Epson Stylus Color 500 User manual

EPSON Stylus COLOR 500
Ink Jet Printers 6/96 EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 - 1
Printer Specifications
Printing
Printing method: On-demand ink jet
Nozzle
configuration: 64 monochrome (black) nozzles
60 color (cyan, magenta, yellow)
nozzles (20 ×3; 20 for each color)
Printable columns and printing speed: *
* Print speeds varydependingonsystemconfiguration,softwareapplication,
resolution,andamountofpagecovered.Figuresbased onletter-size paper
with color printing.
Resolution: Maximum 720 ×720 dpi
Paper feed speed: 92 milliseconds per 1/6-inch line
Input buffer: 56KB
Print direction: Bidirectional with logic seeking for text
and graphics; unidirectional and
autodirectional modes available in
Default setting mode
Control code: ESC/P 2 and expanded raster graphics
code; IBM X24E emulation code
Paper feeding: Auto sheet feeder
Line spacing: 1/6-inch (default), 1/8-inch, or
programmable in 1/360-inch increments
Character tables: 1 Italic and 8 graphics character tables
Character sets: 1 Legal and 14 International character sets
Paper
Paper path: Sheet feeder, top entry
Feeder capacity: 100 sheets of plain paper 17 lb (64 g/m2)
70 sheets of EPSON special coated paper
30 sheets of EPSON high-quality glossy
paper (with one sheet of plain paper
beneath the stack or each single sheet
loaded)
50 sheets of transparency film (with one
sheet of plain paper at bottom of stack)
10 envelopes
Paper sheets:
Size Letter (8.5 ×11 inches)
A4 (210 ×297 mm)
B5 (176 ×250 mm)
A6 (105 ×148 mm)
Legal (8.5 × 14 inches)
Statement (5.5 × 8.5 inches)
Executive (7.25 × 10.5 inches)
Paper types Plain paper, EPSON’s coated paper, high-
quality glossy paper, and transparencies.
Thickness 0.003 to 0.004 inch (0.08 to 0.11 mm)
Paper weight 17 to 24 lb (64 to 90 g/m2)
Use 24 lb (90 g/m2) paper under normal
temperature and humidity conditions.
Envelopes:
Size No. 10 9.5 ×4.1 inches (240 ×104 mm)
DL 8.7 ×4.3 inches (220 ×110 mm)
Paper types Plain, bond, or air mail paper
Thickness 0.006 to 0.02 inch (0.16 to 0.52 mm)
Paper weight 12 to 24 lb (45 to 90 g/m2)
Transparencies:
Size A4 (210 ×297 mm)
Letter (8.5 ×11 inches)
Thickness 0.003 to 0.0033 inch (0.075 to 0.085 mm)
EPSON papers: The following EPSON genuine papers are
available:
S041062 Special coated paper for 720 dpi printing
(Letter)
S041048 Special coated paper for 720 dpi printing
(Legal)
S041060 Special coated paper for 360 dpi printing
(Letter)
S041072 High-quality glossy paper (Letter)
S041064 Transparency film (Letter)
SE41001 Iron-on transfer paper
Character pitch
(characters per inch) Printable columns Printing speed (characters per second)
10 80 200
12 96 240
15 120 300
17 (10 condensed) 137 343
20 (12 condensed) 160 400

EPSON Stylus COLOR 500
EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 - 2 6/96 Ink Jet Printers
Note:
■Poorqualitypapermayreduceprintqualityandcausepaperjams
andotherproblems.Ifyouencounterproblems,switch toahigher
grade of paper.
■Print on special coated paper, high-quality glossy paper,
envelopes, and transparencies only under these normal
conditions:
Temperature 59 to 77°F (15 to 25°C)
Humidity 40 to 60% RH
(High-quality glossy paper can be stored at
20 to 60% relative humidity.)
■Do not load folded or curled paper, envelopes, and transparencies.
Printable area:
Single sheets
Envelopes
AThe minimum top margin is 0.12 inch (3.0 mm).
Note: When printing multiple sheets of glossy paper, the minimum
top margin is 1.2 inches (30 mm).
BL The minimum left margin is 0.12 inch (3.0 mm).
BR The minimum right margin is:
0.12 inch (3.0 mm) for Statement and Executive paper
0.38 inch (9.7 mm) for Letter and Legal paper and transparencies
0.15 inch (3.8 mm) for A4 paper
0.54 inch (13.8 mm) for DL envelopes
1.38 inch (35.1 mm) for #10 envelopes
CThe minimum bottom margin is 0.54 inch (13.8 mm).
Ink Cartridges
Black ink cartridge (S020093):
Color Black
Print capacity*620 pages (A4 paper; text)
Cartridge life* 2 years from production date and up to
6 months after opening the package at
77°F (25°C)
Temperature Storage: –4 to 104°F (–20 to 40°C)
1 month at 104°F (40°C)
Transit: –22 to 140°F (–30 to 60°C)
1 month at 104°F (40°C)
120 hours at 140°F (60°C)
Freezing:** 24.8°F (–4°C)
Dimensions .78 inches (W) ×2.1 inches (D) ×1.5 inches (H)
19.8 mm (W) ×52.7 mm (D) ×38.5 mm (H)
Color ink cartridge (S020097):
Colors Cyan, magenta, and yellow
Print capacity*320 pages (A4; 360 dpi; 5% of each color)
Cartridge life* 2 years from production date and up to
6 months after opening the package at
77°F (25°C)
Temperature Storage: –4to 104°F (–20 to 40°C)
1 month at 104°F (40°C)
Transit: –22 to 140°F (–30 to 60°C)
1 month at 104°F (40°C)
120 hours at 140°F (60°C)
Freezing:** 24.8°F (–4°C)
Dimensions 1.8 inches (W) ×2.2 inches (D) ×1.7 inches (H)
45.9 mm (W) ×56.5 mm (D) ×43.2 mm (H)
* Printcapacityandinkcartridgelifemayvary.Ifyouoftenprintlargegraphics
and dense text with little white space, you use ink faster than if you print
pages with lots of white space. Excessive print head cleaning also
consumes ink.
**The ink thaws in approximately 3 hours at 77°F (25°C).
cCaution:
■Use only genuine EPSON ink cartridges and do not refill
them. Other products may cause damage not covered by
EPSON’s warranty.
■Do not use an ink cartridge after the expiration date on the
package.
BL BR
C
A
A
BR
C
BL

