What does a flashing drum light mean on Brother printer?

Brother HL-1110 - Reset Drum

After changing a DR1050 drum unit in a Brother HL-1110, the printer’s page count needs to be reset. This will turn off the drum warning light on the printer.

Simply open the front cover, and press the power button four times, then close the front cover.

Brother HL-1110 - Change Toner Cartridge

Youtube Video: Change Toner Cartridge

Brother HL-1110 - Error Codes

  • Error light flashes orange once (1), ready light is green = Toner Low.
  • Error light flashes orange once (1), ready light is off = Toner Empty.
  • Error light flashes orange twice (2), ready light is off = Paper Jam.
  • Error light flashes orange three (3) times, ready light is green = Replace Drum Soon.
  • Error light is orange, ready light flashes green once (1) = Zero Cross Error.
  • Error light is orange, ready light flashes green twice (2) = High Voltage Failure.
  • Error light is orange, ready light flashes green five (5) times = Laser Unit Failure.
  • Error light is orange, ready light flashes green six (6) times = Main Motor Failure.
  • Error light is orange, ready light flashes green seven (7) times, then four (4) times = Main PCB Failure.

Brother HL-1110 - Printer Settings Page

  • Press the power button three (3) times.

Brother HL-1110 - Continue Mode

The printer normally requires the toner cartridge to be changed before all of the toner has been used. This is to ensure the quality of the print stays high. Putting the printer in to "Continue Mode" will use all of the remaining toner in cartridge. The print will eventually start to fade, and quality will become poor.

  • Press the power button seven (7) times to enter "Continue Mode".
  • Press the power button seven (7) times again to cancel "Continue Mode".

Some laser printers, including many business-oriented black and white and color units, use an imaging drum that is separate from the toner cartridge. The drum is coated with a chemical that develops a charge when light strikes it, making toner stick to it. Over time, imaging drums break down and lose their effectiveness and require replacement. To signal you that your drum is nearing the end of its life, your printer's drum light will flash. Once it starts doing this, you should obtain a new drum so that you can replace the old one before the printer stops working or its print quality declines.

HP Color LaserJet 2550, 2500 and 1500 Series Drum Replacement Procedure

Step 1

Flip the "Power" switch to turn the printer on. Wait for it to warm up.

Step 2

Open the printer's top cover by lifting its front edge up and rotating it vertically.

Step 3

Push the old imaging drum slightly away from you and lift it upward to remove it from the printer.

Step 4

Wipe any dust or debris off of the clear plastic strip that sits inside the printer under where the drum was. Use a dry microfiber cloth to avoid leaving deposits or scratches on the plastic.

Step 5

Remove the new drum from its plastic bag, set it down and pull the orange rings and orange shipping spacers away from the drum. Rotate and then pull the orange locks on the two ends of the drum assembly to remove them from the cartridge.

Step 6

Lift the orange protective cover away from the imaging drum surface.

Step 7

Lower the new drum into the printer by lining up its white rollers with the arrow markings inside the printer. You might need to use a little bit of force to properly seat it.

Step 8

Close the printer's top cover.

Step 9

Press the "Go" button on the printer's main control panel and wait for its "Ready" light to turn on.

Brother HL-2035 Series Drum Replacement Procedure

Step 1

Open the printer's front cover by placing your hands on either side of the printer and rotating it down. The printer should be turned on for this process.

Step 2

Reset the blinking drum light by holding down the printer's "Go" button for approximately four seconds. Do not release it until the four light-emitting diode indicator lights on the printer's control panel light up.

Step 3

Pull the combined drum and toner assembly out of the printer. It should come straight out.

Step 4

Remove the toner cartridge from the drum assembly. Press down on the blue lever to release the cartridge. Set it down carefully since it is full of toner and can spill.

Step 5

Remove the new drum unit from its packaging.

Step 6

Replace the toner cartridge in the new assembly by putting it back in the same space it occupied in the old assembly. When you have it correctly oriented, you will hear it lock and you will see the blue lever lift up.

Step 7

Insert the drum and toner assembly black into the printer and shut the front cover.

Dell 1710 Drum Replacement Procedure

Step 1

Press the printer's "Power" button to turn it on.

Step 2

Press the large release button in the upper-left corner of the printer's front panel to lower the front cover.

Step 3

Grab the handle on the toner cartridge assembly and use it to pull the cartridge out of the printer.

Step 4

Press the button below the handle on the base of the cartridge assembly and, with your other hand, use the handle to pull the toner cartridge away from the drum assembly.

Step 5

Remove the new drum from its packing materials.

Step 6

Slide the toner cartridge into the toner assembly by lining up the white rollers on the cartridge with the corresponding slots, which are marked with white arrows. Once you have them lined up, push the cartridge into the drum assembly until it clicks.

Step 7

Insert the cartridge and drum assembly back into the printer. To do this, line up the blue arrows on the assembly with the blue arrows inside the printer and slide the cartridge in until it stops.

Step 8

Hold the printer's "Cancel" button until all of the lights on its control panel flash in a sequence. This will reset the drum counter.

References

Tips

  • The procedures in this article work for the specific model numbers identified. The process may also work for similar printers. The best way to be sure that you are using the correct procedure for your printer is to follow the one in its owner's manual or user guide.
  • Consider covering your windows if you are changing the drum on a sunny day. This will protect the components from intense light.
  • When you take the drum assembly out of your printer, place it on a piece of paper or put it in the packaging that came with your new drum. Doing this will help to prevent any remaining toner from making a mess.

Warnings

  • Do not touch the surface of the imaging drum -- your fingerprints can ruin it.
  • Do not expose the imaging drum to light for more than 15 seconds because light can damage it.

Writer Bio

Steve Lander has been a writer since 1996, with experience in the fields of financial services, real estate and technology. His work has appeared in trade publications such as the "Minnesota Real Estate Journal" and "Minnesota Multi-Housing Association Advocate." Lander holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Columbia University.

Image Credit

John Foxx/Stockbyte/Getty Images

How do I fix the drum error on my Brother printer?

FAQs & Troubleshooting.
The corona wires have become dirty. Clean the corona wires in the drum unit. ... .
The drum unit or the toner cartridge and drum unit assembly is not installed correctly. Reinstall the toner cartridge and drum unit assembly. ... .
If the issue still continues, the drum unit is at the end of its life..

How do you reset the drum light on a Brother printer?

FAQs & Troubleshooting.
Close the front cover..
Make sure the machine is turned on..
Press. (Settings). ... .
Press All Settings. (This step might be skipped in some models.).
Choose Machine Info. or Machine Information => Parts Life..
Press and hold Drum or Drum Life until the machine's display message changes..
Press Yes..
Press..

How do I fix the blinking light on my Brother printer?

When all the lights are flashing together, turn the printer power OFF, wait 5 seconds and then turn the printer power ON again. If the error continues, disconnect the interface cable from the back of the printer and use the following steps to reset the printer: Turn the printer off.

Why is the orange light flashing on my Brother printer?

The LED light starts flashing in orange once every 0.5 seconds and the printer enters the Cooling mode.