Refill Instructions
HP Number 02 Cartridges

Updated October 24, 2006

Many HP Deskjet Printers, Officejets, Printer/Scanner/Copiers, and Certain Plotters.

These instructions apply to all of the HP #02 inkjet cartridge family.

C8721WN
C8771WN
C8772WN
C8773WN
C8774WN
C8775WN

#363 C8721E
#177 C8721H
#801 C8721Z

WARNING: Failure to follow these instructions precisely can ruin your printer!
It is vital that you do not let a refilled #02 cartridge run out of ink!
These cartridges contain a microchip which counts the amount of ink used. Under normal conditions, the cartridge is replaced when the ink has been used. A normal cartridge will still have ink remaining when the level reads "ink out". This is important because the printer does not have a backup method of determining when the cartridge is out of ink! When you refill the cartridge, the ink level display will no longer be accurate. You can't trust the display with a refilled cartridge!
If the cartridge truly runs out of ink, air will be pulled into the printhead, possibly causing a "fatal printer error". Therefore, it is important to not let your refilled cartridges run out of ink!
Let us emphasize one more time: You must not let the refilled cartridges run out of ink!
If this warning concerns you, we suggest that you purchase a remanufactured cartridge, which contains a new microchip and will be able to give proper ink level readings.

Refilling the #02 cartridge

Refilling this set of cartridges is a very simple procedure.

Theory

The #02 cartridge design is quite simple. It is an empty plastic shell with a microchip. We will make a hole into the top of the cartridge, fill the empty ink chamber completely, and seal the hole airtight. These cartridges can be refilled many times successfully.

Inks

#02 Inks

Vivera is the tradename used by HP for their excellent, long-lasting set of inks which is used in these cartridges. Naturally, we do not sell Vivera inks -- since that is the brand name used by HP -- but we have inks which are compatible with these cartridges. Our inks match the Vivera ink appearance within 3 percent. In practical terms, this means that ordinary people do not notice any difference between our inks and the Vivera inks, but graphic artists and professional photographers (those people who see eleven shades of yellow) will notice a minor difference. You may also notice a difference in performance on high gloss paper - our inks work better on some papers and worse on other papers than the original HP inks.

WJ1010 Pigmented Black
WJ244 Cyan
WJ6053 Magenta
WJ7006 Yellow
WJ2033 Light Cyan
WJ6077 Light Magenta

Instructions

WARNING: Letting your refilled cartridge run out of ink can ruin your printer!

Put the cartridge on some paper towels in an area where you can tolerate a spill. Working over a sink is a good idea.
Look at the top of the cartridge. Locate the small dimple on top.
Melt a hole through the plastic into the main chamber. (The exact location is not critical, but we suggest making the hole through the dimple.) We suggest using a soldering iron or wood-burning tool. If you don't have one, take a large paper clip or small nail to a flame, heat it up, and melt your hole with this item. Be sure to hold the nail or paper clip with pliers or something similar since it will get hot! Do not drill this hole since the shavings will clog the ink flow.
Take the syringe, fill with ink from the ink bottle. Tip the bottle slightly sideways to fill the syringe.
On this cartridge, it is important to fill the cartridge completely full.
Remove your needle from your syringe. Set aside the needle.
Seal the hole airtight! A good way to do this is to use a dab of hot glue. Another solution may be to use black vinyl electrical tape. But don't use masking tape or ordinary "scotch" tape, since these don't form an airtight seal.
Set above a paper towel for a few minutes as a drip precaution. Do not allow the cartridge to touch the paper, since the paper will draw out the ink.
For best results, let sit overnight before using to make sure it doesn't leak.
For longterm storage, store in a zip lock bag.

Ongoing Issues

Remember that this printer does not know when you are getting low on ink. Therefore, is important that you check your cartridges regularly to see if the ink level is getting low. If you see a cartridge getting low on ink, refill it.

Cartridge Capacity

According to HP materials, the black cartridge has a theorectical printing capacity of 480 pages, while the color cartridge have a capacity of 350 pages. But be warned: this capacity is under an ideal printing situation, usually measured by normal business letters. If you are printing graphics or photos, you may only be able to print a few dozen pages -- perhaps less than 30 or 40 pages. Don't rely upon the printer to know enough to stop when it is out of ink! Check your ink levels regularly.

To Clean the Cartridge

On occasion, a cartridge may need to be cleaned. Use warm water -- not alcohol or any other petroleum solvent. These inks are water-based, so the best cleaner is simply warm water. A cartridge may be rinsed out if necessary.

To Clean Your Sink

The ink is water-soluble. Use plenty of soap and warm water. You may also need to use Comet or a similar cleaner if the stains persist.

To Clean Your Hands

On hands, the best substance to use is Ink Be Gone^TM, a specially developed hand cleaner available from ACSI Bulk Inks. (To place an order, Click Here.)

To Place An Ink Order

You can telephone us at 1-888-728-2465 (USA Tollfree) or 1+740-374-9949. You can also Order Online or by other ways including by Fax, or by Postal Mail, or by EMAIL.

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Refill Instructions HP Number 02 Cartridges