HP Color LaserJet 5 Series

The HP Color laserjet 5 series has been discontinued for some time. Its a bulky machine and slow - just 3 pages per minute in colour at 300dpi - so inkjets will often prove faster.

The mechanism is rather peculiar as well, it can handle 11x17 inch pages - A3 - but only in mono and on purchase of a special tray. Colour print is US-letter / A4.

Models were:

• HP Color LaserJet 5n Printer (C3095A)
• HP Color LaserJet 5 Printer (C3961A)
• HP Color LaserJet 5m Printer (C3962A)

These printers are obsolete and it's doubtful that anyone is still using one. It is listed here for completeness.

Control:

VFD display and menu buttons

Print Speed:

10ppm mono and 3ppm colour

Print Resolution:

600x600 dpi black 300x300 dpi colour

Paper Handling:

Basically an A4 printer with mono A3 ability

Tray 1:  Multifunction tray to100 sheets A4 (210x297mm)

Tray 2:  250 sheets A4

With accessory tray can handle A3 11x17 inches. (275x350 mm)

Processor:

AMD Am29040 at 40MHz.

Memory:

RAM is 20MB basic 84MB Max as 72 pin SIMM. There are 4 slots, 3 free on a basic unit.

Interface:

Parallel IEEE-1284. Serial RS232.

Network:

Apple LocalTalk mini-DIN. MIO slot with RJ45 & BNC

Print Languages:

PCL 5 as standard, PostScript level 2 is available as an option, provided on a SIMM

System Compatability:

Aimed at PC but with the PostScript option can be used by any system.

Dimensions:

Enormous considering what it does.

Consumables:

Toner is in bottles that load powder into hoppers.

C3105A Black toner for HP Color LaserJet /5/ 5N/ 5M/ 5N - C3105A

C3102A Cyan toner for HP Color LaserJet /5/ 5N/ 5M/ 5N - C3102A

C3104A Magenta toner for HP Color LaserJet /5/ 5N/ 5M/ 5N - C3104A

C3103A Yellow toner for HP Color LaserJet /5/ 5N/ 5M/ 5N - C3103A

Spares:

HP has discontined the parts for the Color LaserJet and LaserJet 5 series, so remaining parts come from dismantled printers. Other manufacturers may supply toner. The main problem keeping these machines running will be lack of OPC kits. Given that a low priced inkjet occupying a quarter the desk-space will outperform one of these monsters they seem to be conclusively obsolete.

Service:

Repair and service options for these printers are limited, parts are not likely to be be available except from surplus machines and whilst scrap machines may be available they are too heavy to be shipped.

Professional repair is not recommended for these printers. The bottled toner might potentially make them cheap to operate but their speed would be outpaced by most inkjets.

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