HP Color LaserJet 1600 Printer CB373A
Affordable entry level A4 colour laser printer using host-based software. Suited to the space and budget of small businesses and home offices but creates professional documents. The Color LaserJet 1600 is the non-network version of the Color LaseJet 2600N series. The CLJ 2600N was introduced in May 2005 and the CLJ 1600 a year later - presumably reinforcing the design's success at a lower price-point.
Recommended for low volume work - 250-1500 pages per month. HP claim a duty cycle to 20,000 pages per month but recommend printing below 2,500 pages. Given the cartridge life that is probably at the high end of what anyone would realistically attempt.
Print speeds for black and white and colour are the same thanks to the use of an inline cartridge arrangement. The CLJ_1500 and 2500 use a a carousel arrangement and work twice as fast as this model for black and white printing - but at half the speed in colour printing.
The CLJ 1600 or the CLJ 2600 are appropriate for general printing that includes some colour. The limited memory suggests these printers will struggle with complex prints like full-page photographs. The usual sign of a problem is that particular pages take a long time to print - several minutes wait is not unknown.
The CLJ 1600/2600 appears as the multifunction printer / copiers CM1015MFP and CM1017MFP (both introduced in November 2006).
The CLJ 1600/2600 design was succeeded by the CLJ 2605 with a slightly improved 10 page per minute colour and 12 ppm mono performance. The CLJ 2605 has 64MB RAM so it can handle much more complicated page layouts without unduly slowing down.
The CLJ 1600 was available (July 2009) for prices in the £150-£200 range.
Comparable printers from other manufacturers include:
Dell 1320CN, Samsung CLP300, 310 and CLP 315 and Brother HL 4040CN
Easy monitoring of supplies through the front panel LCD display.
20,000 ppm duty (Recommended 250-1500 pages). Some sources claim a duty-cycle of 35,000 pages per month but that would use rather ludicrous numbers of the 2,500 page toners.
Up to 8ppm in Black or Colour
Resolution to 600x 600 dpi . HP ImageREt 2400, Ultraprecise toner, HP edge-enhancement technologies. The CLJ 1600 produces respectable colour photographs.
A4. 250 sheet universal tray included. Optional extra tray, 250 sheet universal tray included, optional second tray Media Sizes: 3 by 5 to 8.5 by 14 in (76 by 127 to 216 by 356 mm)
Manual only via software
264MHz processor
16MB RAM (Not expandable) The processor and memory are the same as provided on the CLJ 2600N.
USB
No network - the CLJ2600N is the network model.
Microsoft Windows XP, Vista. Linux CUPS supports these printers using the foo2hp driver (performance not known).
Host based printing - no normal print languages supported.
407 by 453 by 370 mm for basic unit
18.4kg with consumable installed
As usual with colour laserjets the machine takes Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black print cartridges (CMYK printing). Like most HP printers this model has the toner, developer, drum and waste receptacle built into one unit, minimising the inconvenience of changing consumables. HP SureSupply alerts are given when cartridge is low - online ordering.
HP provide a clear outline of how to change the cartridges in the user manual and online.
The printer also uses an electrostatic belt as part of the imaging process. This lasts through several changes of toner.
Q6000A, Black Print Cartridge for CLJ 1600/ 2600/CM1015. 2500 pages at 5% - Q6000A
Q6001A, Cyan Print Cartridge for CLJ 1600/ 2600/CM1015. 2500 pages at 5% - Q6001A
Magenta Print Cartridge for CLJ 1600/ 2600/CM1015. 2500 pages at 5% - Q6003A
Q6002A, Yellow Print Cartridge for CLJ 1600/ 2600/CM1015. 2500 pages at 5% - Q6002A
Q6000AD, Black double pack- 2x2,500 cartridges - Q6000AD
Laser printers make the image on the page from lose toner powder. The fuser in a laser printer adheres the toner powder to the page using a combination of heat and pressure.
As with the transfer belt the fuser in the CLJ 1600 is more than averagely difficult to change. The fuser is under the top cover and it has to be removed to change it.
To reassemble with the new fuser reverse the steps.
US site www.Partshere.com has excerpts from the HP manual as a PDF with photographs under the heading "HP Color LaserJet 1600 Service Manual"
As usual with colour printers most faults are cleared by changing the toners, the imaging belt or the fuser. Paper feed faults and paper jams can be caused by worn rollers and pads.
RM1-1922 Separation Pad for CLJ 1600/ 2600/ 2605/ CM1015/ CM1017MFP - RM1-1922-000CN
RC1-5440 Tray 2 & 3 Pickup Roller D-shaped Roller for CLJ 1600/ 2600N/ CM1015/ CM1017MFP - RC1-5440-000CN
There is no tray 1 roller and pad because this printer only has a single sheet slot feed
RM1-1975, DC Controller for CLJ 1600/2600N was RM1-1975-050CN now - RM1-1975-090CN
RM1-1978 High Voltage PSU for the HP Color Laserjet 2600N, RM1-1978-000CN, (code not recognised by HP)
RM1-1976, DC Power Supply for the HP Color Laserjet 2600N, RM1-1976-000CN (Discontinued)
RM1-1983, Control Panel for LaserJet 1600/2600N was RM1-1983-000 now - RM1-1983-050CN
RM1-1945, Cassette tray 3 (250 sheets) for CLJ 1600/ 2600N/ CM1017MFP - RM1-1945-080CN
-1925, Cassette Tray 1 ?? (250 sheets) for CLJ 1600/ 2600N/ CM1015MFP/ CM1017MFP - RM1-1925-000CN
Also note:
We are trying to resolve exactly which trays are accessories and which merely cassettes - information from HP and distributor sources isn't conclusive. Email if you want to buy a tray or cassette.
RM1-1859, Output Tray Extender / delivery tray for CLJ 1600/ 2600N/ 2605, RM1-1859-020CN
RM1-5181 Laser Scanner Assembly for the HP Color Laserjet 1600/2600/1015 was RM1-1970-000CN now - RM1-5181 The price of this laser scanner is nearly as high as that of the printer - so its not likely to sell.