EPSON Stylus COLOR 500
Ink Jet Printers 6/96 EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 - 3
Mechanical
Paper feed method: Friction with auto sheet feeder,
top entry
Total print volume: 75,000 pages (A4 paper; text)
Dimensions and weight:
Storage Width 17.0 inches (433 mm)
Depth 9.8 inches (248 mm)
Height 7.8 inches (198 mm)
Weight 11.3 lb (5 kg), without
ink cartridges
Printing Width 17.0 inches (433 mm)
Depth 22.9 inches (582 mm)
Height 11.7 inches (297 mm)
Weight 11.3 lb (5 kg), without
ink cartridges
Electrical
Input voltage
range: 103.5 to 132 V
Rated frequency
range: 50 to 60 Hz
Input frequency
range: 49.5 to 60.5 Hz
Rated current: 0.5 A
Power
consumption: Approx. 18 W (ISO 10561 letter pattern)
Environmental
Temperature: Operation 50 to 95°F (10 to 35°C)
Storage* –4 to 140°F (–20 to 60°C)
1 month at 104°F (40°C)
120 hours at 140°F (60°C)
Humidity: Operation 20 to 80% RH
Storage* 5 to 85% RH
(without condensation)
* Stored in shipping container
Safety Approvals
Safety standards: UL 1950 with D3, CSA 22.2 950 with D3
RFI: FCC part 15 subpart B class B
Fonts
The printer comes with an installed set of fonts, which are
selectable using the Default setting mode.However, the printer
always uses the fonts you select with your software program.
The only time you need to select the printer’s installed fonts is
when your software program does not allow you to select fonts.
You can select other font and pitch combinations using
ESC/P 2 commands.
Interface Specifications
This printer is equipped with an 8-bit parallel interface and a
serial interface.
Parallel Interface
Data format: 8-bit parallel, IEEE 1284 compatible mode
Synchronization: STROBE pulse
Handshake
timing: BUSY and ACKNLG signals
Signal level: TTL compatible
Connector: 36-pin Centronics compatible connector
Bitmap fonts 10 cpi 12 cpi 15 cpi Proportional
EPSON Roman √√ √ √
EPSON Sans Serif √√ √ √
EPSON Courier √√ √ —
EPSON Prestige √√ √ —
EPSON Script √√ √ —
Scalable
fonts Minimum point size Maximum point size Increments
EPSON Roman 8 32 2
EPSON Sans Serif 8 32 2
EPSON Roman T 8 32 2
EPSON Sans Serif H 8 32 2

EPSON Stylus COLOR 500
EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 - 4 6/96 Ink Jet Printers
Pin assignments Note:
■The column heading “Direction” refers to the direction of signal
flow as viewed from the printer.
■“ReturnPin”denotesthetwisted-pairreturnpin to beconnected
at signal ground level. For the interface wiring, be sure to use a
twisted-pair cable for each signal and to complete the connection
on the return side.
■All interface conditions are based on TTL level. Both the rise and
fall times of each signal must be less than 0.2 microseconds.
■Data transfer must be carried out by observing the ACKNLG or
BUSYsignal.Datatransfertothisprintercanbecarriedoutonly
afterreceiptoftheACKNLGsignalorwhentheleveloftheBUSY
signal is LOW.
Reverse channel
Transmission
mode: IEEE-1284 Nibble mode
Adaptable
connector: 57-30360 (Amphenol) or equivalent
Synchronization: Refer to the IEEE-1284 specification
Handshaking: Refer to the IEEE-1284 specification
Signal level: IEEE-1284 level 1 device
Data
transmission
timing: Refer to the IEEE-1284 specification
Extensibility
request: The printer responds to the extensibility
request in the affirmative when the request
is 00H or 04H, which means:
00H: Request nibble mode of reverse
channel transfer
04H: RequestdeviceIDin nibblemodeof
reverse channel transfer
Signal
pin Return pin Signal Direction Description
1 19 STROBE IN STROBE pulse to read data.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
DATA 0
DATA 1
DATA 2
DATA 3
DATA 4
DATA 5
DATA 6
DATA 7
IN
IN
IN
IN
IN
IN
IN
IN
These signals represent
information in bits 0 to 7 of
parallel data respectively. Each
signalisatHIGHlevelwhendata
is logical 1 and LOW when it is
logical 0.
10 28 ACKNLG OUT About a 5-µs pulse. LOW
indicatesdatahasbeenreceived
andtheprinterisreadytoaccept
more data.
11 29 BUSY OUT A HIGH signal indicates the
printer cannotreceive data. The
signalgoesHIGHinthefollowing
cases:
1)During data entry (for each
character)
2)During initialization
3)During self test,
demonstration, and
default-setting printing
4)During a printer-error state
12 28 PE OUT A HIGH signal indicates the
printer is in a paper-out state or
in an error state
13 28 SLCT OUT Always at high when printer is on
14 30 AUTO
FEED
XT
IN Not used
15 - NC - Not connected
16 - GND - Logic ground level
17 - CHASSIS
GND - Printer's chassis ground, which is connected to the logic ground
18 - Logic H OUT Pulled upto+5Vthrough3.9KΩ
resistance
19–30 - GND - Twisted-pair return signal
ground level
31 30 INIT IN When this signal goes LOW, the
printer controller is reset to its
state when the power is first
turned on and the print buffer is
cleared. This level is normally
HIGH; its pulse width must be
more than 50 µs at the receiving
terminal.
32 29 ERROR OUT This signal level goes LOW
when the printer:
1) Is out of paper
2) Is in an error state
3) Has no inkcartridges installed
33 - GND - Same as for Pins 19-30
34 - NC - Not connected
35 - +5 V OUT Pulled upto+5Vthrough3.3KΩ
resistance
36 30 SLIN IN Not used

