Printable View
This is a really really puzzler. Wife's Brother Pinter HL-2040 sometimes causes the computer to shut down when she tries to print anything. I haven't a clue as to what is happening. When she turns on the printer, the tower just shuts down; just as though she had re-booted. Any ideas anyone or maybe some experience? I have the printer plugged into a strip and it is operative. I have just moved the power cord into another plug in and will see what may happen in the days to come. As always, TIA
Bad USB port?
USB was my very first thought but the printer is cable connected. I had always thought it was a USB printer and there aren't any other drivers available for it.
BTW it is an HL-21 40 and not an HL-2040 as I reported.
In that case try using the USB connection instead, and see if that stops it happening.
Well I'll just jump up and fall back down !!! That USB connector on the back of the printer is 'almost' hidden from me. Finding/seeing the connector is a bit difficult where it is placed on the printer. Specs also told me it is USB. OK, it is now USB connected and with the printer cable removed, I'll have her to print to her heart's content and report back if that fixes things. Thanks guys for your help and have a great weekend.
I'll be keeping my fingers crossed :)
Sorry Nick but you can un-cross those fingers. Was just coming back to post that the trouble still occurs. I re-connected to the previous connection and took away the USB. I have never read of anyone having a similar problem. Oh yeah, I also tried a different USB slot.
If the computer is just shutting off like you pulled the plug on it (no warnings on the screen), then it is most likely a hardware issue. You could try the printer on another computer to see if the same thing happens. Also, it is possible that there is a power supply problem, although that is less likely.
That is precisely the action occurring when the printer tries to print. I was going to describe what you have now said when I found the time to come back to visit the thread. I have a new in the box printer just like the one that is acting up on her machine. I had thought about installing it to see what may happen. Guess now I will do that when time allows.
Thanks for your continued help with this phenomenon.
Hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving.
Well the Brother printer is now connected to my Compaq via USB and it also causes the tower to shut completely down when I try to print anything. There doesn't seem to be a problem if the first try at printing is successful. I mean I don't have a problem then should I choose to print more items.
Of course, all this points to the printer, I think.
How far from the computer is the Printer ? ? USB has a physical distance limit of about 3 meters (9 feet for USB 1.1) and about 5 meters (15 feet for USB 2.0) before it will not work properly. If you need to go further, stick a powered USB hub in the line.
Thanks for your inquiry Bruce but the printer may be 5 ft away. I use a 7ft USB cable. You have probably read already that I did have it connected to wife's computer using a print cable and it still caused the shutdown of the tower.
Crazy right!!!! (And I strongly suspect the problem is with the printer but can't prove it.)
Did you try a new USB cable ? ? Sometimes, an inexpensive one will be flaky.
Shot in the dark ...
Do you have both the computer and printer plugged into an el-cheap'o powerstrip by any chance? According to Brother, the HL-2140 pulls 460 Watts when printing.
Yep. But old one must be OK because there are times that I can print. If I had already sent the item I wanted to print to the printer before hitting the print button the tower shuts off but the item will still print. :confused:
Does the same thing happen if you plug the computer into a different circuit? (Temporarily use an extension cord if needed, of adequate size of course).
Doc, I just noticed your post #14. I apparently failed to see it when I replied to bruce b post #13 as represented by my post #15.
The answer to your question is no I do not use a strip to power my
HL-2040 printer. And now, the printer is plugged into it's own wall plug. If ever I don't have a wall plug available, I have used my APS backup battery for the power, which also serves as the power for my computer and monitor. And the APS is plugged into it's own wall plug.
I had the same problem with the HL-2140 new out of the box.
It printed the first time, then would shut down the computer when ever I tried to print or even if I tried to do a firmware update, or even just turning the printer on.
I fixed the problem by plugging the printer into a completely different circuit with and heavy duty extension cord.
buf - I just saw your last post. roddakota is correct, your printer should never be plugged into your UPS. In many cases, you will actually need to plug it into a different circuit than the one the UPS and other computer equipment is using. I have had this happen in a number of installations. Larger laser printers, especially color ones, draw a lot of current.
One example ...
HP Color LaserJet 2800 All-in-One series
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/pscmi...dfs/445194.pdf (.pdf)Quote:
Technical specifications: HP Color LaserJet 2820 AiO (Q3948A) and HP Color LaserJet 2840 AiO (Q3950A)
Power specifications
Input requirements 110 to 127 VAC (+/- 10%), 50/60 Hz (+/- 3 Hz); 220 to 240 VAC (+/- 10%), 50/60 Hz (+/- 3 Hz)
Consumption Active: 398 watts; Ready: 26 watts; Sleep: 20 watts; Off: 0 watts
Typical Electricity Consumption (TEC): 3.394 kWh/Week
I accept your input good people and will put it into practice as soon as I physically can. I have to add though, I have always used the UPS and never before had the problem. Always the first time, however.
APC.com > APC - Q: What is the expected life of an APC UPS battery?
http://www.apc.com/solutions/display...8534C932B2501FAPC.com > Recommendations for protecting a laser printerQuote:
...
Note: In order to ensure longer runtime on a battery, laser printers should never be plugged into battery backup outlets of a UPS. Be sure to use the “surge-only” outlets (on appropriate models) for laser printers. For those UPSs without “surge-only” outlets, it is recommended that the laser printer be plugged into a separate APC SurgeArrest surge suppressor.
http://jpaa-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/jpaa_...63&p_topview=1Quote:
QuestionWhat is the proper UPS for use with a Laser Printer?AnswerDue to the large amount of power consumed by these devices, APC does not recommend protecting laser printers with a UPS.
In most cases, surge protection is adequate for laser printers.
If you must use a UPS with a Laser Printer it is important to size your UPS appropriately. APC recommends a Smart-UPS series product that is sized for the maximum power draw of the laser printer as defined by the manufacturer. This is typically a 1500va or larger UPS. Even small laser printers can have very high maximum power draws due to the nature of the technology. We do not recommend the use of Back-UPS products with a laser printer.
Many thanks for going the "extra mile" Doc with your links and info. I should be able to take care of this problem with the HL2040 AND HL2140. Well as soon as I can physically take care it.
My printer problems are now resolved, thanks to you folks. I have each of the two printers plugged into "their" separate wall plugins.
Great hear the problem's been solved. Thanks for posting back. :)