Refilling Epson 302 and 312 Cartridges: Is It Possible?

Question:

Hi Kevin! Have you tried refilling new Epson cartridges such as 302 or 312? Do the same methods apply?

Answer:

What Is Different Between Epson 302/312 and Older Cartridges

These new cartridges differ only in the size of the ink outlet. The 302 and 312 cartridges have a wider opening than those on some older models with smaller outlets, which makes a difference in how the ink flows and how you go about the refilling process.

What you should know when refilling epson 302 and 312 cartridges

Ink Inlet & Air Vent – These models have the same internal sponge system as most Epson cartridges, so always remember to be mindful of air pressure when refilling.

Chip Reset or Bypass – Epson cartridges include smart chips that do not detect refilled cartridges. After the refill, to let the printer recognize the cartridge, you will need a chip resetter or an auto-reset chip.

Refill Method – The refill is similar to other models:

Find the refill port – Depending on your cartridge model, you might have to drill a small hole or find an existing port.

Use quality ink – Make sure to use high-quality ink designed for your specific printer model.

Control air pressure – Too much air or incorrect refilling techniques can result in leaks or pressure imbalances.

Reset the chip – a resetter is needed if the printer does not detect the refilled cartridge.

Potential Issues and Fixes

Cartridge Not Recognized After Refilling – This is usually caused by a chip that is not reset. Using a resetter or swapping the chip with an auto-reset type.

Ink leaking or poor printing quality – the 302 and 312 have larger ink outlets, so be mindful of ink flow. DO NOT over fill them and make sure it is saturated properly but not dripping.

Firmware Updates for Printers Blocked Refilled Cartridges — Printers that automatically update their software may now be blocking third-party ink refills. If possible, disable firmware updates as it can lead to the lockouts.

Final Thoughts

The cartridges 302 and 312 offer a slight difference due to the size of their ink outlet, but the refilling concept is the same. If you prep carefully——notably, in terms of resetting the chip and the flow of the ink in the cartridge itself, you can refill these cartridges and continue to print more cheaply.

Note on Printer Troubleshooting & Repairs

Printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on, from the outset problems. As such, we cannot offer remote troubleshooting, recommendations or service for printer repairs. We have a local evaluation and repair through our diagnostic facility BCH Printer Repair Service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service), but the demand is so high we are working on a first-come, first-served basis so it may be a few weeks before we can get your printer in to drop it off. We are correcting either a whole printer or parts with clear instructions on how to make. However, we are aware that our rates are not the cheapest. Therefore we strongly suggest that you find self-help through online researches. Start with nothing on YouTube, or go to our YouTube home page (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies), and then search for specific videos using the search icon next to "About" right corner of the top menu bar. It would be most efficient using YouTube's search function since I have created videos over the past nine years and it would be hard to recall every single one. Plus, YouTube may recommend videos from other channels that may help.

Thank you once more for your continued support! If you try this refill, I would love to hear how you do. Happy printing!