EPSON Stylus COLOR 500
Ink Jet Printers 6/96 EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 - 5
The following table lists the parallel connector pinassignments
and describes their respective interface signals.
Note:
The column heading “In/Out” refers to the direction of the signal flow
as viewed from the printer.
Timing chart
The figure below shows the timing chart for the parallel
interface.
Transition time (both the rise and the fall) of every signal must be less than
0.2 µs.
Serial Interface
The printer’s built-in serial interface is based on the RS-422
standard so you can connect the printer to an Apple Macintosh.
Standard: Based on RS-422
Synchronization: Asynchronous
Bit rate: 57.6 Kbps/230.4 Kbps
Handshaking: DTR protocol
Word format:
Data bit 8 bits
Parity bit None
Start bit 1 bit
Stop bit 1 bit
Connector: 8-pin mini-circular connector
Recommended
cable: Apple System Peripheral-8 cable (M0197)
Initialization
The printer can be initialized (returned to a fixed set of
conditions) in these ways:
Each initialization method resets the font according to the
default settings selected using the control panel. However,
ESC @ does not initialize the printer mechanism, clear the input
data buffer, or clear the user-defined character set.
Pin
no. Signal name GND In/Out Description
1 HostClk 19 In Strobe pulse. Input data is latched
at falling edge of the signal.
2 DATA 1 20 In Bit 0: LSB Parallel input data to the
printer.
3 DATA 2 21 In Thesesignalsrepresentinformation
in bits 0 to 7 of parallel data
respectively. Eachsignal isat HIGH
levelwhendataislogical1andLOW
when it is logical 0. These signals
are used to transfer the 1284
extensibility request values to the
printer.
4 DATA 3 22 In
5 DATA 4 23 In
6 DATA 5 24 In
7 DATA 6 25 In
8 DATA 7 26 In
9 DATA 8 27 In
10 PtrClk 28 Out Used to qualify data being sent to
the host. Set LOW then HIGH to
cause an interrupt indicating to host
that data is available.
11 PtrBusy/
DataBit-3,7 29 Out Data bits 3 then 7 indicate forward channel busy status.
12 ACkDataReq/
DataBit-2,6 28 Out Data bits 2 then 6. Set HIGH until host requests data transfer, then
follows
n
Data Avail (
n
Fault).
13 Xflag/
DataBit-1,5 28 Out X-flag signal and reverse channel transfer data bit 1 then 5.
14 HostBusy 30 In Set LOW to indicate that host can
receive peripheral device to host
data. Then sethigh toacknowledge
receipt of that nibble. Set high in
responsetoPtrClk(
n
Ack) low pulse
to re-enter reverse data transfer
phase.
31 INIT 30 In Not used
32 DataAvail./
DataBit-0,4 29 Out This signal is LOW when the printer is in an error state
36 1284-Active 30 In 1284 active signal
18 Logic H - Out Pulled up to +5V through 3.9 kΩ
resistance.
35 +5V - Out Pulled up to +5V through 3.3 kΩ
resistance.
17 Chassis - - Chassis GND
16,33,
19–30 GND - - Signal GND
15, 34 NC - - Not connected
Hardware
initialization • The printer is turned on. • The printer receives an INIT signal
fromthe parallel interface: pin 31 goes LOW
Software
initialization • Software sends the ESC @ (initialize the printer) command; the last panel settings are kept
BUSY
DATA
0.5 µs (Min.) 0 µs (Min.)
5 µs (Typ.)
0 µs (Min.)
ACKNLG
STROBE

EPSON Stylus COLOR 500
EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 - 6 6/96 Ink Jet Printers
Default settings
The table below shows the default settings thattake effect when
the printer is initialized.
In addition, hardware and control panel initialization erases
any text in the data buffer.
Control Panel
The printer’s control panel contains lights for displaying the
printer status and buttons for controlling certain functions, as
described in this section.
Lights
Power
On when the printer is on. Flashes during ink cartridge
installation or replacement and print headcleaning and certain
error conditions.
Ink Out O
Flashes when the black ink cartridge is low on ink.On whenthe
blackink cartridge isempty ornotinstalled.Theprinterwill not
work if the black ink cartridge is empty or not installed.
Ink Out NNN
Flashes when the color ink cartridge is low on ink. On when the
color ink cartridge isempty ornot installed.The printer willnot
work if the color ink cartridge is not installed. If color ink runs
out during printing, the printer stops. You can continue to print
with the black ink cartridge by switching to monochrome
printing. To do this, turn off the printer, turn it on again, and
resend the print job.
Paper Out
On when the printer runs out of paper. Flashes rapidly if there
is a paper jam.
Buttons
In addition to the button functions explained below, you can
perform additionalfunctionsusingcertainbuttoncombinations
while turning on the printer, as described in the “Power-on
functions” section below.
Cleaning O
Starts the black print head cleaning cycle.
Cleaning NNN
Starts the color print head cleaning cycle.
Load/Eject
Loads or ejects a sheetof paper. The printer normally loads and
ejects paper automatically.
Power-on functions
Thebuttoncombinationsbelowperformadditionalfunctionsto
control the printer. Paper must be loaded in the printer for all
these operations.
Cleaning NNN + POWER switch
Checks the paper length and performs a printer self test.
Cleaning O+ Cleaning NNN + POWER switch
When connectedtoaPC,prints apagecontaining ahexadecimal
representation (hex dump) of the data sent to the printer for
troubleshooting use. Continue holding down Cleaning Oand
Cleaning NNN for a few seconds after turning on the printer.
Then send a print job. To exit hex dump mode, press Load/
Eject to clear the paper path. Then turn off the printer.
Cleaning O+ POWER switch
Prints a demonstration page of the printer’s fonts and colors.
Continue holding down the Cleaning Obutton for a few
seconds after turning on the printer. To exit demonstration
mode,waituntiltheprinteris doneprinting,andthenturnitoff.
Load/Eject + POWER switch
Enters the printer’s Default setting mode and prints an
instruction page. Continue holding down the Load/Eject
button for a few seconds after turning on the printer. To exit
Default setting mode, turn off the printer.
Cleaning O+ Load/Eject + POWER switch
Enters Printer adjustment mode and prints a multilingual
instruction sheet on calibrating the printer.(Use this mode only
if you are printing from DOS applications.)
Item Default setting
Top-of-form position Current paper position
Page length Single sheets: measured by self-test printing
Left and right margins Cancelled
Line spacing 1/6-inch line spacing
Character pitch Last font selected in Default setting mode
Vertical tab position Cleared
Horizontal tab
positions Every eight characters
Font selection Last font selected in Default setting mode
Specialprintingeffects Cancelled (except condensed and economy
printing)
User-defined
character set Hardware/control panel initialization: cleared Software initialization: deselected only

