Epson EcoTank ET-4850
Refillable ink tank multifunction. Very low running cost, but it needs regular use to stay healthy.
On this page
1. Specifications 2. Installation 3. Drivers and network 4. Maintenance schedule 5. Common faults1. Specifications
| Type | Colour inkjet multifunction, refillable tanks |
|---|---|
| Functions | Print, copy, scan, fax |
| Print speed | Up to 15 ppm mono, 8 ppm colour |
| Resolution | 4800 x 1200 dpi |
| Duplex | Automatic print |
| Paper handling | 250-sheet tray, 30-sheet ADF |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet, USB |
| Ink | Four bottles: black, cyan, magenta, yellow |
| Display | 2.4 inch colour touch panel |
2. Installation
- Fill every tank to the upper line before the first power-on. The bottles are keyed, so they only fit the right tank.
- Run the initial charging cycle and do not interrupt it. It takes about ten minutes and uses a noticeable amount of ink; that is normal and happens only once.
- Print the nozzle check pattern from the maintenance menu and compare it against the printed guide before running any cleaning.
- Join the network from the panel wizard, then print a network status sheet and record the address.
3. Drivers and network
- Install the full driver package for scanning; the plain print driver does not include the scan utility.
- For shared office use, add the printer by IP rather than by the discovery service, which changes names between operating system versions.
- Fax needs a real analogue line. Over VoIP it usually fails; use scan-to-email instead.
4. Maintenance schedule
Intervals below are for typical office use. Machines in dusty rooms or running heavy graphics need the shorter end of each range.
| Weekly | Print at least one colour page. Ink tank models block their nozzles when left idle, and clearing that costs far more ink than the page would have. |
|---|---|
| Monthly | Run a nozzle check. Only run a head cleaning if the check shows gaps; cleaning cycles consume ink. |
| Every 6 months | Wipe the paper path with a dry lint-free cloth and check the tanks against the lower line. |
| Yearly | Check the maintenance box, the absorbent pad that catches cleaning ink. It is a replaceable part and the printer will stop when it is full. |
5. Common faults
Missing colour after two weeks unused
Dried nozzles. Run one head cleaning, then a nozzle check. Repeat at most three times, then leave it powered for an hour and try again; more cleanings in a row waste ink without helping.
Horizontal banding on photos
Run the print head alignment from the maintenance menu, and confirm the media type in the driver matches the paper actually loaded.
Ink levels look full but pages print pale
Air in the line after a refill. Run one cleaning cycle; the levels in the tanks are physical, not electronic, so the printer cannot tell.
Service required, maintenance box
The waste pad is full. It is a user-replaceable cartridge on this model.
Scanning works but printing does not, over Wi-Fi
Two entries for the same device, one on Wi-Fi Direct. Remove the direct-mode queue from the operating system.