HP Original Cartridges

(The "X" size won't fit the M601)

Reliable Remanufactured Cartridges

500 Sheet Stacker

HP CE404A 500 sheet Stacker for HP LJ-M601 (and P4014).

HP Part CE404A is the 500 sheet Stacker for HP Laserjet Enterprise 600 M601. The stacker gives an extra output bin with a capacity of 500 sheets as well as the ordinary 600 sheet face-down bin. The stacker allows people to pay less attention to the printer, knowing their job will be there when it is wanted .

The CE404A was launched with the M601, M602 and M603 series printers in mind. It is also backward compatible and can be used with the P4014, P4015 and P4515 printers.

The stacker doesn't need any secific other devices to work, however it is a likely accompaniement to the CE398A 1500 sheet High Capacity Input.   Alternative output devices are the CE405A 500-sheet stacker stapler or CE997A 5bin Mailbox.   They do cost more.

Installation

Output accessories all install on the top rear of the printer. The printer should be turned off.   Removing the accessory cover reveals holes for the accessory legs, an electronic connector for the power and control bus and a mechanical linkage by which the accessory controls whether output goes normally to the face-down bin or up into the accessory. Accessories like the stacker just lift into place. When the printer is turned back on, printing a configuration page should list the new accessory. Keep the accessory cover - if you move an output device it will be wanted. They can be bought as RC2-2459 for less than £10 - but then there is the courier to pay.

The printer discovers new accessories automatically, as might be expected. However methods for a printer to report confiuration to computer operating systems are fairly new so the operating system printer-driver may need to be informed manually. It then makes the new possibilities available to applications software.

Instructions to use the accessory usually come from the computer application, via the computer driver. The printer's own settings are a default. If there is an issue look for driver updates on HP, Microsoft, Apple or your Linux distribution's website.   DO NOT download drivers elsewhere - there are malicious sites embedding malware in what purport to be print drivers.

What HP Say

Overview

Improve workflow management and accommodate multiple users by upgrading your printer to automatic sheet stacking. Monitor your printer less frequently with convenient job sorting in the additional output bin.

Features

• Large 500 sheet tray expands your printer output capacity and accomodates multiple users' jobs.
• Save time finding your print job with jobs sorted into neat stacks.

HP Information

HP Partsurfer did not (seem to) provide any information on this part in 2013. However it needs persuasion using the part number "CE404-67901". It then gives minimal information and a "used in" list as follows.

Icecat says these stackers have one short product code CE404A and three GTINs (EAN/UPC) 0886111320097,8861113200976,5711045545412

Partsurfer appears to be misleading (as often happens). CE404A was introduced as the 500 sheet Stacker for HP Laserjet Enterprise 600 M601, M602, M603 series. A note on HP's website "HP LaserJet Enterprise M600 Printer Series - Accessory Compatibility" ( link) makes clear that the output accessories will work with what it calls the P4010/P4510 series but that if they have first been used on an M600 series printer they will give a "corrupt firmware" message on the older P4014, P4015 and P4515 and says "The firmware will need to be upgraded for the accessory to function" (Printer, accessory or both - it doesn't say).

As already noted there is a short code CE404A and a longer code CE404-67901. Phrases like "SKU: 1020710511 - 11200479" also seem to be associated.

Web Research

In 2013 and again in July 2015 we could find very little evidence of anyone repairing the stacker. The feed roller RM1-0253-020 is sometimes listed as a useful part - but although three distributors in the UK listed it in 2015 non had stock so it would probably be available on 7 day backorder.

A stacker is fairly expensive, but one of those things where it isn't sufficiently common to definitely merit building up expertise for repair. We suspect they may be more often replaced than repaired.

There is an entry to testing the stacker motor and solenoid in the printer's disgnostics.

A google Query on CE404A (in quotes") in August 2013 gave 11,900 results (0.14 seconds) with the first in organic search being as follows:

hp.com £223, hp.com $149.00, amazon.com $185.00, printware.co.uk £200.14, officecrave.com $162.99, adorama.com $190.39, printershowcase.com $169.00, hpshop.ie €230.18, pricegrabber.com Compubiz USA $153.00, pcrush.com $176.66, colorhexa.com irrelevant page, directdial.com $189, shop.digitec.ch CHF 274, shopmania.co.za R3.717, shopmania.co.za Phoenix Tech R3.650, laserjet.co.uk £179.17, printerworks.com refurb $91.88, printers-uk.com £ 205.52, costcentral.com $158.17, amazon.co.uk IvoryEgg Limited £274.09, orionmarket.com $157.08, fastprinters.com $193.05, c-nw.de 248,80 €, compsource.com $150.00, cdw.com $177.99, colorcodehex.com irrelevant page, idealo.de € 233.91, quikshiptoner.com $200.89, color-hex.com irrelevant page

Prices noted are for a new item, one off, without tax. The list is as encountered. We haven't bothered with currency conversion - half of our readers are outside the UK and are more interested in dollar prices.

None of the websites seen gave any further information on the product - two listings give irrelevant pages. No helpful blogs on this part. All the rest were merely vendors giving no more information than found in the HP brochure.

In July 2015 we noted that HP's UK store had a VAT and delivery inclusive price of £268.   HP seem to leave room for their trade partners to provide a better street price and we can improve on that.

Supply Situation

The part was listed by a few distributors in both 2013 and 2015 but only one holds stock. The stacker is one of those things that sells in small numbers to people .

We can provide these parts when required. The price was about £199 ex VAT in 2013 and rose fractionally to £202 in 2015.

Prices cited are guidelines for research and comparison; our prices change with distribution lists - see the catalog. Stock numbers indicate there is not much call for the part.

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 useage patterns.