EPSON Stylus COLOR 500
Ink Jet Printers 6/96 EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 - 7
Default Setting Mode
Additional printer functions are available through the Default
setting mode. Because the printer’s factory defaults are
designed to meet the needs of almost all users, you rarely need
to change the printer functions listed below. If necessary,
however, you can turn on the Default setting mode and change
the settings using the control panel buttons.
The table below lists the settings and available options, with
default settings in bold type.
■Print direction. Specifies how the print head moves across
the page. The options are Uni-D (unidirectional), Bi-D
(bidirectional), and Auto (default). When Uni-D is on, the
print head prints in only one direction to provide the most
precise alignment for graphics and text. In Bi-D printing,
the print head prints in both directions. Bi-D is faster but
theverticalalignmentmaynotbeaspreciseasUni-D.When
Auto is selected, the printer switches automatically
between Uni-D (for graphics data) and Bi-D (for text data)
as necessary when it receives data.
■FontandPitch.Selectthebuilt-inprinterfontandcharacter
pitch used as the default. Normally you use your software
to select the font and pitch. The default Font and Pitch is
Courier 10 cpi (characters per inch).
■Interface mode. Selects the active interface. The default
setting, Auto, allows the printer to automatically switch as
neededbetweentheparallelandserialinterfaces.However,
if you experience communication problems, you might
want to set the interface mode to either Parallel or Serial.
■Auto interface wait time. Sets the time period for the
printer to wait for data from the current interface (and
accept no data from the other interface) when you’re using
the Auto interface mode. You can select a 10-second
(default) or 30-second wait time.
■Software. Specifies the printer control language to use:
EPSON ESC/P 2 (default) or IBM X24E. If your software
allows you to selectEPSON ESC/P 2,choose it for themost
advanced fonts and graphics.
■Auto CR. Specifies that the printer perform a carriage
return and line feed operation if the print positions exceed
the right margin of the paper. (Used in IBM X24E mode
only.)
■AGM (Alternate Graphics Mode). Specifies that the
printer use high-resolution, 24-pin graphics commands.
(Used in IBM X24E mode only.)
■Character table. Selects the set of characters and symbols
thatcan be printed.The defaultis the Italic U.S.A. character
table. If you commonly use a language containing accents,
symbols, or other characters not available in the Italic
U.S.A.charactertable,changeto adifferent charactertable.
■Auto line feed. Specifies that a carriage return character
encounteredin the print filebe accompanied by a line feed
command. By default, auto line feed is off. If text lines print
on top of one another, turn on auto line feed.
■Network interface mode. If the printer is connected to a
singlecomputer,leavethissettingoff(thedefault).Ifyou’re
having trouble printing when the printer is connected to
multiple computers, turn on network interface mode.
■Loading position. Determines the top margin by defining
how close to the paper edge the first line can print. The
loadingpositioncanbe3mm(default)or8.5mm.Normally
you should use your software to adjust the top margin.
■Thick paper. Select Index card (portrait) or Envelope
(default) if you print on these media.
■Economy. When Economy mode is on, the printer usesless
ink by printing fewer dots per character. Use this mode for
rough drafts only. (The default setting is off.)
Changing the Default Settings
To change the printer’s default settings, make sure the printer
is turned off and paper is loaded. Hold down the Load/Eject
button and turn on the printer, continuing to hold down the
button until the printer starts printing an instruction sheet. Use
the instructions to change the settings from the control panel.
Aftermakingyourchanges,waituntiltheprinterstopsprinting,
and then turn off the printer to exit the Default setting mode.
Note:
■You can exit the Default setting mode any time by turning offthe
printer. Any changes you have made remain in effect until you
change them again.
■Ifyouwanttocheckthecurrentdefaultsettings,entertheDefault
setting mode again and print the current settings.
Setting Options
Print direction Auto, Bi-D, Uni-D
Font Courier, Roman, Sans Serif, Prestige,
Script, Roman T, Sans Serif H
Pitch 10 cpi, 12 cpi, 15 cpi, 17.1 cpi, 20 cpi,
Proportional
Interface mode Auto, Parallel, Serial
Auto interface wait time 10 seconds, 30 seconds
Software ESC/P 2, IBM X24E
Auto CR (IBM mode only) Off, On
AGM (IBM mode only) Off, On
Character table PC437, PC850, PC860, PC861, PC863,
PC865, Abicomp, BRASCII, Italic U.S.A.,
Italic France, Italic Germany, Italic U.K.,
Italic Denmark, Italic Sweden, Italic Italy,
Italic Spain I
Auto line feed Off, On
Network interface mode Off, On
Loading position 3 mm, 8.5 mm
Thick paper Envelope, Index card (portrait)
Economy Off, On

