Brother printer dcp 3550 cdw cartridges failure: Difference between revisions
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{{InfoboxProductLine | {{InfoboxProductLine | ||
| Title = Brother DCP-L3550CDW Printer Scanner | | Title = Brother DCP-L3550CDW Printer Scanner | ||
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}} | }} | ||
The [[Brother Industries, Ltd.|'''Brother''']] DCP-L3550CDW printer | The [[Brother Industries, Ltd.|'''Brother''']] DCP-L3550CDW printer requires toner cartridges with embedded chips for authentication. Some '''aftermarket (non-OEM) cartridges''' include '''battery-powered chips''', which can lead to recognition failures if the battery depletes. However, '''genuine Brother cartridges do not contain a battery''', and the battery issue is not caused by the printer itself. | ||
==Issue Description== | ==Issue Description== | ||
Aftermarket toner manufacturers use '''battery-powered chips''' to bypass Brother’s authentication system. When the '''1.5V battery inside these third-party chips depletes''', the printer fails to recognize the cartridge, displaying a misleading "No Toner" error message, even if toner remains in the cartridge. | |||
This issue '''does not affect OEM Brother cartridges''', as they use '''a different chip design that does not require a battery'''. Brother’s chip system is primarily used for '''tracking toner levels and verifying cartridge authenticity''', which can restrict third-party toner compatibility but is not responsible for battery failures in non-OEM cartridges.<ref name="printerforums1" /> | |||
[[File:Toner life screen.jpg|thumb|left|Toner life despite error screen]] | |||
{| class="wikitable" style="clear:both" | {| class="wikitable" style="clear:both" | ||
Line 48: | Line 34: | ||
|Location where the chip is installed on the cartridge | |Location where the chip is installed on the cartridge | ||
|Close-up of the battery on the chip | |Close-up of the battery on the chip | ||
|} | |} | ||
==User-Discovered Solutions== | ==User-Discovered Solutions== | ||
Users have found several workarounds for this issue: | Users have found several workarounds for this issue: | ||
*Taking out the cartridges before turning off the printer for an extended period | *Taking out the cartridges before turning off the printer for an extended period. | ||
*Replacing the chip of the affected cartridge with the chip from an older cartridge that still has battery power ''(the chip is attached with screws)'' | *Replacing the chip of the affected cartridge with the chip from an older cartridge that still has battery power ''(the chip is attached with screws)''. | ||
*Replacing the 1.5V battery yourself if you have the necessary tools (requires soldering skills) | *Replacing the 1.5V battery yourself if you have the necessary tools (requires soldering skills). | ||
*Keeping the printer perpetually turned on to avoid battery depletion | *Keeping the printer perpetually turned on to avoid battery depletion. | ||
Users on Printer Forums reported success with '''replacing the battery or swapping the chip''' from a recognized cartridge.<ref name="printerforums2" /> Others have noted that pressing the '''red X and back arrow on the printer control panel''' allows access to toner status and may temporarily resolve the issue.<ref name="printerforums3" /> | |||
==Firmware-Related Issues== | |||
Firmware updates have been linked to preventing the use of third-party toner chips. Several users reported that after updating their printer to '''firmware version 1.59''', previously working third-party cartridges were no longer recognized, triggering the "No Toner" error.<ref name="printerforums1" /> This is '''separate''' from the issue of dead batteries on aftermarket cartridges. | |||
To prevent firmware-related cartridge recognition problems, users have suggested: | |||
*Disabling automatic firmware updates via the printer settings.<ref name="printerforums2" /> | |||
*Blocking the printer from internet access to avoid automatic updates.<ref name="printerforums3" /> | |||
==Consumer Impact Summary== | ==Consumer Impact Summary== | ||
While Brother's chip-based authentication system '''restricts the use of non-OEM toner cartridges''', the '''battery issue is caused by third-party cartridge manufacturers, not Brother'''. The chip requirement itself can be seen as a method to enforce '''a closed ecosystem''', potentially increasing costs for consumers. However, the '''battery-powered chip design is an independent choice made by aftermarket manufacturers''', not a function of the Brother printer or its OEM cartridges.<ref name="printerforums2" /> | |||
==Related Incidents== | ==Related Incidents== | ||
This issue primarily affects '''aftermarket toner cartridges''' used in multiple Brother printer models: | |||
*Brother MFC-L3770CDW experiences identical battery-related toner recognition failures.<ref name="printerforums2" /> | |||
*Users of Brother printers with TN-760 cartridges have reported similar issues.<ref name="printerforums1" /> | |||
*Brother MFC-L3770CDW experiences identical battery-related toner recognition failures<ref | |||
*Users of Brother printers with TN-760 cartridges have reported similar issues<ref | |||
One user on | One user on Printer Forums expressed frustration, stating: <blockquote>''"I am very close to trashing my Brother printer and getting something else. Are there any laser printers that DO NOT HAVE BATTERIES in their toner cartridges and have aftermarket cartridge sources?"''<ref name="printerforums3" /></blockquote> | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references> | ||
<ref name="printerforums1">[https://www.printerforums.net/threads/solved-brother-dcp-l3550cdw-no-toner-error-message.69896/page-1 Printer Forums - Page 1]</ref> | |||
<ref name="printerforums2">[https://www.printerforums.net/threads/solved-brother-dcp-l3550cdw-no-toner-error-message.69896/page-2 Printer Forums - Page 2]</ref> | |||
<ref name="printerforums3">[https://www.printerforums.net/threads/solved-brother-dcp-l3550cdw-no-toner-error-message.69896/page-3 Printer Forums - Page 3]</ref> | |||
