New clone tank design for the Canon Pixma iP4200 and many later Pixma models from SwiftInk and G&G

[Zepper]

I received a new shipment of ink tanks for my Canon iP4300 today from my pal Aziz at http://www.SwiftInk.com (inkseller to the stars here on the AT forums). The new clone of the PGI-5 Blk in the G & G brand that he sells, has a new, simpler chip mount. No double sided tape any more - the chips just snap into a little bracket on the tank. I have not opened one of the new CLI-8x tanks yet, but I'm hoping I see the same there. I just took a quick look and all of them have the new transplant instruction sheet, so I guess they all have the new clip feature. These are all shelf-life dated: 06/2010.
. I had my xacto knife out and was all ready to go to work when I find this new feature. Love it!

Enjoy.

.bh.

 

[zig3695]

... chipless ip4000 still going strong over here....

 

[Mem]

There's quite a few Canon iP4300/4500 compatible carts in the UK ie Xprint etc..personally I use refillable ink for my Canon iP4500.

chipless ip4000 still going strong over here....

Still flocking a dead horse I see ..I hate to break the news to you but iP4000 has been phased out of production by Canon awhile back ,unless buyers are after a refurb,side note no real hassle using chipped cartridges on the newer Canon printers in my experience(coming from i865 non chipped cart printer),some people make it more of an issue then others.

 

[NoelS]

Zepper,

Thanks for the heads up. I've been using a Canon 3000 for a couple of years and just bought an iP4300 recently. I was wondering how I'd overcome the chip problem.

Do you buy them without a chip and just transfer the chip from the OEM cartridge? And what's the difference from the PGI-5 you buy and the Canon CLI-8Bk Cartridge? They seem to be the same price... Overall, these prices blow away what Staples charges fro the ip4300 cartridges.

Noel

 

[Synomenon]

I think you do just take the chip out of the original cartridge and put them into these. In my MP500, the PGI5 is used for photos while the 8bk is used for regular things like text, etc..

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: NoelS
Zepper,

Thanks for the heads up. I've been using a Canon 3000 for a couple of years and just bought an iP4300 recently. I was wondering how I'd overcome the chip problem.

Do you buy them without a chip and just transfer the chip from the OEM cartridge? And what's the difference from the PGI-5 you buy and the Canon CLI-8Bk Cartridge? They seem to be the same price... Overall, these prices blow away what Staples charges fro the ip4300 cartridges.

Noel

You just remove the chip from the cartridge and transfer it to the compatible ink cart,bear in mind there's no way of monitoring the ink without buying a new Canon chipped cart,since the chip counts how much ink is used so even when you transfer the chip to a new cartridge that's full(or even if you use refillable ink)it will still think its empty.Until we have a Canon chip resetter that puts the ink count back to 0 like on the Epson models you have to eyeball the ink levels visually.

As to your second question I believe the PGI-5 black uses pigmented ink for text while the CL8 black uses dye based ink for photos(gives better contrast).

From what I have read dye based ink has slightly less chance of clogging then pigmented ink and a lot of third party ink manufacturers actually use dye based ink for both blacks(which is fine and does no harm) ,another plus point for third party ink manufacturers is dye ink is cheaper to produce then pigmented ink.I believe the black pigmented ink(like in Canon PGI-5 cart) produces waterproof text too.I'm sure Zepper will give you further info later.

 

[Zepper]

Yup,
As mem said, the PGI-5 is a large volume pigmented black for text, the CLI-8s are a dye based black for graphics and photos and the other color tanks CMY and have a smaller volume of ink in each. No inkjet ink is really waterproof without a coating except for perhaps Epson's, but with them you have the clogging problems. But I've had no problem with the ink I get from SwiftInk smearing. Just try to keep it from getting wet... For the 4200, 4300, 4500 you have 5 tanks: One PGI-5 Blk and four CLI-8 CMYK
Keep your eye out at the top of the Hot Deals section - he often gives 30% sales for us ATers. If you need some now, the 15% offer at Heatware is about it.

.bh.

 

[NoelS]

Thanks all for your replies. Now I realize that the chip retains its memory about being empty and using it in a new cartridge just permits printing but without showing ink levels.

My iP4300 has 4 tanks, CYMK. I use it mostly for color prints and the like, my 3000 for B&W stuff plus color prints. I should just get all 4 tanks of CLI-8 for the iP4300, I guess... Does that sound right?

Mem: So if I buy the compatible cartridge with a chip in it ($3 more than without) it will give me the ink levels instead of showing empty all the time?

IsLNdbOi: thanks for the heatware coupon, but it expired on November 30. Maybe they replenish it from time to time?

When the ink levels show empty for me with the Canon 3000, I keep printing until the ink dries up and it tells me I have to change it now. Haven't yet experienced what happens with the iP4300...

Thanks again, Noel

 

[Zepper]

No all 4000 and 5000 models (and the MPs that use the same print engine) use the 5-tank system - it is a 4-color system as far as photos go, true, but there is an extra, large pigmented Black tank just for text printing. There would be a large gap in your tank carrier if the text black was missing. Just lift the lid and look. Text is very crisp and photos are exceptional with these units.

But I may be leaving the Canon fold soon as the blue is missing from my high quality prints and a good, passive tank (no chips) model is available at a ridiculous price now.

.bh.

 

[Mem]

Mem: So if I buy the compatible cartridge with a chip in it ($3 more than without) it will give me the ink levels instead of showing empty all the time?

I'm not sure how the Swift ink carts work with their chipped version,best to ask Zepper on that one,my guess is probably does not give ink levels even with their chip.