EPSON Stylus COLOR 500
EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 - 8 6/96 Ink Jet Printers
Removing the Protective Materials
You must remove all protective materials packed around and
inside the printer before you set it up and turn on the power.
Follow the directions on the Notice Sheet packed with the
printertoremovealltheprotectivematerials.Saveallpackaging
and protective materials in case you need to transport the
printer in the future. It should always be transported in its
original packaging or equivalent materials.
Removing the Transportation Screw or Clip
Insidetheprinter,thereisatransportationscreworclipsecuring
the print head to the carriage, which you must remove before
using the printer.
1. Lower the output tray at the front of the printer. Then lift
up the printer cover.
2. If your printer has a transportation screw, loosen it by
turning its handle counterclockwise, as shown below.
Then lift it off the carriage.
If your printer has a transportation clip, squeeze the clip to
open it and pull it straight out of the printer as shown
below.
Save thescrew or clip so you can reinstall itif you transport the
printer later.
Installing the Ink Cartridges
Follow the steps below to install the printer’s ink cartridges.
Install both ink cartridges. If either the color or black cartridge
is not installed, the printer will not work.
wWarning:
The ink cartridges are self-contained units. Under ordinary use,
inkwillnotleakfromacartridge.Ifinkgets onyourhands, wash
them thoroughly with soap andwater. If ink gets into your eyes,
flush them immediately with water.
cCaution:
Do not open the ink cartridge packages until just before you
install them or they may become too dry.
1. Make sure the printer is turned on.
2. Lower the output tray and lift up the printer cover.
3. Hold down the Load/Eject button for about five seconds
until the print head moves slightly left, to theink cartridge
install position. The Power light begins flashing.
cCaution:
Never move the print head by hand; always use the
Load/Eject button to move it.
4. Pull up each of the ink cartridge clamps toopen them, and
removetheprotectivesheetfromthecolorcartridgeholder,
on the right.
5. Open the foil ink cartridge packages and take out the
cartridges. Remove the tape seal from the top of each one.
color
cartridge
black cartridge

EPSON Stylus COLOR 500
Ink Jet Printers 6/96 EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 - 9
cCaution:
You must remove the yellow tape seal from the top of each
cartridge; leaving the tape on will permanently damage
them. However, do not remove the tape seal from the bottom
of the cartridge; ink will leak out.
6. Lower the cartridges into their holders with the labels
facing up and the arrow on the top pointing toward the
backoftheprinter.Thecolorcartridge,whichislarger,goes
on the right; the black ink cartridge on the left.
Be sure to install both ink cartridges. The printer will not
work if only one cartridge is installed.
7. Push downthe ink cartridgeclamps untiltheylockin place.
cCaution:
Once you install the ink cartridges, do not open the clamps
or remove the cartridges except to replace them with new
ones.Onceyou removeacartridge, donot reuse it. Reusing
a cartridge that has been removed may damage the print
head.
8. Press the Load/Ejectbutton again to return the print head
to itshome position.(Even if you do not press Load/Eject,
the print head moves back to its home position about
30 seconds after you close the clamps.)
After you install the ink cartridges, the printer charges the
ink delivery system. This takes about two minutes, and the
Power light flashes until the operation is done.
cCaution:
Never turn off the printer when the Power light flashes.
9. Make sure the Powerlight is no longer flashing, then close
the printer cover.
To maintain optimum print quality, the printer periodically
performs a cleaning operation. You may notice the cleaning
cycle being performed when the printer has been on for awhile
without being used or when you turn it on after it has been off
for awhile.
Loading Plain Paper
You can load up to 100 sheets of plain paper. Always load plain
paperwiththeprintablesurfacefacingup.Theprintablesurface
is marked with an arrow on most paper packaging.
1. Lower the output tray at the front of the printer and slide
out the extension.
2. Before you load paper, make sure that the paper thickness
lever, which controls the distance between the paper and
the printer carriage, is set correctly. If necessary, move the
lever to the plain paper setting.
3. If you are going to load long paper (for example, legal size
paper), pull up the paper support extension.
thick paper setting
plain paper
setting
paper support
extension

EPSON Stylus COLOR 500
EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 - 10 6/96 Ink Jet Printers
4. Make sure the left edge guide lock lever is in the down
(unlocked) position and slidethe left edge guide to the left
as far as it will go.
5. Load a stack of paper to set the edge guides to the correct
width. Make sure that the right edge of the paper rests
against the right side of the sheet feeder.
6. Slide the left edge guide against the left edge of the paper;
then move the lock lever up to secure the left edge guide.
7. Remove the stack of paper and fan it. Then tap it on a flat
surface to even the edges.
8. Reinsert the stack of paper, printable side toward you (face
up), straight into the printer and then rest it against the
paper support. This ensures that the paper is properly
loaded.
Testing the Printer
For the self test, use paper that is at least 8.25 inches (210 mm)
wide.
1. Press the POWER switch to turn off the printer.
cCaution:
Never turn off the printer by unplugging it or turning off
a power strip. Always turn off the printer by pressing the
POWER switch.
2. Hold down the CleaningNNN button on thecontrol panel
while pressing the POWER switch to turn on the printer.
The self test begins by printing in black inkon the first and
last lines of the first sheet of paper to measure the page
length. Then it prints character samples on the next sheet
using the available fonts and colors.
3. The printer prints the test one page at a time and pauses
between pages. While it is paused, press the Load/Eject
button to print the next page.
4. To end the self test, turn off the printer while it is paused.
Ifthequalityofthetestoutputisnotgood,cleantheprintheads.
Choosing Paper and Other Media
EPSON provides special papers and transparencies that are
formulated for the inksused in EPSON ink jet printers. Use the
following part numbers when ordering:
Setting the Paper Thickness and Adjustment Levers
Before printing, check the paper thickness and adjustment
levers to make sure they are set correctly for the type of paper
or other media you are loading.
cCaution:
Before you change the lever settings, make sure the printer
is not loading paper, printing, or ejecting paper.
The paper thickness lever has two settings: plain paper
(including coated and glossy paper) and thick paper.
left edge guide
Paper or other media Size Part number
Special coated paper for
720 dpi Letter (8.5 ×11 inches)
Legal (8.5 × 14 inches) S041062
S041048
Special coated paper for
360 dpi Letter (8.5 ×11 inches) S041060
High-quality glossy paper Letter (8.5 ×11 inches) S041072
Transparency film Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041064
Iron-on transfer paper Letter (8.5 ×11 inches) SE41001
thick paper setting
plain paper
setting

