How to Reset the Waste Ink Absorber on Epson WorkForce Pro WF-C5890

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How to Reset the Waste Ink Absorber on Epson WorkForce Pro WF-C5890 The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-C5890 uses a maintenance box to collect waste ink generated during operations such as print-head cleaning. Some users refer to this component as the waste ink absorber, ink absorber, or waste ink tank.

When the maintenance box reaches its service limit, the printer may display a message asking you to replace it. Epson specifies C9382 as the maintenance box for the WF-C5890.

What Is the Waste Ink Absorber?

During normal printer operation, some ink is discharged during print-head cleaning and other maintenance processes. Instead of allowing this ink to remain inside the printer, it is collected in the maintenance box.

The Epson WF-C5890 is designed to stop printing when the maintenance box reaches its absorbing capacity. This is intended to help prevent waste ink from leaking into the printer.V For this reason, a maintenance-box warning should not simply be ignored.

Epson WF-C5890 Maintenance Box Part Number

For the WF-C5890, the official maintenance-box code is: C9382
Epson also lists C12C938211 as the corresponding product/model number for the C9382 maintenance box. An important point is that Epson states that once a maintenance box has been installed in a printer, it cannot be used in another printer.

Can the Absorber Be Reset From the Printer Menu?

Unlike some older Epson printers, the WF-C5890 does not provide a simple documented LCD menu option specifically for resetting the maintenance-box counter.

The normal Epson procedure is to replace the maintenance box when it reaches the end of its service life. When the box is full, the printer will not allow printing or print-head cleaning until the maintenance box has been replaced.

Therefore, performing a factory reset from the printer's settings should not be considered a waste-ink absorber reset.

How to Replace the Maintenance Box

Before starting, make sure you have a new C9382 maintenance box available.

Step 1: Stop the printer
Make sure the printer is not printing or performing another operation.

Step 2: Open the maintenance-box compartment
Follow the instructions displayed on the printer's LCD screen. The WF-C5890 provides on-screen instructions for replacing the maintenance box.

Step 3: Remove the old maintenance box
Carefully pull the maintenance box out of the printer.

Do not tilt the used box because waste ink may leak from it. Epson also warns users not to disassemble the maintenance box.

Step 4: Install the new maintenance box
Insert the new C9382 maintenance box into its holder and push it firmly into position.

Do not touch the green IC chip on the maintenance box. Epson specifically warns that touching the chip can cause problems with normal operation.

Step 5: Close the cover
Close the maintenance-box cover and follow any instructions shown on the printer's LCD screen.

The printer should recognize the new maintenance box and allow normal printing again.

What If You Want to Reuse the Old Maintenance Box?

Some users choose to reset the chip on the maintenance box instead of replacing the entire unit. Third-party C9382 chip resetters are available and are sometimes used to reset the electronic counter on a maintenance box.

However, this is different from replacing the maintenance box.

A chip reset only changes the electronic status of the box; it does not physically remove the waste ink that has accumulated inside it. Therefore, reusing a full maintenance box can create a risk of ink leakage if its actual absorbing capacity has been reached.

For this reason, the safest solution is to replace the maintenance box with a new one.

How to Reset a C9382 Chip

If you are using a compatible C9382 chip resetter, the general process is:

1. Turn off the WF-C5890.
2. Remove the maintenance box carefully.
3. Locate the IC chip on the maintenance box.
4. Position the chip resetter correctly against the chip contacts.
5. Activate the resetter according to the resetter manufacturer's instructions.
6. Wait for the resetter's indicator to confirm the reset.
7. Reinstall the maintenance box.
8. Turn the printer on and check the maintenance-box status.
The exact procedure varies depending on the chip resetter model, so its manufacturer's instructions should be followed.

Important: Resetting the chip does not make a physically saturated maintenance box safe to use indefinitely. If the box is genuinely full of waste ink, replacement is recommended.

Maintenance Box vs. Factory Reset

These two procedures should not be confused.

A factory/default settings reset restores printer configuration settings such as network or general settings. It does not replace the physical maintenance box or necessarily reset its waste-ink counter.

A maintenance-box reset changes the electronic status associated with the waste-ink collection system.

If the printer specifically reports that the maintenance box is full or at the end of its service life, replacing the maintenance box is the officially supported solution.

Conclusion

The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-C5890 does not have a simple user-menu command for resetting the waste-ink absorber. The component commonly called the "absorber" is the printer's maintenance box, and Epson identifies C9382 as the appropriate maintenance box for this model.

For a reliable repair, the recommended procedure is to replace the maintenance box when the printer reports that it has reached its service limit. If a reusable maintenance box and chip resetter are being considered, remember that resetting the electronic chip does not remove the waste ink physically stored inside the box.

Always handle the maintenance box carefully, avoid touching its chip or openings, and keep the unit upright to minimize the risk of ink leakage.