HP Color LaserJet 2605 Printer

Described as an affordable colour laser printer with a small footprint and quiet operation. Other merits listed by HP are that it Easily fits into office environments. Creates professional documents for small businesses and home offices. Duplex print and photo printing via memory cards. Full print-language support with HP PCL 5e, HP PCL6 and an HP PostScript Level 3 emulation.

These printers were made between 2006 and 2008 (predecessor models were 2005). The model is no longer in production but is still widely used.

Models are:

This laser printer uses an inline cartridge arrangement for relatively fast colour performance of 10 pages per minute.

The CLJ 2605 is a successor to HP's CLJ 1600 and 2600 models. The inline cartridge design used in this series gives fairly fast colour printing at 10ppm - previous low-cost colour laser printers typically manage 4ppm. The engine is the same as that used in the Canon LBP-5000 and LBP-5100. HP used the same engine as the basis for the multifunction CM1015 and CM1017.

The machine's cross-section and principles of operation show some resemblance to HPs successful CLJ_2700/3000/3600/3800 and CP3505 series; the 2600 series is a downsized version of the same thing.

However the 2605 seems to have reached the limits for this design; successors use a completely redesigned engine.

The Lexmark C530dn was the other low cost colour printer with a duplex option.

CLJ 26005 fixes a problem with the very similar 2600N. The earlier printer only had 16MB of memory which wasn't always sufficient for rasterising a complex page. This printer has 64MB which almost invariably will be sufficient and the memory is expandable if there is a problem.

Performance is quite good but this design has been discontinued. Research via Google in July 2009 suggested that although quite a lot of sites listed this printer at prices around £200 only a couple claimed to have stock. In 2012 it is definitely no longer made. The CP1210 series has similar performance and price; the only sting being that the newer cartridges are smaller (1400 pages instead of 2,000 for colours).

Service parts to keep these printers going are generally available. As always at the low end of the market there is that repair or replace question.

In performance terms, newer printers probably won't give anything better although photos might improve a bit. If you are in the habit of using HP original cartridges the lower capacity with some of the newer printers may raise the cost per page. If you use refilled cartridges then they are probably easier to obtain (and cheaper) for these older printers (and presumably you aren't too concerned about photo quality).

These printers are more difficult to service than some other machines. The design aim seems to have been low manufacturing cost, not easy service. Changing the fuser and ETB both require removing the covers and changing a couple of plugs, they do not simply plug in as they do on bigger printers. The job isn't arduous, but it does mean removing screws and exposing high voltages, as does any electrical repair work.

Working printers seem to have kept their price quite well. A quick examination of eBay in 2012 suggested prices for the simplex model between £119 and £159 with 90 day warranty. Obviously there is no guarantee of the longevity of transfer belt and fuser with that. The fact that the second-hand price has held up generally suggests these printers are worth repairing.


Control:

LCD Display with 2 lines of 16 characters. 2 LEDS - attention and Ready. 4 Buttons for Job Cancel, Left and Right Menu and option Select.

Duty Cycle:

Up to 35,000 pages (but limited by small consumables)

12 pages per minute black.

10ppm colour.

First Page Out in 20 seconds thanks to Instant-On technology. High print speeds for this generation of machines thanks to inline print-engine arrangement.

Engine resolution is 600x600dpi enhanced to HP ImageRet 2400 print quality

Paper Handling:

A4 etc, single sheet input slot and 1 or 2 trays. Duplex capacity on the DN model.

The third tray is an option and is provided on the "dtn" model. Duplexing is provided on the "d" models.

Processor:

300MHz Freescale Coldfire V5e processor.

Memory:

64MB memory which HPs publicity information says is sufficient to handle complex print jobs.

Memory expandable to 320MB by changing 100 pin DIMM.

Interface:

USB 2.0

Network:

Network models available - DN and DTN

System Compatibility:

Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista.

Apple Mac 0S X v 10.2.8 and higher

Linux drivers work using CUPS or HPLIP and with the PostScript support there should be no issue with any other Unix or PostScript capable operating system.

HP PCL 5e, HP PCL6, HP PostScript Level 3 emulation.

Dimensions:

407 x 453 x 370 mm for the base unit.

Consumables:

The CLJ 1600, 2600N and 2605DN and DTN all take the same print cartridges, however they use different transfer belts (ETBs) and fusers.

As usual with colour laser printers 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. If HP cartridges are used then HP SureSupply alerts are given when cartridge is low, and this can be extended to online cartridge ordering. Non - HP cartridges (refills or compatibles) may lack chips to do this and may not be able to give the SureSupply information.

HP provide a clear outline of how to change the cartridges in the user manual and online. However its simply:

When the printer sees the door close the motors will come to life as it tests the situation.


Q6000A, Black Print Cartridge for CLJ 1600/ 2600/CM1015. 2500 pages at 5% - Q6000A

Q6001A, Cyan Print Cartridge for CLJ 1600/ 2600/CM1015. 2000 pages at 5% - Q6001A

Q6003A, Magenta Print Cartridge for CLJ 1600/ 2600/CM1015. 2000 pages at 5% - Q6003A

Q6002A, Yellow Print Cartridge for CLJ 1600/ 2600/CM1015. 2000 pages at 5% - Q6002A

Q6000AD, Black double pack- 2x2,500 cartridges - Q6000AD


Cartridges are arranged in a stack against the transfer belt. In operation the belt carries a page across the cartridges, one after another and the voltage on each, and on the transfer rollers behind the belt vary as the image is built up. At the top of the printer the page exits through the fuser where heat and pressure make the toner adhere.