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Set the lever to the position that best suits the paper or other
media you plan to use, as shown in the following table.
The thickness adjustment lever is in the left back corner, as
shown in the following illustration.
Change the thickness adjustmentlever when you print on thick
paper (such as envelopes or labels) or if your documents smear.
Use the table below to set the lever for your media type. If a
document is smeared, set the thickness adjustment lever to the
+ position (regardless of the paper type) and print it again.
Using Special Paper and Other Media
When using special coated paper, glossy paper, transparencies,
or envelopes, keep the following in mind:
■Make sure the printable side of the paper is face up.
■Do not touch the printable surface of the paper; hold the
sheets by their edges. The moisture and oils on your hands
can reduce print quality.
■Use special coated paper within one year of purchase. Use
high-quality glossy paper and transparencies within six
months.
■Makesure thepaperthicknessandadjustmentlevers are in
the correct position for the paper you are using.
■After printing on high-quality glossy paper or
transparencies, remove each sheet from the output tray
immediately. Make sure each sheet is dry before stacking.
■You can print on sheets of labels in the printer; just follow
the instructions for loading plain paper.
■Return unused sheets and envelopes to their original
package as soon as possible after you finish printing.
Unfavorable storage conditions—especially high
temperature, humidity, and direct sunlight—can damage
the media.
■Follow any other special loading procedures identified in
the following sections.
Loading Special Papers and Transparencies
You can load up to the following number of sheets in the sheet
feeder:
■70 sheets of special coated paper. (If you load legal-size
special coated paper for 720 dpi, do not load it more than
halfway to the arrow on the left edge guide of the sheet
feeder.)
■50 sheets of transparencyfilm withone sheetof plainpaper
beneath the last transparency in the stack
■30 sheets of high-quality glossy paper with a sheet of plain
paper beneath the last sheet in the stack; to avoid printing
on the plain paper, print the document one page at a time.
If you load a single sheet of glossy paper, place a sheet of
plain paper beneath it and print one page at a time.
Note:
If you load multiple sheets of glossy paper, the minimum top margin
is 1.2 inches (30 mm). To print with a smaller top margin, load and
print glossy paper one sheet at a time.
Follow these steps to load special paper or transparency film:
1. Lower the output tray at the front of the printer and slide
out the extension. If you are going to load long paper (legal
size, for example), pull up the paper support extension.
2. Insert the stack of paper into the printer and adjust the left
edge guide to the paper’s width while the lock lever is in
the down position; then set the lock lever up to secure the
left edge guide.
3. Remove the stack of paper and fan it. Then tap it on a flat
surface to even the edges.
4. Reinsert the stack of paper gently straight up and down,
and then rest it againstthe paper support.This ensures that
the paper is properly loaded in the paper path.
Paper type Paper thickness lever position
Standardpaper(plain,coated,
or glossy) Plain paper
Transparency film Plain paper
Envelopes or labels Thick paper
Paper type Thickness adjustment lever position
Standard paper (plain, coated, or glossy) 0
Transparency film 0
Envelopes or labels +
Previously smeared documents +
thickness adjustment lever

EPSON Stylus COLOR 500
EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 - 12 6/96 Ink Jet Printers
Makesuretheprintablesurfacefacesup.Forcoatedpapers,
the printable side is whiter than the other side. For glossy
paperandtransparencies,theprintablesideisfaceupwhen
the cut corner is positioned as shown in the illustration
below.
5. Change the Media Type and other printer driver settings
so they are appropriate for the paper or transparency film
you loaded.
Loading Envelopes
For detailed specifications on the thickness and weight of the
envelopes youcan load, see “PrinterSpecifications.”Do notuse
envelopes that are curled or folded, or ones that are too thin;
they may curl during printing. Also, do not choose 720 dpi
resolution for envelope printing.
1. Make sure you set the paper thickness and thickness
adjustment levers to the correct positions for envelope
printing, as described above.
2. You can load up to 10 envelopes in the sheet feeder with
the printable side facing up as shown.
3. Adjust the left edge guide so the envelopes feed straight
into the paper path.
4. Change the printer driver settings so they are appropriate
for the envelopes you loaded.
Calibrating the Printer
The printer has been calibrated at the factory so that vertical
lines in your text and graphics are properly aligned. If you
notice misaligned images in printouts, however, you can
calibrate the printer as described below. You may need to do
this after moving the printer to a new location, for example.
Before calibrating, verify that your printer needs it by printing
a demonstration page. Turn off your printer; then hold down
the Cleaning Obutton and turn the printer back on. Continue
holding down the Cleaning Obutton for a few seconds after
turning on the printer. Examine the demonstration printout; if
vertical lines are truly misaligned, calibrate the printer. Do not
calibrate the printer too often.
Calibrating the Printer Using Windows
If you are using Windows on your PC, follow the steps below
to calibrate the printer. If you installed the Windows printer
driver, the Calibration utility is installed on the hard disk.
1. If you are using Windows 3.1, select the EPSON Printer
Calibration icon in the EPSON program group to start the
utility.
If you are using Windows 95, first make sure the Spool
Manager despooler is closed (not just minimized). Then
click Start. Point to Programs, Epson, and then click
EPSON Printer Calibration to start the utility.
2. When you see the Printer Calibration Utility screen,
select OK.
3. Make sure the printer is selected in the drop-down menu.
Under Calibration Item, click the radio button for the print
head you want to calibrate. The default is Black.
4. Click Next. Make sure the selected printer port is correct.
If you are not sure which port the printer is connected to,
check the print manager utility. Then click Next.
cCaution:
Makesurethattheprinter nameyouselectedandtheactual
printer to becalibrated are the same, and confirm that this
printerisconnectedtotheport you selected.Otherwise,the
printer will be damaged.
5. Make sure the printer is on and paper isloaded.Then click
Next to print the Current Alignment Sheet.
6. Click the misaligned pattern. (If more than one pattern is
misaligned, click a misaligned pattern now. After you
finish the steps in this section, repeat steps 1 through 9 to
select and calibrate each remaining misaligned pattern.)
7. Click Next twice to print the misaligned pattern’s Test
Alignment Sheet. This printout contains numbered line
groups with varying alignment.

