Panasonic Color Laser Printer Kx P8420 Operating Instructions

							 
11 
Contents 
Bias adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129
VisualCal, 30% match calibration  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134 
Calibrating the printer using VisualCal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
Resetting the VisualCal calibration  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140 
Color adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141 
Resetting the Color adjustment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143 
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144
User replaceable components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149
Displaying the life of supplies and coverage of toner . . . . . .152 
Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152
Image Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153 
Clearing media jams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153
Troubleshooting  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167
Front Panel Messages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .177 
Front panel status and error messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .177
Front panel service calls  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183 
Repacking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .184
Upgrade options  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .193
Removing and replacing the printer controller board . . . . . .193
Installing a hard disk drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .196 
Kit contents  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .196
Initializing the hard disk  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199 
Installing additional memory  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199 
Kit contents  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199
Installing SDRAM DIMMs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200 
Installing network cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202 
Kit contents  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202 
Specifications  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205 
Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205
Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .206
Bidirectional Parallel Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .213
Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214 
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215 
Chapter 8 
Care and  
Maintenance
 
Chapter 9
Options
Appendix
Chapter 7
Color 
Calibration 
						

							12
For Your  Safety
General
Warning
•
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose this product to rain or any 
type of moisture.
Caution
•
Do not open covers and do not attempt to repair the unit yourself. Refer 
servicing to qualified personnel.
Power source
Warning
•
The power source voltage of this unit is listed on the nameplate. Only plug 
the unit into an outlet with the proper voltage.
•When you operate this equipment, the outlet should be near the 
equipment and accessible.
•To ensure safe operation the AC cord supplied must be inserted into 
standard three-prong AC outlet which is effectively grounded (earthed) 
through the normal wiring.
•The fact that the equipment operates satisfactorily does not imply that the 
power point is grounded (earthed) and that the installation is completely 
safe. For your safety, if in any doubt about the effective grounding 
(earthing) of the power point, consult a qualified electrician.
•If the plug cannot be inserted into the AC outlet, contact a licensed 
electrician to replace the outlet with a properly grounded (earthed) one. 
Do not defeat the purpose of the grounding (earthing) plug (ex. do not use 
a conversion plug).
Laser safety
Caution
•
This printer utilizes a laser. Use of controls or adjustments or 
performance of procedures other than those specified herein may result 
in hazardous radiation exposure.
Ozone release
Warning
•
Make sure that the printer is installed in a well ventilated room so as not to 
increase density of ozone in the air. Since ozone is heavier than air, it is 
recommended that air at floor level be ventilated. 
						

							13 For Your  Safety
Moving the unit
The printer weighs approximately 48.2 kg {106.2 lbs.}. It must be handled by 
two people. Turn the power off and remove the power cord when handling 
the unit. 
						

							14 For Your  Safety
Caution labels 
FOR USERS IN AUSTRALIA
 This mark shows that the product complies with AS/NZS 3548.
ATTENTION:SURFACE
CHAUDE
CI-INTERIEUR
VORSICHT:HEISSE FLÄCHE
INTERN
ATENCION:SUPERFICIE
CALIENTE
EN EL INTERNO
CAUTION:HOT SURFACE
INSIDE
CAUTION:
HOT SURFACE INSIDE
CAUTION:HOT SURFACE BELOWATTENTION:SURFACE CHAUDE CI-DESSOUSVORSICHT:HEIßE OBERFLÄCHE DARUNTERATENCION:SUPERFICIE CALIENTE ABAJO
CLASS
KLASSE
CLASSE
CLASE1 LASER PRODUCT
1 LASER PRODUKT
1 LASER PRODUIT
1 LÁSER PRODUCTO
ATTENTION:
Rayonnement laser invisible
dangereux en cas
douverture et lorsque
la sécurité est neutralisée.
EXPOSITION DANGEREUSE
AU FAISCEAU.
VARNING:
Osynlig laser-
strålning när denna
del är öppnad och
spärrar är
urkopplade.
STRÅLEN
ÄR FARLIG.VARO!:
Näkymätöntä
avattaessa ja
suojalukitus
ohitettaessa olet
alttiina lasersäteilylle.
ÄLÄ KATSO
SÄTEESEEN.VARNING:
Osynlig laserstrålning
när denna del är
öppnad och spärren är
urkopplad.
BETRAKTA EJ
STRÅLEN. ADVARSEL:
Usynlig laserstråling
ved åbning når
sikkerhedsafbrydere
er ude af funktion.
UNDGÅ 
UDSÆTTELSE FOR
STRÅLING. PELIGRO:
Cuando se abre y se
invalida el bloqueo, se
producen radiaciones
invisibles de láser.
EVÍTESE LA
EXPOSICIÓN
A TALES RAYOS. DANGER:
Invisible laser radiation
when open and interlock
defeated.
AVOID DIRECT
EXPOSURE TO BEAM.CAUTION:
Invisible laser radiation
when open and 
interlocks defeated.
AVOID EXPOSURE
TO BEAM.VORSICHT:
Unsichtbare Laserstrahlung,
wenn Abdeckung geöffnet
und Sicherheitsverriegelung
überbrückt.
NICHT DEM STRAHL
AUSSETZEN.
ADVARSEL:
Usynlig laserstråling
når deksel åpnes og
sikkerhedslas brytes.
UNNGÅ
EKSPONERING
FOR STRÅLEN.
(220–240 VAC equipment)
Laser diode properties
Laser output : 5 mW max
Wavelength : 780 nm
Emission duration : Continuous
N52 
						

