Bypass color cartridge when empty?

[Smith_11]

When my color cartridge runs out will it make me buy a new one in order to proceed to print? Even though I am only using black. I would like to bypass this feature if there is one. Model is an HP 3830.

 

[getochkn]

Welcome to the blackmail extortion ring that is the printer market. I find it cheaper to buy a new printer all the time.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

It's fairly standard across all printer makes/models that if any cartridge becomes empty, printer can't be used until that empty cartridge is replaced. This is to prevent ink drying out inside the printhead (which sits under the cartridges).

If residual ink dries out in the printhead because an empty cartridge hasn't been replaced, the printhead may become so severely blocked with ink-paste that a new printhead is required, and they cost considerably more than a new cartridge.

You can mitigate the cost somewhat by buying a printer which has a separate cartridge for each ink colour, instead of buying those wasteful, cheap printers which have three ink colours in a single cartridge..

 

[4745454b]

What happens if you check the greyscale button? Only thing I can think of.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Grayscale won't cut it mate, that option is not provided for that purpose..

Grayscale option is just for printing a colour document without the colours (in order, for example, to save wasting CMY ink when the printout is only required for draft work etc)

 

[4745454b]

Exactly? It might "force" the use of the black ink cartridge? I'd still bet it won't work, but it's the only idea I have.

 

[Smith_11]

I used to think its cheaper to buy a new printer all the time but I find with most printers (haven't found any at all yet) usually supply you with "Setup Cartridges" that are barely filled.