Can my Canon ink cartridge or ink tank be
refilled...?
Is my Canon cartridge difficult to fill ? Are
there any tricks ? ...if your cartridge isn't listed
here, please
contact us for more information.
Most Canon ink cartridges and ink tanks
are easy to refill, but it is important, not to let them totally run out of ink.
If you do, you are inviting problems. All cartridges will leak if overfilled and
all ink tanks will leak, unless the fill hole is sealed air-tight.
BCI-3 series
cartridges (BCI-3eBk/C/M/Y/pM/pM) can all be refilled, but it's important
not to let the sponge part of cartridge run out of
ink. Once it's empty, the sponge dries out very quickly and it can be almost
impossible to get printing again after refilling. Ideally, refill when the ink
side is almost empty, but the sponge is still saturated with ink. Fill hole is
under label on top of the cartridge. Ensure the fill hole is sealed air-tight
after refilling, or the tank will leak. Black (BCI-3eBk) ink is pigment
(C3), all the colour ink tanks use dye (C6) ink. Ink monitoring is not affected
by refilling these ink tanks.
BCI-6
series cartridges (BCI-6Bk/C/M/Y/pC/pM/R/G also BCI-5) are essentially the same
as BCI-3 and the same tips apply. All BCI-6 ink tanks use dye (C6) ink.
BCI-24 ink
cartridges (BCI-24Bk & 24C) are simple to refill, but original Canon BCI24
cartridges use felt type material which tends to harden, as the cartridge
empties. This makes re-filling tricky, because once the felt turns hard, it can
stop absorbing ink. Refilled cartridge might seem overfull and leak,
even if very little ink is added. Quality compatible (not Canon) cartridges (eg
Print-rite) don't suffer this problem, and are a better choice, if you want to
refill. Black BCI-24's use pigment ink (C3), colour (C6) dye ink.
BCI-21
cartridges are the same as BCI-24 and refill the same. Both black and colour
cartridges use dye ink (C4).
CL-38 is
a low yield versions of CL-41 ink cartridge. Easy to refill, but if your printer
can use the CL 41 or CL 51 higher capacity cartridges - get some. The 38 holds
very little ink and is easy to over fill. Use dye (C8) ink.
CL-41 is
similar to CL-38 (above). Holds more ink and over filling is less of a problem.
CL-51 is a
higher capacity version of CL-41 (above). Not all CL-38 and CL-41 printers can
use them
CLI-8
series cartridges are similar to "BCI-3s" and the same tips apply (read above).
The only significant difference is the ink level chip on the CLI-8's. It is of
no real concern to re-fillers, as it doesn't prevent refilling. You have to
either disable the ink monitoring or invest in a
chip resetter.
All CLI-8 cartridges use dye (C8) ink. Read more about disableing the ink monitor here.
CL-511 colour
ink cartridge as used in many late model Canons. Easy to refill, but only take
about 2ml per colour (C8) ink, less with subsequent refills. Fill holes under
top label. If your printer will accept high capacity (CL-513) cartridges, worth
getting.
CL-513 high
yield colour ink cartridge as used in many late model Canons. Easy to refill
with dye (C8) ink. Fill holes under top label. Refilled cartridges may not work
in some MFC's with fax that don't support disabling of ink monitor.
CLI-521 ink
tanks are easy to refill, using C8 dye inks. Refill method & tips are same as
for "CLI-8" ink tanks (read above). CLI-521 are almost identical to CLI-8 ink
tanks, only smaller. Chip resetters now
available. Refill friendly ink
cartridges with ARC (auto-reset chips) are another way of dealing with the
Canon ink monitor.
CLI-526
(NEW) are the latest ink tanks from Canon. They are same as CLI-521
(above), except there is no ink level inspection window and the chip is different.
CLI-526 refill exactly the same as CLI-521, using C8 dye inks.
Unless you buy a chip resetter
or refill friendly CLI526 ink tanks (with auto-reset chips)
the ink monitor must be disabled.
PGI-5 is
similar to BCI-3Bk and the same tips apply (read above). Like the CLI-8, the
PGI-5's have ink level chips and you have to either
disable the ink monitoring or invest
in a chip resetter Pigment ink (C5)
is used in PGI-5 tanks.
PGI-9 ink
tanks can not be refilled (at this time). There is
no re-setter for the ink chip and the tank itself is not easily refillable.
PG-37 is a low
yield versions of PG-40 ink cartridge. Easy to refill, but if your
printer can use the PG 40 or PG 50 higher capacity cartridges, get some. The 37
holds very little ink and is easy to over fill. Use pigment (C5) ink.
PG-40 is similar
to PG-37 (above). Holds more ink and over filling is less of a problem.
PG-50 is even
higher capacity version of PG-40 (above). Not all PG 37 & PG 40 printers can use
them.
PG-510 black
ink cartridge used in many late model Canons. Easy to refill, but only take
about 6ml of pigment (C5) ink, less with subsequent refills. Fill hole under top
label. If your printer will accept high capacity (PG-512) cartridges, worth
getting...
PG-512 high
yield black ink cartridge as used in many late model Canons. Easy to refill
with pigment (C5) ink. Fill hole under top label.
PGI-525
(NEW) are the latest black ink tanks from Canon. They are same as
PGI-520 (above), except there is no ink level inspection window and the chip is different.
PGI-525 refill exactly the same as PGI-520, using C5 pigment inks.
Unless you buy a chip resetter
or refill friendly PGI-525 ink tank (with
auto-reset chip), the ink monitor must be disabled.
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