							15 For Your  Safety
FOR USERS IN U.K.
IMPORTANT:
FOR YOUR SAFETY PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING TEXT CAREFULLY
This printer is supplied with a moulded three pin mains plug each for your safety and convenience. 
A 13 amp fuse is fitted in this plug. Should the fuse need to be replaced please ensure that the 
replacement fuse has a rating of 13 amps and that it is approved by ASTA or BSI to BS 1362.
Check for the ASTA mark   or the BSI mark   on the body of the fuse.
If the plug contains a removable fuse cover you must ensure that it is refitted when the fuse is replaced. 
If you lose the fuse cover the plug must not be used until a replacement cover is obtained. A 
replacement fuse cover can be purchased from your local Panasonic Dealer.
IF THE FITTED MOULDED PLUG IS UNSUITABLE FOR THE SOCKET OUTLET IN YOUR HOME 
THEN THE FUSE SHOULD BE REMOVED AND THE PLUG CUT OFF AND DISPOSED OF SAFELY. 
THERE IS A DANGER OF SEVERE ELECTRICAL SHOCK IF THE CUT OFF PLUG IS INSERTED 
INTO ANY 13 AMP SOCKET.
If a new plug is to be fitted please observe the wiring code as shown below. 
If in any doubt please consult a qualified electrician.
WARNING: THIS APPLIANCE MUST BE EARTHED.
IMPORTANT: The wires in this mains lead are coloured in accordance with the following code.
Green-and-Yellow: Earth Blue: Neutral  Brown: Live
As the colours of the wire in the mains lead of this appliance may not correspond with the coloured 
markings identifying the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows.
The wire which is coloured GREEN-AND-YELLOW must be connected to the terminal in the plug which 
is marked with the letter E or by the Earth symbol   , or coloured GREEN or GREEN-AND-
YELLOW.
The wire which is coloured BLUE must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked with the 
letter N or coloured BLACK.
The wire which is coloured BROWN must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked with 
the letter L or coloured RED.
How to replace the fuse: Open the fuse compartment with a screwdriver and replace the fuse.
ASA
LN
SCREWDRIVER
FUSEFUSE COVER 
						

							Chapter 1
16Before You Start
Before you set up your new printer, please read the following information.
Cautions
To avoid problems, do not use the equipment under the following conditions:
•Direct exposure to sunlight
•Extremely high or low temperature [temperature range: 10˚C to 32.5˚C 
(50˚F to 90.5˚F)]
•Extremely high or low humidity (humidity range: 20% to 80% RH)
•Condensation due to rapid change of temperature
•Areas of poor ventilation
•Areas of high dust or chemical fume concentration (solvent etc.)
•Unstable or unlevel surfaces 
						

							17 Before You  Start
•Directly in front of air conditioning vents
•Liquids near the equipment
•Too much media/document which exceeds the limit mark on the guide of 
the tray.
•Front/right/left doors opened while the printer is operating; it may cause a 
media jam.
•Any toner other than genuine Panasonic toner. It may damage the printer.
Not genuine toner 
						

							18 Before You  Start
To prevent accidental damage to the CD-ROMs:
•Do not touch or write on the surface of the disc.
•Do not leave the disc out of the protective case.
•Do not leave the disc in direct sunlight or near heat sources.
•Do not place heavy objects on the disc case or drop the case.
•To clean the disc, hold the disc by its edges and wipe it from the center to 
the edges with a dry, soft cloth.
CD-ROM 
						

							19 Before You  Start
To prevent static electricity damage to any of the following components, 
touch a grounded metal surface, such as the printer’s bare metal frame prior 
to touching the component.
•The interface connectors—parallel and optional network
•Electrical components, connectors inside the printer, any components on 
the optional board (hard disk drive, SDRAM DIMMs, Ethernet network 
card, or Token Ring network card)
•The connector pins on the optional 2nd cassette feeder for the printer
Waste material may be dumped or incinerated under conditions which meet 
all federal, state and local environmental regulations.
Static electricity 
damage
Waste disposal 
method 
						

							20 Before You  Start
Features of the KX-P8420
The KX-P8420 Color Printer provides fast, high-quality color printing on 
plain paper, plus the ease of operation and high performance you expect 
from a laser printer, including the following.
•Resolution—maximum 1200 x 1200 dpi (with optional additional memory)
•Continuous printing on Letter or A4 size paper 
Full-color mode—Maximum 3.5 ppm (pages per minute) 
Three color mode—Maximum 4.7 ppm 
Monochrome mode—Maximum 14 ppm
•Printer driver—easily prints full-color documents
•Supports AppleTalk (EtherTalk), TCP/IP, and IPX (Novell) protocols 
simultaneously by installing optional Ethernet Card
•Supports thicknet, twisted pair, and thinnet (via transceiver) cabling
•Ethernet or Token Ring support by installing optional Ethernet or Token 
Ring Card
•SMB (Microsoft®)
•IEEE 1284 compliant, Mini-Centronics type-C parallel connection based 
on the IEEE P1284-C standard
NOTE:
•An ECP compatible parallel port is recommended for Windows® 95*1. To  
turn on the ECP mode, use the computer’s BIOS setup. Refer to the 
computer’s documentation for details.
*
1Microsoft® Windows® 95 operating system (hereafter Windows 95)
High quality
High speed
Easy operation
Networking and 
client capabilities