[CISS] Continuous Ink Supply System - Do They Really Work?

I just got my first printer [Canon Pixma IP4500] and will actually be printing in bulk. I don't have much money to spend so I'd like to buy a CISS when the included ink cartridges run out.

Can anyone tell me if these systems actually work? What should I look out for when buying one? Any info would be helpful... I see them all over ebay but can't find much info on them. I don't want to ruin my printer nor do I want to buy a cheap quality CISS. Problem is I don't know how to spot a bad one.



Thanks :major

http://i29.tinypic.com/1570nyp.jpg

 

Yes, they work great. You can even change an ink bottle on the fly without the printer ever having to be shut down.

BUT, you must buy the correct ink for the specific model of printer that you're using. If you buy cheap ink and it fouls the print heads in your printer, you're out the cost of a new printer. Ebay? NO WAY!

I buy all my ink from a company that I know is very particular about the quality of their inks. Many exceed the OEM spec's.
http://www.inkproducts.com/ink-store/catalog/Our-Canon-Refill-Kits-orderby0-p-1-c-32.html

I use only Epson printers, probably because I'm a factory trained Epson Printer Technician. For years I've purchased all my ink from "Inkproducts".
All their inks either meet or exceed Epson's specifications.

I also use their little chip resetter, to reset the page counter chips on the back of the ink cart's.

Give them a 'look-see'.

Cheers and Happy Printing!

The Shadow :cool

 

Hi Shadow, you may be able to help me, ive got ciss on my epson rx425, old ciss which has updated when i get near end of ink every time, until now. Its showing my yellow ink is out and i cant think of way to get it working again. Dont want to go out a buy a resetter as i was under impression ciss wud do that itself. Uses a to551-554 cart, any idea on way out of this for me please? Have tried, turning machine on/off at power, taking cart out then back in again, even tried covering acontact 4 which supposedly works with some but not these apparently.

 

Well, my post (above) is over a year old now.
Inkproducts.com of which I spoke, is out of business.
Otherwise I'd just refer you to them.

I've never really used the continuous ink system myself so I'm at a loss as to how to advise you.

Now that Epson has filed law suites against many companies that were selling Epson compatible inks, even the inks are getting harder and harder to come by.

I did find one company "InkSell.com" that is still in the Epson ink business,
selling what they call "Remanufactured" ink carts.
But that's about all I can tell you. Sorry!

Shadow

 

Thanks but not really looking for inks, im looking for a way, hopefully software that can reset the chip. Ive tried scc which wont do it and someone said to cover contact 4 on the chip but that dont work either. Thought being an engineer you may have some insight in a way around the chip.

 

Resetting chips requires a machine.....not a program.
Chip resetters are sold at several locations on the internet. Just Google them.
I have two of them. One for each of two types of carts.

The chip on the continuous ink carts is designed to reset to zero every time the printer is turned on. If it's no longer working, I'd have to suspect that the chip is blown. If that's the case, total replacement of the cart would be required.

Have you contacted the company your bought your ink system from?

Good Luck,
Shadow

 

HI, I have the Hp Officejet 6500 all in one printer and installed the cis system with no problems.

If i print/copy on best, the pricture is perfect, But as soon as i print on normal the picture has lines in it and then the colours starts to fade away. as if the cartridges are running dry. I did get all the air out the tubes and cartridges, so i know the pressure in the cartridges are 100%.

Is there more info on this problem or is it my ink that im using?