EPSON Stylus COLOR 500
Ink Jet Printers 6/96 EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 - 13
8. Highlight the number of the line group with the best
appearance and click Next to calibrate the printer. Click
Next to go to the next screen.
9. To check the calibration results, click Print Current
Alignment Sheet and click Finish.
Calibrating the Printer Using DOS
If you need to calibrate the printer from DOS on the PC, follow
the steps below. This utility is designed to be run in DOS with
or without a mouse; these steps are witten for use without a
mouse.
1. If you did not install the Windows printer software on the
hard disk, insert the Windows Setup Disk 1 in a diskette
drive.
2. Type A:\SETUP(or B:\SETUP) atthe DOS prompt and press
Enter.
3. Follow the directions on the screen to install the software,
removing Disk 1 and inserting Disk 2 when prompted.
4. After running the Setup program, change to the drive and
directory that contain theCalibrationutility(orset thepath
to the directory). The default directory is C:\CALIBRAT.
Then type ECALIB and press Enter. You see the EPSON
Printer Calibration screen.
5. Make sure the printer is selected. If not, follow the
instructions on the screen to select the correct printer from
the list shown.
6. Follow the instructions on the screen to choose the print
head you want to calibrate. Then select Next.
7. Make sure the printeris on and paper isloaded.Then select
Next to print the Current Alignment Sheet.
8. Select the misaligned pattern. (If more than one pattern is
misaligned, select a misaligned pattern now. After you
finish the steps in this section, repeat steps 4 through 11 to
select and calibrate each remaining misaligned pattern.)
9. Select Next twice to print the pattern’s Test Alignment
Sheet. This printout contains numbered line groups with
varying alignment.
10. Select the number of the line group with the best
appearance and then select Next to calibrate the printer.
11. To check the calibration results and exit the Calibration
utility, select Print.
Calibrating the Printer Using a Macintosh
If you have a Macintosh, follow the steps below to calibrate the
printer.
Note:
If the Status Monitor utility is running, click Quit to close it before
you start the Calibration utility.
1. Double-click the Bi-D Calibration icon on the hard disk to
start the utility.
2. When you see the screen to select a printer type, choose the
printer name from the list and click OK.
3. Select the port to which the printer is connected.
cCaution:
Make surethattheprinternameyouselectedandtheactual
printer to be calibrated are the same, and confirm that this
printeris connectedto theportyou selected.Otherwise,the
printer will be damaged.
4. In the next screen, click the Preview button to print the
calibrationpatternsintheChoosepatternpull-downmenu.
Use this printout to select the pattern(s) that need to be
calibrated.
5. Look at the printed patterns, and select the misaligned
pattern in the Choose pattern pull-down menu. For
example, if the lines shown under Pattern 2 need to be
aligned, select Pattern 2; then click Start.
The printer prints some alignment patterns. Each pattern is
associated with an offset value. Look for the alignment
pattern that is most closely aligned.
6. After the pages have printed, you see a dialog box
requesting the number of the pattern that is most closely
aligned. Enter the appropriate number and click OK.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until you are satisfied that all of the
patterns are aligned.
8. To close the calibration utility, click Quit.
9. Turn off the printer to save the settings.
Note:
The settings made with the Bi-D Calibration utility are saved only
when you turn off the printer.
Calibrating the Printer from the Control Panel
If for some reason you cannot use any of the calibration utility
programs that came with the printer, you can calibrate the
printer from the control panel. This is called the Printer
adjustment mode. Follow these steps:
1. Make sure the printer is turned off and paper is loaded.
2. Hold down the Cleaning Oand Load/Eject buttons and
turn on the printer to enter the Printer adjustment mode.
The printer prints an instruction sheet in English, French,
German, Italian, and Spanish that shows you how to
calibrate the printer. Follow these instructions.
3. After calibrating the printer, exit the Printer adjustment
mode by turning off the printer.

EPSON Stylus COLOR 500
EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 - 14 6/96 Ink Jet Printers
Paper Handling Problems
This section describes how to prevent paper jams and ensure
that paper feeds properly.
Paper jam problems
If paper jams inside the printer frequently, try the following:
■Useahigherqualitypaperthatissuitableforinkjetprinters
and is not too thin, too thick, or rough. For best quality, use
EPSON special coatedand high-quality glossy papers. See
“Printer Specifications” for paper specifications.
■Fan the stack of paper before you load it.
■If you loaded plain paper, try turning the stack over. The
printable side may have been facing down.
■Do not load too many sheets in the sheet feeder. You can
load up to 100 sheets of plain paper, 70 sheets of special
coatedpaper,50 sheetsoftransparencyfilm(withonesheet
of plain paper beneath the stack), 30 sheets of high-quality
glossy paper (with one sheet of plain paper beneath the
stack), or 10 envelopes.
Paper feeding problems
If paper does not feed properly, the most likely causes are:
■The paper was not loaded properly. Remove it. Fan the
paper, and tap it on a flat surface. Insert the stack into the
printer straight up and then rest it against the paper
support.
■Paper is curled or folded. Use flat, undamaged paper.
■The paper is of poor quality; use a better quality paper.
■The paper is too thin or thick; see “Printer Specifications”
for paper size and type specifications.
■The paper was exposed to excess humidity, over 60%. See
“Printer Specifications” for the required environmental
conditions.
■The left edge guide is too tight or too loose; adjust it for the
size of the paper.
■Too many sheets are loaded in the sheet feeder. You can
load up to 100 sheets of plain paper, 70 sheets of special
coatedpaper,50 sheetsoftransparencyfilm(withonesheet
of plain paper beneath the stack),30 sheets of high-quality
glossy paper (with one sheet of plain paper beneath the
stack), or 10 envelopes.
Printer Care
Cleaning the Print Heads
The printer periodically cleans its print heads automatically, so
normally you should not need to manually activate a cleaning
cycle. However, if print quality diminishes, you can run a
cleaning cycle to enable the nozzles to deliver ink properly. To
avoid wasting ink, do not run a cleaning cycle unless necessary.
Youcancleanoneorbothprintheads,oneata time.(Youcannot
clean them both simultaneously.) Each cleaning cycle takes
about one minute, during which the carriage moves and you
canhear the printer recharging the print heads. The Powerlight
flashes throughout the cleaning cycle and then stays on when
the cycle is finished.
To cleanthe color print head, make surethe printer is turned on
but is not printing. Press the Cleaning NNN button. The
cleaning cycle begins. When the cleaning cycle is over, the
Power light stops flashing.
To clean the blackprint head, press the Cleaning Obutton. The
cleaning cycle is over when the Power light stops flashing.
After you clean the print heads, turn off the printer; then hold
down the Cleaning Obutton as you turn the printer back on.
(Continue holding it down for a few seconds after turning on
the printer.) This prints a demonstration page so you can see if
the print quality has improved. If the print quality is not
improved, repeat the cleaning cycle. (Be sure to always print at
least a few lines between cleaning cycles to reset the printer’s
cleaning mechanism.)
Replacing Ink Cartridges
The printer’s Ink Out O(black) and Ink Out NNN (color) lights
tell you when the ink cartridges are low on ink and when you
need to replace them. Ifone of these lights flashes,the indicated
cartridge is low on ink; if it remains on, you need to replace the
cartridge.Do notreplace aninkcartridge unlessitsInkOutlight
tells you to. Ifyou replace a cartridge before its light flashes, the
sensorthattellsyouwhen inkisoutwill notworkproperlywith
the new cartridge.
cCaution:
■Leavetheoldcartridge installedintheprinteruntil youare
ready to replace it with a new one. Attempting to print
without a cartridge installed can damage the printer.
■If you need to replace a cartridge in the middle of a print
job, you must turn off the printer and then turn it back on.
This erases the data received by the printer and you must
resend the print job.
■Once you install the ink cartridges, donot open the clamps
or remove the cartridges except to replace them with new
ones. Once you remove a cartridge, you cannot reuse it.

