Testing the Printer

Now that your printer is fully assembled, you can use its built-in self test function to see that the printer is working correctly before you connect it to a computer. You should perform this test to make sure that your printer was not damaged during shipping and that the ribbon is correctly installed.

Before running the self test, you need to connect the printer to an electrical outlet and load a sheet of paper.

Plugging in the Printer

1. Make sure that the printer is turned off.

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Testing the Printer

2. Plug the power cable into a properly grounded electrical outlet.

Running the Self Test

The self test can be run in the draft or Letter Quality mode, depending on which button you hold down as you turn on the printer. Although the self test can be run with continuous paper, use single-sheet paper now because single-sheet loading is easier.

1. Make sure the printer is turned off.

2. Push the paper release lever back to the single-sheet position.

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Testing the Printer

3. While holding down the LINE FEED button (draft mode) or FORM

FEED button (Letter Quality mode), turn on the printer. The printer beeps several times and POWER and PAPER OUT lights come on.

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Testing the Printer

4. Move the left edge guide so that it locks in place next to the guide mark.

5. Adjust the right edge guide to match the width of your paper.

Next, slide a sheet of paper down between the edge guides until it meets resistance.

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WARNING: Never run the self test using paper that is narrower than A4 size (8.27 inches or 210 mm) or letter size (8.5 inches or 216 mm) to prevent the print head from printing directly onto the platen.

6. Press the LOAD/EJECT button to load the paper.

7. Press the ON LINE button to start the self test. A list of DIP switch settings is printed first, followed by a series of characters. The self test continues until the paper runs out or until you press the

ON LINE button.

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Testing the Printer

8. If the test results are satisfactory and you wish to stop the test, press the ON LINE button. If the test results are not satisfactory, see Checking the Operation later in this chapter for possible causes and solutions.

Note: To resume the test, press the ON LINE button once more.

9. If the paper is still loaded, press the LOAD/EJECT button or LINE

FEED button to eject it. Then turn off the printer.

WARNING: After turning the power off, always wait at least five seconds before turning it back on. Turning the power on and off rapidly can damage the printer.

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Testing the Printer

Here is part of a typical self test printed in draft mode.

Draft mode

Note: When using the optional cut sheet feeder, the first page of the self test printout is slightly different. For details, see the Cut

Sheet Feeder section in Chapter 5.

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Testing the Printer

Here is part of a typical self test printed in Letter Quality mode.

Letter Quality mode

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Testing the Printer

Checking the Operation

If the self test does not print properly, check the control panel and the print head area. If paper is jammed, turn off the printer. Then remove the paper using the platen knob and load a new sheet. See that all packing material and shipping restraints have been removed from inside the printer. (You can also see Chapter 7 for further information.)

Solution Problem

The printer does not print.

The printer sounds like it is printing, but nothing is printed.

The test did not print when you pressed the

ON LINE button.

The ribbon may not be installed properly.

Turn off the printer, reinstall the ribbon cartridge, and then tighten the ribbon by turning the ribbon-tightening knob. Make sure the ribbon passes between the print head and ribbon guide. See page 9.

The ribbon may be worn. Replace the ribbon cartridge. See page 6-4.

Turn off the printer and repeat the self test. Make sure you hold down the FORM

FEED or LINE FEED button the entire time you are turning on the printer.

Turn off the printer and disconnect the cable from the host computer. Try the self test again.

If the printer still does not print the self test correctly, contact your Epson dealer or Epson authorized service center.

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