</references> | |||
[[Category:Brother]] | [[Category:Brother]] | ||
[[Category:Brother DCP-L3550CDW]] | [[Category:Brother DCP-L3550CDW]] | ||
[[Category:Repair barriers]] | [[Category:Repair barriers]] | ||
==Cargo Data== | |||
{{Important|Testing cargo extension}} | |||
{{IncidentCargo|Companies=Brother Industries Ltd.|Categories=Planned obsolesence,Third Party|DateOfIncident=2025}} | |||
<div style="display: none; visibility: hidden; text-align: center; padding: 2%; font-family: monospace; background-color: #222222;" class="extensionMetadataTesting"> | |||
<div class="extMetaTest_notice"> | |||
<div style="font-size: large; background-color: #444444; padding: 1%; margin: 1% 9%; width: 80%; height: 0.01%;"> | |||
<p style="font-size: large; text-align: center; background-color: #444444;"> | |||
'''This notice should never be visible on a live page.''' | |||
</p> | |||
</div> | |||
<p style="text-align: left; background-color: #444444; padding: 1%; margin: 1% 9%; width: 80%;"> | |||
If this notice regularly appears, I will have to consider using data-* attributes, | |||
which might be character limited by MediaWiki. | |||
This is embedded JSON metadata that a browser extension may easily read. | |||
Currently, this is explicitly for testing and should not be copied (yet!) as the format will change. | |||
Please do not remove until I am done testing. -Kyli   | |||
</p> | |||
</div> | |||
<div style="display: none; visibility: hidden; text-align: left; font-size: xx-small;" class="extMetaTest_content"> | |||
<nowiki> | |||
@@ JSON METADATA FORMAT BEGIN @@ | |||
{ | |||
"Organization" : "Brother", | |||
"Organization_Category_URL" : "*/Category:Brother/", | |||
"Product_Name" : "Brother DCP-L3550CDW Printer Scanner", | |||
"Product_Category_URL" : "*/Category:Brother_DCP-L3550CDW/" | |||
} | |||
@@ JSON METADATA FORMAT END @@ | |||
</nowiki> | |||
</div> | |||
</div> |
Latest revision as of 11:27, 5 March 2025
Basic Information | |
---|---|
Release Year | 2018 |
Product Type | Hardware Printer/Scanner |
In Production | No |
Official Website | https://store.brother.co.uk/catalogs/brotheruk/devices/laser/dcp/dcpl3550cdw |
The Brother DCP-L3550CDW printer requires toner cartridges with embedded chips for authentication. Some aftermarket (non-OEM) cartridges include battery-powered chips, which can lead to recognition failures if the battery depletes. However, genuine Brother cartridges do not contain a battery, and the battery issue is not caused by the printer itself.
Issue Description[edit | edit source]
Aftermarket toner manufacturers use battery-powered chips to bypass Brother’s authentication system. When the 1.5V battery inside these third-party chips depletes, the printer fails to recognize the cartridge, displaying a misleading "No Toner" error message, even if toner remains in the cartridge.
This issue does not affect OEM Brother cartridges, as they use a different chip design that does not require a battery. Brother’s chip system is primarily used for tracking toner levels and verifying cartridge authenticity, which can restrict third-party toner compatibility but is not responsible for battery failures in non-OEM cartridges.[1]

![]() |
![]() |
Battery is usually hidden behind the chip (removed for this photo) | The toner chip that contains the battery |

![]() |
![]() |
Location where the chip is installed on the cartridge | Close-up of the battery on the chip |
User-Discovered Solutions[edit | edit source]
Users have found several workarounds for this issue:
- Taking out the cartridges before turning off the printer for an extended period.
- Replacing the chip of the affected cartridge with the chip from an older cartridge that still has battery power (the chip is attached with screws).
- Replacing the 1.5V battery yourself if you have the necessary tools (requires soldering skills).
- Keeping the printer perpetually turned on to avoid battery depletion.
Users on Printer Forums reported success with replacing the battery or swapping the chip from a recognized cartridge.[2] Others have noted that pressing the red X and back arrow on the printer control panel allows access to toner status and may temporarily resolve the issue.[3]
Firmware-Related Issues[edit | edit source]
Firmware updates have been linked to preventing the use of third-party toner chips. Several users reported that after updating their printer to firmware version 1.59, previously working third-party cartridges were no longer recognized, triggering the "No Toner" error.[1] This is separate from the issue of dead batteries on aftermarket cartridges.
To prevent firmware-related cartridge recognition problems, users have suggested:
- Disabling automatic firmware updates via the printer settings.[2]
- Blocking the printer from internet access to avoid automatic updates.[3]
Consumer Impact Summary[edit | edit source]
While Brother's chip-based authentication system restricts the use of non-OEM toner cartridges, the battery issue is caused by third-party cartridge manufacturers, not Brother. The chip requirement itself can be seen as a method to enforce a closed ecosystem, potentially increasing costs for consumers. However, the battery-powered chip design is an independent choice made by aftermarket manufacturers, not a function of the Brother printer or its OEM cartridges.[2]
Related Incidents[edit | edit source]
This issue primarily affects aftermarket toner cartridges used in multiple Brother printer models:
- Brother MFC-L3770CDW experiences identical battery-related toner recognition failures.[2]
- Users of Brother printers with TN-760 cartridges have reported similar issues.[1]
One user on Printer Forums expressed frustration, stating:
"I am very close to trashing my Brother printer and getting something else. Are there any laser printers that DO NOT HAVE BATTERIES in their toner cartridges and have aftermarket cartridge sources?"[3]
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Cargo Data[edit | edit source]
Important: Testing cargo extension
Companies | Brother Industries Ltd. |
---|---|
Categories | Planned obsolesence,Third Party |
Date of incident | 2025 |