Can my Canon ink cartridge or ink tank be
refilled...?
Is my Canon cartridge difficult to refill ?
Are there any tricks ? Do I have to buy refillable cartridges? ...if your cartridge isn't listed
here, please
contact us for more information.
Most Canon ink cartridges and ink tanks
are easy to refill...if you know how and follow these simple rules...
1)
Refill all Canon cartridges and ink tanks as soon as - or preferably before
empty.
If you run out of ink, the cartridges / tanks should still refill and work ok,
if you fill them straight away. Leaving cartridges empty for any length of time
is asking for trouble. If you CAN'T refill straight away, leave cartridges /
tanks fitted in the printer.
2)
Canon ink
cartridges
will leak - if overfilled. Also...if you use an existing breather hole to refill
- DON'T seal the hole when finished.
3)
Canon ink
tanks
- will leak - unless the fill hole is sealed (air-tight). Ink tanks can also
leak - if the sponge part of the ink tank is overfull.
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 as they don't use any chips.
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 can to
either disable the ink monitoring or invest in a
chip re-setter.
All CLI-8 cartridges use dye (C8) ink. Read more about disabling the ink monitor here.
CL-511 colour
ink cartridges are easy to refill, but only take
about 2-3ml per colour (C8) ink, less with subsequent refills. Fill holes under
top label. If your printer will accept high capacity (CL-513) cartridges,
they hold more ink and might be worth getting.
CL-513 is a high
yield version of CL-511 colour cartridge. Easy to refill
with dye (C8) ink. Fill holes under top label.
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 re-setters 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 re-setter
or refill friendly CLI526 ink tanks (with auto-reset chips)
the ink monitor must be disabled.
PGI-5 are
very
similar to BCI-3Bk and the same tips apply (read above). Like CLI-8's, 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-7 ink
tanks (genuine) can not be refilled due
to the design. No chip resetters available. Compatible PGI-7 (non-genuine) ink
tanks are refillable, but you have to disable the ink
monitoring.
PGI-9 ink
tanks (genuine) can not be refilled due
to the design. No chip resetters available. Compatible PGI-9 (non-genuine) ink
tanks are refillable, but you have to disable the ink
monitoring. PGI-9 gloss ink tanks are easy to refill, don't have a chip, but
the genuine Canon tanks are relatively cheap...so not much point.
PG-37 is a low
yield versions of PG-40 ink cartridge. Easy to refill, but if your
printer will accept PG-40 or PG-50 (higher capacity) cartridges, get some.
PG-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 accept
them.
PG-510 black
ink cartridges are easy to refill, but only take
about 6--7ml of pigment (C5) ink...less with subsequent refills. Fill
hole under top label. If your printer will accept high yield PG-512 cartridges,
worth getting
PG-512 high
yield black ink cartridges are 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 tanks (with
auto-reset chip), the ink monitor must be disabled.
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