EPSON Stylus COLOR 500
Ink Jet Printers 6/96 EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 - 15
Whenthecolorinkcartridgeisempty,youcancontinueprinting
withtheblack inkcartridgebyswitchingtomonochromemode.
To do this, turn the printer off, then back on. Then resend the
data.
Note:
Even though you use the printer in the monochrome printing mode,
the empty color ink cartridge must be installed.
To switch back to color printing, you must install the color ink
cartridge and then turn the printer off and back on again. Any
datasenttotheprinterwillbelost,andyouwillhavetoresendit.
Iftheblackinkcartridgeisempty,youcannotcontinueprinting,
even if the color cartridge still contains ink.
Use only these EPSON ink cartridges:
Black ink cartridge S020093
Color ink cartridge S020097
When you need new ink cartridges, contact your dealer or call
EPSONAccessoriesat(800)873-7766(U.S. only). In Canada, call
(800) GO-EPSON for sales locations.
cCaution:
Use only genuine EPSON ink cartridges and donot refill them.
Other products may cause damage not covered by EPSON’s
warranty.
Follow these steps to replace either or both ink cartridges:
1. Make sure the printer is on and not printing, and that one
of the Ink Out lights is flashing or turned on.
2. Lower the output tray on the front of the printer (if
necessary) and then lift up the printer’s cover.
3. Hold down the Load/Eject button for about five seconds
until the print head moves slightly left to the ink cartridge
install position. The Power light begins flashing.
cCaution:
Do not move the print head with your hand. Always use
the Load/Eject button to move it.
4. Pull up the cartridge clamp to open it. The cartridge rises
partially out of the printer. (If you do not do this within
30 seconds after pressingLoad/Eject, the carriage returns
to its home position, far right. If this happens, press Load/
Eject again.)
5. Lift the cartridge out of the printer and dispose of it
carefully so any excess ink does not spill out. Do not take
the used cartridge apart or try to refill it.
wWarning:
If ink gets on your hands, wash them thoroughly with soap
and water. If ink gets into your eyes, flush them
immediately with water.
6. Open the package containing the ink cartridge and remove
the cartridge from its protective bag. Remove the yellow
tape seal from the top of the cartridge.
cCaution:
You must remove the tape seal from the top of the cartridge;
leaving the tape on will permanently damage it. Do not
remove the tape seal from the bottom of the cartridge; ink
will leak out.
7. Lower the ink cartridge into its holder with the label facing
up and the arrow pointing to the back of the printer.
8. Push down the ink cartridge clamp until it locks in place.
cCaution:
Once you install an ink cartridge, do not open the ink
cartridge clamp again or remove the cartridge except to
replace it with a new one. Once you remove a cartridge, do
not reuse it; this may damage the print head.
9. Press the Load/Eject button again. The printer moves the
print head to its home (far right) position and the Power
lightflashesas the printer charges the ink delivery system.
cCaution:
The Power light continues to flash while the printer
performs the ink charging operation. Never turn off the
printer whilethe Powerlight is flashing, as this can result
in incomplete charging of printer ink.
Note:
Even if you do not press the Load/Eject button, the printer
moves the print head back to its home position about 30 seconds
after you replace the cartridge.
10. When the charging cycle is finished (the Powerlight stops
flashing), close the printer cover. Now the printer is ready
for the next print job.
Cleaning the Printer
1. Turnoffthe printeranddisconnect any cables connected to
it. Be sure to keep the printer cover closed as you clean it.
2. Remove any paper or other media from the sheet feeder.
3. Carefully clean away loose dust and dirt with a soft brush.
4. Clean the exterior with a soft cloth dampened in mild soap.
5. To cleanink outof theprinter’s interior, wipeit gentlywith
a damp cloth.

EPSON Stylus COLOR 500
EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 - 16 6/96 Ink Jet Printers
cCaution:
■Never use alcohol or thinner to clean the printer; these
chemicals can damage the components and the printer case.
■Do not use a hard or abrasive brush; these can scratch the
printer surfaces.
■Do not allow water to get onthe printermechanism or any
electronic components.
■Do not spray inside the printer with lubricants or oils; they
can damage the printer mechanisms.
Information Reference List
Engineering Change Notices
None
Product Support Bulletins
None
Technical Information Bulletins
None
Related Documentation
TM-STYCLR500 EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 Service Manual
PL-STYCLR500 EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 Parts Price List
4005982 EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 User’s Guide
4005980 EPSON Stylus COLOR 500 Quick Setup