HP Original Toners

Fuser

Spares

HP Color LaserJet 5500

The HP Color LaserJet 5500 wide format printer is a high speed, wide format colour printer capable of printing paper sizes larger than A3 and producing double sided printing.

The printer gets its speed using a set of four inline cartridges. Each of the four process colours transfers onto the page in turn as it rises up through the printer. The mechanism resembles that used in the CLJ 4600 - the main difference is that this printer is larger.

The print path can handle 312x470mm media somewhat larger than A3 and - just over 12 x 18 inches.

Print cartridges are large, with a 12,000 page capacity. Together with the 120,000 page life transfer belt and 150,000 page life of the fuser makes these printers fairly economic to run. The fusers heat up quickly from powersave so idle power consumption can be fairly low as well at 49 watts. (HP don't claim these printers are "instant on")

Models are:

  • Color LaserJet 5500 Printer C9656A - Base model
  • Color LaserJet 5500n Printer C7131A - adds network input ability
  • Color LaserJet 5500dn Printer C9657A - duplex and network
  • Color LaserJet 5500dtn Printer C9658A - duplex, extra tray, network +160MB RAM
  • Color LaserJet 5500hdn Printer C9659A -duplex, extra 3x trays, network, 160MB RAM + hard disk.

There isn't a direct predecessor for the CLJ 5500. It was a new design when it was introduced in autumn 2002.

The successor model was the CLJ 5550 which has a similar build but improved specification - faster processor, more memory, ImageREt 3600 etc. The CLJ 5550 was on sale through to 2010.

There is no direct descendant today. a rough equivalent in terms of performance might be the CP5225 which handles A3 at 20 pages per minute but has a cartridge life of just 7,000 pages. The CP6015 has cartridges with a yield of 21,000 pages and a speed of 40 pages per minute. Although it is faster it is aimed at the same sort of "production" jobs the CLJ 5500 and CLJ 5550 used to excel at.

From the early part of 2010 HP have suggested they will phase out parts for the CLJ 5500 - they have moved it to "no longer supported" status. Most supplies are still available in UK distribution in mid 2011.

Whilst it is no longer possible to buy these printers new they still do a very good job. Colour photographs on plain paper equal or exceed those in most magazines. Memory can be increased to 416MB so there will be few jobs these printers struggle to produce.

Control:

LCD graphical control panel with up to 4 lines of text and animated graphics. The menus are quite complex and include diagnostics for many individual components. If the user and service manuals are not to hand the printer is able to print out the menu structure. As well as control panel support there is an HP Embedded web server and HP Web Jetadmin.

Duty Cycle:

HP claim a duty cycle up to 120,000 pages per month, indicating that it's a robust printer. Normal production would be several thousand pages per month. A typical use is production of staff newsletters, brochures, sales collateral or in a drafting office to provide project documentation.

Up to 21pages per minute on US-letter and A4 sized media. A3 at 11 ppm. Transparencies 4 ppm.Coldstart to ready 2 minutes. 45 seconds to wake from powersave. First page out in 18 seconds in ready state. If the printer seems slow on particualr jobs increase that may be solved by increasing the memory. As shipped the printer has 96MB RAM which can be increased to 416MB.

From the engine 600x600dpi. Enhanced using HP ImageREt 2400. Supports colour management systems based on ICC profiles.

Like all laser printers these don't have the colour gamut possible with a 6 or 10 colour inkjet. People generally find these printers satisfactory for colour photos on plain paper.

Paper Handling:

Base model has tray 1 + 2, options support tray 3, tray 4 and a duplexer.Printing is not full-bleed. Margins are 5 mm on A4 and on A3 the top and bottom margins are 5mm and left and right margins are 7.5mm.

  • Tray 1:Multipurpose tray 1: fold-down tray for up to 100 sheets of paper or 20 envelopes. Sizes from 77x127mm (3x5 in) to 312x470mm (12.5x18.5 in) Weight 60 to 200 g/m
  • Tray 2:Tray 2 built into the base: 500 sheets 148x210mm (5.8x8.3 in) up to 297x432mm (11.6x17 inches)
  • Tray 3 & 4:
    Optional Trays 3 + 4 install under the printer: 148x210mm to 297x432mm - specifications as for tray 2

Face Down:

Default paper output is to a face-down tray recessed into the top of the printer.

Duplex:

Duplex capability built in on the "D" models

Processor:

400MHz RISC

Memory:

96MB RAM basic, 416MB maximum. 3x 168 pin DIMM slots for 64, 128 or 256 MB DIMMs. Expandable to 416MB. Can take 10GB EIO hard disk.

Interface:

Interfaces 3 x EIO slots, IEEE-1284 Parallel, Fast Infrared FIR connection.