Canon and HP made these print cartridges to be small, efficient and easy to change. They also made them deliberately difficult to refill. Uninet and Static Control both remark on the problems in their re-manufacturing guides - which are 30 pages long - search for Static Control's document SSS-771 or Uninet HP LaserJet 2600 • Toner Cartridge Remanufacturing Instructions.

Remanufacturing problems have largely been overcome and such cartridges are readily available.

Some businesses and charities collect used cartridges typically for about £1-2 per unit in good condition. For commercial recycling they want quantities of ten or more in good condition, hence its a good idea to put the used ones back in the box - your chosen charity will get a better price.

In some countries HP will also collect used cartridges for recycling. Their process is rather different, they dismantle the cartridge and recycle the materials as plastics and metals rather than as complete units or components.

Remanufacturing is a broad term. A cartridge that has merely been refilled might count as re-manufactured; there is often a lot of further life left in the drum, developer, precharge roller, waste scraper blade and other parts. After one recycle those parts will be less viable and need replacing so now the term re-manufacturing becomes meaningful. Alternative manufacturers can't simply make a new cartridge because Canon and HP have their designs guarded by copyright, trademark and patents. So re-manufacturers for the various components, toners, OPC drum, charge drums, developer sheet and chip aim to produce the components without running into legal issues.

Remanufactured cartridges can be less than half the price of manufacturers originals. Remanufacturers have greater technical difficulties, higher costs and a smaller market share than Canon and HP. A typical problem is that the SureSupply information doesn't work, or isn't complete. Remanufactured cartridges are often recognisable in a machine, the cartridge doors will have a build-up of lose toner caused by poor electrostatics.

Users of these printers tend to be cost conscious, so the lower cost of compatible cartridges is often a conclusive argument for them.

Belt:

The printer also uses an electrostatic belt as part of the imaging process. This lasts through several changes of toner.

Note that replacing the ETB requires unplugging the printer and removing the side covers. Briefly:

  1. Pull the paper cassette right out of the machine
  2. Remove two screws from the right side cover
  3. Remove one screw from the left side cover
  4. Open the front door
  5. Remove the right side by twisting the front edge of the cover outward, there is a tab about halfway up that needs to release.
  6. Remove the left cover, there is a tab on the lower front corner that needs to be released.
  7. Squeeze the white plastic left hand side door link-lever to release it
  8. Remove the screw from the plastic catch on the right side
  9. Close the ETB, but leave the door open.
  10. Remove the cable connectors from the ETB to the chassis and undo the grounding screw
  11. Pull out the white HT wire from it's connector
  12. Remove the ETB hinge screws on both sides
  13. Remove the hinge cams on both sides
  14. The old ETB should now lift free
  15. Align the new ETB with its screw holes at the base, taking care to avoid contact with the belt itself.
  16. Screw in the right side first
  17. Work back through the steps, remembering to plug the connectors back into the holes they came from. Reassemble the machine before plugging it back in.

The full procedure for both ETB and Fuser can be found in the service manual. Use Google to search for Q7821-90930 or buy a manual from one of the websites specialising in such things.

Fuser:

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.

The fuser for the CLJ 2605 is located in the top front portion of the printer and to get at it the side panels, top trim and the top of the printer have to be removed. Whilst this is just a screwdriver job the machine must be disconnected from the power outlet and it does require a bit of experience of computer and printer repair. See the CLJ 1600 page for details. Laser-Pros International have a specific note on the 2605 called "HP 2600/2605 Fuser and ETB Installation Instructions"

There are two fuser versions depending on whether the printer is a duplex model

Spares:

The general construction of the printer is similar to that of the CLJ 1600 and CLJ 2600 and many of the parts are common.

There is no drop-down multipurpose tray which is normally tray-1 on an HP laser printer, just a single sheet bypass slot into the main cassette (see above) .

RM1-1922 Separation Pad for tray 2 & 3 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 (clips onto a holder on the shaft) - RC1-5440-000CN

RM1-1975, DC Controller for CLJ 1600/2600N only (not 2605) 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 (code recognised but no information)

RM1-1983, Control Panel for LaserJet 1600/2600N (not 2605) was RM1-1983-000 now - RM1-1983-050CN

RM1-1945, Cassette tray 3 (250 sheets) for CLJ 1600/ 2600N/ CM1017MFP -(2605 not mentioned) RM1-1945-080CN

RM1-1925, Cassette Tray for 250 sheets) for CLJ 1600/ 2600N/ 2605/ 2605DN/ CM1015MFP/ CM1017MFP - RM1-1925-000CN

RM1-1859, Output Tray Extender / delivery tray for CLJ 1600/ 2600N/ 2605, RM1-1859-020CN

Also note

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.

A Separation pad and pickup rollers Q5956-67902 is listed by some sources - it seems to be a myth.

Options and Accessories:

HP 250-sheet Paper Tray for the CLJ 1600, 2600N, CM1015MFP and CM1017MFP ( not applicable for 2605dtn which has the tray in the pack) - Q6459A

Copyright G Huskinson & MindMachine Associates Ltd 2012