fuser relay? PLW NT (again)

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Level 2

262 points

fuser relay? PLW NT (again)

You may remember this question from last fall. My Personal LaserWriter NT has failed. When I turn it on, I get the two amber lights blinking. Following the recomendations of this board, I went to fixyourownprinter.com, and on its recommendation I installed a new fuser bulb. I even made sure to get that end plate screwed down over the electrode at the end of the lamp. No change. The amber lights still blink on start-up, and the printer doesn't work. Two people on fixyourownprinter.com tell me to check the electrical continuity of the fuser, and it seems nominal. But no one on that website offers any further advice.
After one replaces the fuser lamp, what can one replace next in order to get the green light on top of a PLW NT?

(In case you're wondering why I bother, well, if I can restore this printer to service, it's just one less pile in a landfill.)

Performa 6400, Mac OS 9.1.x

Posted on Apr 28, 2006 11:22 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 28, 2006 1:40 PM in response to R_55a

Richard,

I am with you on saving landfills. However, I have maxed out on what I fix. The last WSU auction netted 20 or more free laser printers. 15 still work. A duplexing HP Laserjet II still had both paper trays full of paper.

Of a printer works, I give it to a kid to print homework. If it does not work, they can take it apart and learn something. I have a load of computers and printers to take to a cub scout event tomorrow and let them disassemble them.

Give me a couple of days andI would be willing to tear down one of my PLW NTs and test the components for you. That model was our first and I stll like its size and reliability. Email me - see profile - and I can look up the specs as well.

Jim

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Answer 2

R_55a Author

Level 2

262 points

May 5, 2006 11:31 AM in response to Appaloosa mac man

Here's an update to my story. Yesterday I reopened my printer and retraced my steps, and I found that the fuser bulb was broken. Clean in two. About two millimeters in from the white plastic cap at the distal end of the bulb. I asked Moe at fixyourprinter.com about it, and he reports that he has never heard of that before. Does anyone here have any guesses as to how that might have happened? I kind of doubt that the cause had anything to do with the installation, because the printer worked just fine for two days after I put this bulb in. But I did not move the printer, let alone drop it; so I doubt that there was any outside shock to the machine that would have broken the bulb. Average incandescent and flourescent light bulbs burn out, but they never shatter. How odd. Why would the fuser bulb break in two?

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Answer 3

May 5, 2006 12:37 PM in response to R_55a

Richard,

Those bulbs get hot and are very sensitive to oils, including oil from touching them. Did you happen to wipe the bulb down carefully with a clean dry cotton cloth? It may seem like overkill but that may be one cause.

I have had photography grade bulbs last less than five minutes because they got too hot for the enclosure.

Jim

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Answer 4

R_55a Author

Level 2

262 points

May 8, 2006 9:49 AM in response to Appaloosa mac man

No, I didn't use a cloth to clean the bulb. I refrained from touching the bulb directly and left it at that.

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Answer 5

May 8, 2006 5:31 PM in response to R_55a

Richard,

That should have been careful enough.

Do you have a source for recycled printers? They are only too plentiful at university surplus stores. Someone just posted a comment on finding several printers for $20 at a university mid state which tells me that others have similar luck.

Jim

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Answer 6

R_55a Author

Level 2

262 points

May 15, 2006 9:28 AM in response to Appaloosa mac man

I haven't looked to the local colleges yet, but I'm not too hopeful, because all my equipment is SCSI, and finding those parts is getting harder with time.

Last week I installed a new fuser bulb, but it did not change anything. I still get the two flashing amber lights on start-up.

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Answer 7

May 15, 2006 4:37 PM in response to R_55a

Contrary to popular opinion, SCSI is not dead. I try to use it in every Mac I can. I like to think it was not completely discontinued, it just went optional and moved onto a PCI card.

Every Server, every Video Editing station, and every Mac my family uses, including some G4s, (except laptops) has SCSI drives.

IDE won the desktop wars because it is cheaper, not because it is better.

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Answer 8

R_55a Author

Level 2

262 points

Jul 8, 2006 9:59 AM in response to R_55a

Progress report: Sometime since last post I opened the fuser assembly and reinspected it. I found nothing amiss, but the printer still gave me the two flashing amber lights. This morning, because I really do need the printer _right now_, I reopened and reinspected. Today I found that the screw holding down the plate on the right side of the bulb was loose. I would swear on a stack of Bibles that that screw was tight the last time I looked at it. This time I tightened it,and the printer worked!

We'll see how long this lasts.

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Answer 9

Jul 10, 2006 7:10 PM in response to R_55a

Richard, nice work. Thanx 4 the update. Jim

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Answer 10

R_55a Author

Level 2

262 points

Aug 7, 2006 12:03 PM in response to Appaloosa mac man

It didn't last long. I still get the two blinking amber lights. But what's interesting is that for some short period of time after I start the Performa 6400, the PLW NT works. Last time I printed maybe twelve pages or so, but I got that far (and then the two amber lights blink.) Given all the other problems I'm having with the 6400, I wonder now if the problem is in the 6400 rather than the printer.

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