Network:

Network versions are normally fitted with an HP JetDirect 615N. JetDirects 660n, 610n, 615n and 680n are compatible.

Network Protocols:

DLC/LLC, IP Direct Mode, LPD, IPP, NDPS, FTP Printing, iPrint.

HP PCL 6, HP PCL 5c, PostScript Level 3. Automatic language switching.

System Compatability:

Drivers included for MS Windows 9x, NT, XP, Apple Mac OS 8.6 and higher. There are downloadable drivers for OS/2 Unix and Linux.

Power:

110 and 220 Volt models.

C9656-69022 - HV Power Supply -C9656-69022

RG5-6809 - LV Power Supply - RG5-6809-080CN

Power Consumptions:

Off 0.15 watts max, Powersave 49 watts max, ready 55 watts max, Printing 592 watts max.

Dimensions:

577x704x640mm

Weight:

60KG - these are heavy machines. The manuals recommend four people carrying the machine and two people will certainly be needed to deal with the weight and bulk.

Big colour laser printers generally need a strong, stable surface to stand on. If a desk sags under the weight of the printer then some stress transfers into the printer metalwork and the small distortion can cause misfeeds and other problems.

Consumables:

The toner cartridges are designed for long lives, 13,000 pages for black C9730A and 12,000 pages each for the Cyan C9731A, Magenta C9733A and Yellow C9732A.

C9730A Black Print Cartridge, 13k pages - C9730A

C9731A Cyan Print Cartridge, 12k pages - C9731A

C9733A Magenta Print Cartridge, 12k pages - C9733A

C9732A Yellow Print Cartridge, 12k pages - C9732A

Refurbished cartridges are also available for this printer. Using refurbished cartridges reduces costs.

SI5046 Silver Reed Black Print Cartridge with Chip SI5046 Replaces OEM Code Q3960A.

SI5047 Silver Reed Cyan Print Cartridge with Chip SI5047 Replaces OEM Code C9731A.

SI5049 Silver Reed Magenta Toner Cartridge With Chip SI5049 Replaces OEM Code C9733A

SI5048 Silver Reed Yellow Toner Cartridge With Chip SI5048 Replaces OEM Code C9732A.

HP estimate that in typical use the cartridges will last about 3 months. Cartridge life may be limited to 2 years by the print cartridge chip.

Transfer Belt

C9734B HP Laserjet 5500/5550 Image Transfer Belt Kit (The same item is also known as RG5-7737-110CN and was known as C9734A (in the service manual), C9734-67901, C9656-69020, C9656-69011 and RG5-6696-110CN) Now mainly known as C9734B or C9734-67901.

The electrostatic transfer belt carries the paper past each of the print cartridges in turn building a layer of colour from each. As well as carrying the pages the transfer belt is also responsible for carrying the voltages that control how much toner transfers. When the printer calibrates it prints temporary marks direct onto the belt.

The belt hinges down from the front when the printer front cover is open so that users can access the print cartridges. The belt should not be touched when the assembly is open and cartridges and other items should not be placed on it. A scuff or puncture is likely to have an impact on print quality.

The belt needs replacing after something like 120,000 pages. (The exact replacement time depends on the pattern of useage. The printer control panel will prompt for a replacement). Replacement is simple; the belt has two blue release catches near the hinges. Hold the belt assembly by its sides and pull up on the release catches then lift the belt away.

The same belt is used by the CLJ 5500 and the CLJ 5550.

Fuser:

Fusers come in two variants to suit the local mains power. The 220 Volt version for European and UK models is C9736A. The 120 Volt version is C9735A (US models). Fuser life is estimated at 150,000 pages, the exact life will depend on page-cover and useage patterns.

C9736A Fuser 220 Volts. Part C9736A provides a fuser and a multi-lingual instruction guide. The fuser has also been known as RG5-6701-000CN which is given in the service manual, then as RG5-6701-310CN and also as C9656-69019. The shortest and most widely understood code is probably C9736A.

C9735A Fuser 110 Volts. C9735A (also known as RG5-6848-300CN) - (Not usually sold in the UK)

These fusers fit the CLJ 5500, 5500n, 5500dn, 5500dtn and 5500hdn,

Note that the fuser for the CLJ 5550 is different!

If the fuser for the CLJ 5500 series ceases to be available from HP they should still be obtainable as refurb units for some time. It is possible that a manufacturer of compatible devices might step in and provide supplies.

