Waste ink on a converted Epson: pads, maintenance boxes and an external bottle

Where the waste goes, by model

• L805 / L800, L1800, XP-15000 and the R1390 / R1400 / R1430: internal felt pads inside the printer, plus a counter in the firmware.
• ET-8550 / ET-8500 / L8180 / L8160: a user-replaceable maintenance box, Epson C9345 (C12C934591). C9344 is a different box.
• L8050 / L18050: retailers list the same C9345 box; confirm against Epson’s list for your region.
• SureColor P700 / P900: maintenance tank C12C935711.

Why DTF fills it fast

White ink needs regular cleanings and purges, and each one sends ink to the waste. On the XP-15000 white maintenance raises the waste counter quickly. A box model simply needs more boxes. A pad model has no box to swap, which is why converters route the waste outside.

Externalising the waste (pad models)

Most DTF kits for the L805 and L1800 do this already, or sell a waste kit for the model. The idea is simple: the tube that runs from the capping station to the pads is redirected to a bottle outside the printer.

• Use the tube size of the original (about 4 mm on many Epsons) and a kit made for your model.
• Route the tube downwards, with no loops or kinks, to a bottle that stands lower than the printer.
• Keep the tube end above the liquid. A tube that dips into waste ink can create back-pressure and push waste back towards the head.
• Use a bottle with a closed lid and a label that says “waste ink”.
• If you are not comfortable opening the printer, have it done by a technician. Opened covers and modified waste lines usually end Epson warranty support; check the terms in your region.

Emptying the bottle or box

• Check it weekly. Empty the bottle at 75 % full.
• Wear nitrile gloves. Pour slowly into a larger closed, labelled container.
• Box models: replace the box when the printer asks, or sooner if you can see it is nearly full.
• Note the date. A bottle that suddenly fills faster means more cleanings than you thought, which is a sign to look at the cap and dampers.

The “end of service life” counter

Epson consumer printers count the ink sent to the pads and stop with a service message near the limit. Epson can replace the pads through service. In some regions Epson offers a one-time reset utility, and its terms say it is meant for use after the pads are replaced. Running a printer on full pads can leak ink inside it and cause electrical shorts.

• Replace or externalise the pads first, then reset. Never reset a counter on pads that are full.
• Resetting does not remove a drop of ink; it only silences the message.
• ZoroPrint does not reset waste counters. Use Epson’s service or your printer’s official route.

Disposal and safety

• Do not pour waste ink or used cleaning solution down the drain. The glycols in pigment ink are harmful to water life.
• Keep waste in a closed, labelled container and take it to a hazardous-waste collection point or licensed waste processor, following local rules.
• Your ink’s safety data sheet (SDS) has the exact disposal and handling advice. Keep it near the printer.
• Wipe spills at once and keep fluid away from the printer’s electronics.