HP Laserjet 4V

HP LaserJet 4V (C3141A)

A wide-format laser printer with A3 (US B-size) capabilities dating from 1994. The design is based on the Canon BX-II engine. Apparently HP did not like the original BX design and wouldn't adopt it although QMS and several others did.

• LaserJet 4V - C3141A - Enhanced PCL 5
• LaserJet 4MV - C3142A - PCL and PostScript Version.

The design places the fuser in the front door - it didn't prove too unreliable but it hasn't been repeated or widely copied.

In February 2014 we were asked for a pickup roller for tray 2 but could not find them in distribution any more - nor do there seem to be any new compatibles. A bit of further investigation showed that there are a few vendors with refilled cartridges on Amazon, so there are still a few 20 year old printers out there!

Parts like laser-scanners and fusers could legitimately be sourced from older machines, but getting rollers that way would not be reliable. Our first approach to getting really old rollers going is to turn the rubber over. Platen cleaner might help extract a bit more like as well.

We wonder whether frustrated 4MV owners could resurface old rollers with rubber compound - it doesn't work all that well for car tyres but printer tyres aren't under so much stress.

Control:

16 character VFD control panel with reasonably easy to use menus.

Duty Cycle:

The manual says 35,000 pages per month, but other sources say 50,000. The difference is not really a matter of concern as attempting to use any HP printer to it's official rated life will cost a fortune in cartridges and fusers.

Print Speed:

Throughput up to 16 pages per minute for letter and A4 and 8 pages per minute for leger and A3. Maximum page size 11x17 inches.

Print Resolution:

600 dpi Resolution enhanced by REt.

Paper Handling:

An "A3" 11x17 paper path.

The multipurpose tray has 100 sheet capacity of 64 to 105 gsm paper ,Standard sizes are A3, A4, B4, B5, Letter, Legal and Executive.

Minimum paper size is 100x148mm. Maximum is 297x450mm

Standard Cassettes take 250 sheets, Letter/A4 - C3160A ,Ledger/A3 - C3161A

Optional Cassettes include the 500 sheet C3760A which is adjustable for A4, A3, letter, legal etc.

Face Down:

Default paper delivery is to the face-down tray.

Memory:

4 megabytes base memory, 68MB maximum. The 4MV model with PostScript has 12 MB as shipped and a 44MB maximum. The printer uses Memory Enhancement Technology (MEt) to improve performance with limited RAM. There is (was) an optional disk accessory C3295A - its just 42.8MB.

Interface:

Parallel IEEE 1284 "Bitronics". MIO slot for network cards.

Network:

The MIO slot could take various cards including token-ring and ethernet options.

Print Languages:

Enhanced PCL 5. The "4MV" model includes Adobe PostScript Level 2

Power Consumption:

There are two models, 100 to 120 VAC and 220 to 240 VAC. In power save mode consumption is about 38 watts. In power save consumption is about 120 Watts. Printing consumption is 400 Watts.

Dimensions:

Basic machine 460x590x300mm

Consumables:

An all in one cartridge containing the toner, developer and drum.

Toner Cartridge for 4MV. Yield 7,500 pages at 5% cover. - C3900A

Fuser:

Fusing Assembly 220V - RG5-1406

Fusing Assembly 120V - RG5-1420

Spares:

Pickup Roller - RB1-1411-000

250 sheet replacement cassette letter/ A4 - C3160A

250 sheet replacement cassette ledger/ A3 - C3161A

500 sheet replacement cassette for base unit. Adjusts for A3, A4 etc. - C3761A