Printer Cartridges

Frequently Asked Questions About Printer Cartridges

What Kind Of Cartridge Do I Need For My Printer?

If this is your first time using a new printer, not knowing what printer cartridges pair with the printer is very normal. Here's what you have to do: Check for the printer cartridge series. All printers print with a specific printer cartridge series. And these are identified essentially by the brand name of the printer, followed by a cartridge number. For example, if you have an HP ENVY 5530 e-All-in-One Printer, then you'd look for HP 61XL black and color. These numbers will be on the box and on the back of the printer cartridge itself. Once you know what number you need for your specific model, all you need to do is look for it in any online retail store that specializes in printer-related supplies.

Do All Printers Take The Same Ink?

No, all printers don't take the same ink. Each printer uses either liquid ink or toner powder, and each type of printer has its own unique ink. Inkjet printers use dye-based ink, which is a mixture of water and pigment. This type of ink is more difficult to work with because it needs to be applied evenly across the entire page. Laser printers use toner powder, which is dry.

Can You Refill Your Own Ink Cartridges?

If you want to save money on ink, you can refill your own printer cartridges. However, most printer companies and experts advise against it. Rather, they recommend buying new printer cartridges. Refilling your own cartridges may nullify the option to get tech support from the printer manufacturer, so there's always that risk as well.

What Happens If You Put The Wrong Ink In A Printer?

If you put the wrong ink in a printer, you may receive an error message on your printer display. This will prevent you from using the printer. Most printers are able to identify right away if the wrong printer cartridge has been installed in the system. You should always check that you have installed the correct ink cartridge for your printer before attempting to use it.

Is It Better To Have Individual Ink Cartridges?

If you are someone who heavily uses a single color in their printer, then a printer that uses single-ink printer cartridges can be more economical for you; So if you run out of one color, you can just replace it instead of replacing them all and wasting printer ink that's perfectly fine. However, if you use multiple colors, it might make more sense for you to get a multipack of printer cartridges that are all the same color. This way, when one color runs out, you will have enough ink left over to finish whatever project you're working on before having to replace it with a full cartridge.