The fuser is user changeable. It is secured by two large thumb-screws and then lifts straight up. There is a connector towards the users right (printer left) and the fuser may need to be eased up here. Changing the Fuser

Spares:

RY7-5097 Roller Kit fitting Trays 2, 3 & 4. The kit contains 3 rollers: an RF5-3340 which is the small roller with a cog like pattern and two RF5-3340 feed/separation rollers. Each roller clips into place. Used in the CLJ 5500 and CLJ 5550. Part Number: RY7-5097-000CN

RF5-3865 - MP Tray 1 Separation Pad for HP 5500. This actually fits in the front of the paper cassette but handles paper from the multipurpose tray. Used in the CLJ 5500 and CLJ 5550. Part Number- RF5-3865-020CN

RG9-1529 - MP Tray 1 Paper Pickup roller for HP 5500. Again this fits in the front of the cassette but handles paper from the multipurpose tray. Used in the CLJ 5500 and CLJ 5550 as well as the 4600/4650 series. Part Number - RG9-1529-000CN

RF5-3340 - Pick Up Roller (2 used) - RF5-3340-000CN

RG5-6647 - Standard 500-sheet paper cassette tray. Tray 2 cassette. As tray 2 this slides into the bottom of the printer. Older trays often have broken clips that might contribute to misfeeds. Used in the CLJ 5500 and CLJ 5550. Part Number - RG5-6647-210CN

RF5-3338 - Feed / Separation Roller used in many of HP's larger printers. One roller mounts in the top of the printer hanging down, the other in the tray held up by a spring, they just clip into place. Used in the CLJ 5500 and CLJ 5550 as well as the 9000/9040 series. Part Number - RF5-3338-000CN

RG5-6780 - Tray 1 MP Tray Assembly. This is the fold down tray on the front of the printer. A combination of ageing brittle plastic and vulnerability to knocks leads to breakages. Fitting the tray is a matter of easing plastic clips into place. Used in the CLJ 5500 and CLJ 5550. Part Number - RG5-6780-090CN

RG5-6736 - Laser Scanner Assembly for the CLJ 5500. A separate scanner is used for each print cartridge. They are held in a stack and accessible with the formatter and the rear bulkhead removed. Changing a scanner should only be done with reference to the service manual. Scanners do fail, but not very often - suspect other things first. Used in the CLJ 5500 only. RG5-6736-000CN

RG5-7681 - Laser Scanner Assembly. There are four scanners in the machine, one for each colour. They are held in a stack and accessible with the formatter and the rear bulkhead removed. Changing a scanner should only be done with reference to the service manual. Scanners do fail, but not very often - suspect other things first. Used in the CLJ 5550 only. Part Number - RG5-7681-060CN

RG5-6670 Tray 2 Paper Pickup Assembly for HP Laserjet 5500. The first approach to fixing paper feed problems is to check and change the pickup and feed rollers. If this doesn't solve the problem try cleaning the inside of the pickup and feed unit. If this still fails the unit is easily changed, not particularly expensive and highly likely to solve the problem. Used in the CLJ 5500 only. Was known as RG5-6670-000CN and now RG5-6670-220CN.

RG5-7709 - Tray 2 Paper Pick Up Assembly used in the CLJ 5550 series. Part Number - RG5-7709-160CN

RG5-6770 - Paper Cassette Tray 3-4 500 sheets. Used in the CLJ 5500 and CLJ 5550. Part Number- RG5-6770-180CN

RG5-6748 - Tray 3 - 4 Paper Pick Up Assembly. This includes the base structure, drive gears, sensors and rollers. Used in the CLJ 5500 and CLJ 5550.- RG5-6748-120CN

RG5-6809 LV Power Supply. The low voltage power supply converts line power to something more useful within the printer. The LVPS provides power for the logic electronics in the DC controller and formatter, for the motors, the fuser control board and the HV power supply. The power supply module is in the lower rear of the printer. There are two internal fuses. It is unusual for a DC power supply to fail however if it does so there may be no control panel messages and lights. The same LV-PSU unit is used in the CLJ 5500 and CLJ 5550. The 120V PSU is RG5-6808. The 220V PSU is RG5-6809-080CN.

C9660-69011 Formatter PC Board - For simplex printers only. (Partsurfer says this fits the 5500 and 4600)

RG5-7992-000CN Fuser power supply PC Board - 220/240 volt. CLJ 5500 and CLJ 5550. (RG5-7991 is 110V)

J6057A JetDirect 615N Ethernet Print Server. 10/100 TX LAN interface using RJ45 connector. Fits in one of the printers 3 EIO slots. Can be used in the CLJ 5500 and CLJ 5550. Other JetDirects that fit include the 620N, 625N and 680N - J6057A

Copyright G & J Huskinson & MindMachine Associates Ltd 2013, 2015. Some pictures derived from HP User and Service guides. These technical pages do not constitute an offer for sale; just our knowledge at the time of writing. See the catalog. Sales pages on this Web site use cookies to store user information. We also use Google Analytics to track site usage patterns.