3100cn causes problems with other hardware when active

Question

Hi,

I have had a 3100cn for few months now and I have a rather unusual problem with the printer.

Whenever the printer goes active, (ie leaves standby mode), causes some type power surge that takes out my network switch and makes my computer speakers hum. The print jobs do get printed, but I am getting tired of losing my next work connection every time I print something. Sometimes I have to reboot or restart services that have a network port open to get things work right. After the print job things only settle down after the printer gone into idle mode.

Before I call my rep and ask to return the printer are there things I should/can check?

I have reviewed all the configuration parameters and they appear resonable. I have moved the printer around the the room to ther power outlets, but the problem persists.

This problem is mystifying and quite troublesome.

Coup47 · Answer

Nothing 'mystifying' about it at all. And NOT the printer's problem. When coming out of standby it, like every other laser printer, turns on it's heaters and there is a large current draw. 'Moving around to other outlets' is meaningless if they are all on the same circuit. Your wiring is inadequate, the current draw of the printer is creating a large 'current sag' making other equipment connected to the same circuit misbehave. ANY other laster printer with similar current requirements will have exactly the same effect. You need to move the printer to a different actual circuit. My guess is your wiring is old and your running off a 15 Amp circuit, modern wiring pretty much only uses 20 Amp circuits for anything except dedicated lighting circuits. Time to connect the printer or your otrher equipment to ADEQUATE wiring. As it is you're lucky it's not blowing fuses or tripping your circuit breakers....

lancorp · Answer

Another option to correct the power problem would be to get a small battery backup (UPS), and connect your network switch and computer/monitor to the outlets on the UPS that are battery backed, and connect the laser printer directly to the wall outlet, or to an outlet on the UPS that is SURGE protected only. Do not connect the laser to a battery protected outlet. It will overload your UPS.

Then, when the laser fires up, the UPS will stabilize the voltage instantaneously, and your network switch should never notice the difference!

Printers

3100cn causes problems with other hardware when active

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