procedure. When properly prepared for storage, it can tolerate substantially longer idle periods than a conventional production-oriented white-ink DTF printer.

When you are ready to use it again, you follow the wake-up procedure, confirm the ink system and nozzle condition, complete your printing, and then perform the after-job procedure again.

For somebody whose business receives DTF orders irregularly, that can be a major advantage.

The tradeoff is productivity. The ET-8550 is fundamentally a sheet-fed platform. It does not continuously feed a roll of DTF film, so higher-volume production means handling individual sheets.

The currently listed complete KevinV2 printers are built and tested after an order is placed, and the product listing indicates approximately 5-10 business days of preparation before shipping.

KevinR2R Roll-to-Roll DTF Printer

The KevinR2R A3+ DTF Printer [https://bchtechnologies.com/products/pre-order-a3-dtf-printer-xp600-13-2-335mm-roll-to-roll-intelligent-white-ink-system-industrial-workhorse] is designed for customers who print much more frequently and want a production-oriented roll-to-roll workflow.

Its biggest advantage is obvious once your volume increases: you are no longer feeding every design as a separate sheet. The printer can handle continuous roll media, which makes larger batches far more practical.

It can also be used with individual sheets if you are comfortable feeding them through the rear feeding path, but roll printing is where this machine makes the most sense.

The KevinR2R also has automated maintenance features intended for regular operation. However, unlike the KevinV2, I would not select it specifically because I wanted to leave a white-ink printer unused for long periods. White DTF ink contains heavy pigment, and production machines are happiest when they are kept in regular use.

As of the current BCH product listing, the KevinR2R is being offered as a pre-order item with an estimated arrival time of approximately 4-8 weeks, depending on production and shipping conditions. Because we produce these machines in limited batches and the timing can change, I recommend checking the product page again immediately before ordering for the most current estimate.

Which One Would I Choose?

For occasional orders, several idle days between jobs, smaller batches, and situations where feeding individual sheets does not bother you, I would choose the KevinV2 ET-8550.

For frequent printing, larger batches, regular production, and especially situations where you may be printing dozens or hundreds of sheets' worth of transfers, I would choose the KevinR2R.

I would make the decision based on your actual workload today rather than the workload you hope to have someday. A production-oriented white-ink printer sitting unused most of the week can create more maintenance problems than it solves. On the other hand, manually feeding sheets through an ET-8550 becomes frustrating very quickly when orders start piling up.

Both systems have dedicated owner support resources, but warranty, included printhead, service-plan, and support terms can vary by configuration and may be updated. Please review the current product listing carefully before purchasing rather than relying on an older description of the warranty.

Repair and Troubleshooting Information

Printer problems like Error 42H can be especially difficult to diagnose remotely because electrical failures often require direct inspection, measurements, and testing of the actual components. For that reason, we're unable to provide individualized remote troubleshooting, repair suggestions, or ongoing technical support for printer repairs.

We do offer in-person evaluation and repair through our local BCH Technologies Printer Repair Service [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Because of the volume of repair work we receive, service is handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and there can be a wait of several weeks before we're able to accept a printer for drop-off. Our repair services can address either an entire printer or certain individual components, depending on the situation and the service selected.

We also recognize that professional repair is not always the most economical option. For that reason, we strongly encourage customers who are comfortable working on their own equipment to research the problem independently. A good place to begin is YouTube, including the BCH Technologies YouTube channel [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies].

Once you are on our channel homepage, use the search icon near the "About" section to search terms such as "L1800 42H," "0x42," "printhead testing," "L1800 mainboard," "printhead fuse," or "blank printing." I receive dozens of questions every day asking whether we have made a video about a particular problem. After producing repair videos for more than nine years, it is difficult for me to remember every video we've published, so using YouTube's channel search is usually much faster. YouTube may also recommend useful videos from other creators covering the same repair.

Thank you again for reaching out, for giving us such a detailed description of what happened, and especially for supporting BCH Technologies and our videos. I hope this gives you a clearer understanding of why Error 42H is concerning, why a good fuse does not necessarily clear the mainboard, and which of our two DTF platforms would better match your printing volume.