What is a "duty cycle" on a printer?

[Bob Weisner]

Does anyone know what a "duty cycle" is on a inkjet printer? Does it mean that after 3000 pages or so, that the printer needs to be replaced?

Thanks,

Bob

[Chuck Wintle]

It should last longer, much much longer, than 3000 pages. Normally the ink cartridges go dry and will need replacing every so often, and they can be expensive.

[Jamie Buxton]

Generally duty cycle means "what precentage of time the device is operating". Devices which heat up in operation, and need time to cool off, have duty cycle limits.

[Brian Austin]

Generally duty cycle means "what precentage of time the device is operating". Devices which heat up in operation, and need time to cool off, have duty cycle limits.
In motor and electrical terms, you are correct. In the computer world, however, it can mean different things.

For a printer, duty cycle typically refers to one of two things.

1. If referring to a printer itself, it's the typical number of pages within a time period (usually a month). Most home printers have a duty cycle of 2-3,000 pages per month. "Workgroup" printers will typically be 10,000+ while enterprise printers will usually exceed 25,000 pages per month.

Can you exceed the duty cycle of a printer with no harm done? Of course. But consider that most home printers have plastic gears/wearable parts and generally aren't designed to handle the workload of the bigger printers. If that's an important consideration, choose your printer carefully.

2. If referring to a cartridge (laser or ink), it's the number of pages you can expect out of the cartridge. This is usually caveated with a percentage of of coverage (ie a typical 8.5x11 typed paper has about 5% coverage). The cartridges will probably last longer since the numbers given are usually averages. FYI, some printers will scream "Replace cartridge" not based on actual contents but a counter that resets when the cartridge is replaced.

[Randy Meijer]

.....Normally the ink cartridges go dry and will need replacing every so often, and they can be expensive.Painfully true!! The cartridge for my printer(an HP) is about $30 and it takes one for B&W and one for color. I buy refill kits off eBay and pay less than the cost of one cartridge for a kit that will give me about 10 refils!!! The process is fairly simple; but you must be cautious as you can make a SERIOUS mess if you are careless!!!