FYI the only ones that do give monitoring ink are genuine Canon ink carts as far as I know since they come with new chips anyway.


Btw if you use compatible ink carts you normally have to swap out the chip from the Canon ink cart like in this link (using Jet Tec as an example here) or if you prefer refilling ink then look here ..
Hope that clears it up.


Side Note: I use the refilling method,starting to get the hang of it now,when the cart no longer works for any reason..then I'll get a compatible and refill that once it becomes empty until that cart needs replacing.

I have read they recommend you replace the cartridge after 6-8 refills,however I have also read a guy that has had 75 refills on one cart and its still going strong,so we shall see how much mileage I get from refilling a cartridge etc...

 

[Zepper]

The reset chips are supposed to allow level reading so the printer doesn't lock out that tank slot - why else pay the extra?

.bh.

 

[NoelS]

Mem and Zepper,

Thanks again. Zepper, I accept from you that the 4300 has 5 cartridges... I have some trouble checking my iP4300 ink tanks easily since I have the printer located between two shelves and have to remove it to change ink, etc. I will look sometime later this week - bad timing for me with wife having surgery later today and me a colonoscopy tomorrow...

I was in the habit of buying Staples ink for my 3000, each cart was about $10.50... this Swiftink link should save me plenty of $ and i do like that I'll try carts both with and without chip to check out the difference...

Noel

 

[Zepper]

Once you go to the unchipped tank, the printer will never return to reading level in that slot. Just another of Canon's ways to keep you in the fold of cash cows. IOW, you must use chipped tanks to retain all features. Once you go unchipped, you are responsible for monitoring your own ink levels - no turning back.

.bh.

 

[NoelS]

So basically I need to either do a chip transplant or buy chipped tanks from SwiftInk or others... if I neglect to do that even once, I'm screwed with levels on that color? How in hades did Canon do THAT?

And if I do a transplant, I don't get ink levels? Am I understanding that right?

If so, that means I need to buy chipped tanks all the time ($3 extra or $6.50 total per tank)?

Noel

 

[Zepper]

Yup, if you refill or transplant, you lose level monitoring and warning permanently.

$6.50 per tank is mucho better than $12. to $15. per OEM tank, eh?

.bh.

 

[NoelS]

Zepper,

Yep, I agree with that!! Originally I was thinking it was going be be $3.50 instead... Oh well, I still like the $6.50

Noel

 

[Mem]

I had a quick read here ,anyway going to try the free download of InkMon as meantioned below,

Hmm, what can i say

I refill my ip 5200 for less than 0,5 us dollar

and still have a working ink level indicator.

http://www.inkmon.org/Downloads.html

.


Update:I did not like this program so sticking with the reliable eyeball method.

 

[Rottie]

Originally posted by: zig3695
... chipless ip4000 still going strong over here....

have a :beer:

 

[zig3695]

$4 more for each color then a ip*000 series. about $20 difference each refill. about 5 refills and you just bought yourself a chipless ink printer. tell me again why people are so insistent on buying these 'new' printers? doesnt ANYONE realize the ip*000 series are just as well built and fast, but without any chipped ink?

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: zig3695
$4 more for each color then a ip*000 series. about $20 difference each refill. about 5 refills and you just bought yourself a chipless ink printer. tell me again why people are so insistent on buying these 'new' printers? doesnt ANYONE realize the ip*000 series are just as well built and fast, but without any chipped ink?

How did this go off topic?..hint

New clone tank design for the Canon Pixma iP4200 and many later Pixma models from SwiftInk and G&G

Its not about an old outdated model ie ip4000 or last years star wars convention .

Side note: CartridgeWorld outlets in the UK will refill your Canon carts(CL8,PGI-5) and reset the chip so it shows full,personally I find it cheaper just to refill them myself and eyeball the ink levels .

It won't take me long before I get the value of my printer back,by the savings in ink refilling over Canon carts etc...
In the UK full set of Canon carts cost about 40- 50% of ther printer value(iP4500 in my case,even my old i865 was close to that figure).

 

[zig3695]

ive been stuggling with ink refills for half a decade now. going out and buying an 'outdated' printer was the best thing i ever did as far as home pictures go. know what youre buying, not whats just new. im just speaking from real world experience, thats all. thats cool you have a place that refills and somehow resets chips, but i cant imagine its cheaper then $7 a set.

 

[NoelS]

Zepper and all,

Just FYI, I went to swiftink yesterday and bought a complete set of 5 chipped carts for my iP4300 an 3 carts for my iP3000. It came out just short of the $50 free shipping threshold, so I threw in another 3000 black cart to make up the difference. My order was a total 9 carts for $50.50 and I calculated the retail cost would have been $108. Pretty good savings there, eh?

Thanks again for the leads.

Noel

 

[Zepper]

Did you go to Heatware.com and get their coupon code to save another 15%? Never fail to check for or ask about coupon codes. Sometimes SwiftInk gives us ATers up to 30% off some of their stuff. Watch the Hot Deals section - it will be right at the top. I'm pretty sure I mentioned these extra discounts somewhere above - yes, I did!

.bh.

 

[NoelS]

Zepper,

I did go to Heatware, just checked it again, but their swiftink coupon expired on November 30th... I wasn't aware of the Hot Deals section on swiftinks, but I'll keep my eyes out for both on my next order, which will probably be about February or March, I'd guess. Thanks,

Noel

 

[Zepper]

Sometimes the code still works when it says expired - always worth a try...

.bh.