Digital BW, The Print

I own an Epson 4880, which I use for colour and B&W (via ABW) on matte papers. After going through a 110ml and a 220ml set of colour inks (plus more black ink), I got up the courage to try MIS refillable cartridges and their "K3" inkset. (500ml of MIS ink costs less than 220ml of Epson ink.)

After about a month using the MIS inks, we experienced a power outage following a mild snowstorm. When the power was restored, the 4880 started up again and asked me whether I wanted to do a "Power Clean". I agreed, and it went through the process, finally informing me that it was not successful.  The printhead test blocks of colour seemed to show that the clogging was getting worse as the test progressed.

I cursed my decision to thumb my nose at Epson, and ordered a complete set of 220ml cartridges --- at a bottom line cost, including shipping and taxes, of just over $1000 Canadian!  Ouch!

I tried one more thing with the "clogged" 4880:  I started a Power Clean (via the menu on the printer) and then after only ten seconds or so I unplugged the printer. After letting it sit for a minute, I plugged it in again and turned it on. It started the Power Clean process again from the beginning, and I let it continue. It did not report any errors when it finished, and test prints showed no problems.

I do not know whether the sudden resolution of the clogged-head problem was the result of simply running a second Power Clean or of doing an unorthodox "cold reboot". Were it not for the time when the problem started (immediately following a power outage) I would think it was the former.

Does anyone know how to "cold reboot" or "reset" the newer Epson printers? Or does the question make any sense for printers?

Myron