Where does the encoder strip belongs? i have a dell printer "photo 924". it fell out of nowhere. how do i put it back on?

Try reading the second thread at...

Cleaning the encoder strip (Loud bang from printer carriage)


Rick

Mine just had that problem. I cleaned the encoder strip with alcohol and a soft cloth (old T-shirt). Got a bunch of grime off it and now it works fine, thankfully. ;) But be careful with the encoder strip, my kids like to pull it out and it's not easy to put back on. Plus if you bend it or break it it's not easy to replace.

The long clear strip is the encoder strip that the cartridge carriage reads to know where it is in the printer. It should not have just fallen out. There should be a small hole at each end of the strip to attach it to points in the printer. If one of those holes is broken you might as well get a new printer. Paying someone to buy a new encoder strip and install it will most likely cost more than the machine itself.

Try using the instructions located at...

Dell 924 Photo All-In-One Printer owners thread (W7)

Also check the encoder strip.

Cleaning the encoder strip (Loud bang from printer carriage)


Rick

It goes through the ink cartrige holders and hooks onto the frame. It's called an encoder strip.

To clean the encoder strip, perform the following steps:

1. Power down the printer and unplug the power.
   
   
2. Lift the cover on the printer.
   
   
3. Using a dry, lint free cloth, pinch the encoder strip on the right-hand side of the cartridge carriage and pull your fingers across it toward the right-hand side of the printer

Figure 1: The Encoder Strip to the right of the cartridge carrier. The encoder strip is a narrow band of clear plastic and can be difficult to see without direct lighting.

1. Plug in the printer and power it on.
   
   
2. Open the cover to allow the cartridge carriage to center itself.
   
   
3. Using a dry, lint free cloth, pinch the encoder strip on the left-hand side of the cartridge carriage and pull your fingers across it towards the left-hand side of the printer.

Figure 2: The encoder strip to the left of the cartridge carrier.

There could be 4 possibilities.

1. Ink cartridges lids are open which is not allowing cartridges to move freely.
2. Ink cartridges carriage will not move from its original position(left) when front cover is opened
3. Encoder strip is Dirty.
4. Encoder strip is Out of position.

Solution:
1. Open the front cover and check if ink cartridges lids are properly snapped in.

2. Turn the printer off and pull out the power cable from power socket, open the front cover and manually center the ink cartridges carriage.
Clean the metallic rod inside the printer using WD40 or Kleenex from Left corner to right corner properly.

3. Cleaning the encoder strip:
a. printer should be off and disconnected from power.
b. open the front cover.
c. Using a dry, lint free cloth, pinch the encoder strip on the right-hand side of the cartridge carriage and pull your fingers across it toward the right-hand side of the printer and you can move the cartridges carriage to clean the strip completely.
d. Note: The encoder strip is a narrow band of clear plastic and can be difficult to see without direct lighting running parallel to metallic rod.
e. Close the printer and try again to print.

4. Repositioning the Encoder strip.
a. Remove the power cord from the printer.
b. Open the front cover.
c. Gently slide the ink cartridge carrier to the middle of the printer.
d. Gently move the top part of the printer belt to the right.
e. Using an index finger, gently push encoder strip down and then back up, to get it back into the slot located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.
f. Gently press the strip first to the rear, and then forward, to ensure that it is seated correctly.
g. Manually move the ink cartridge carrier to the left, then to the right, to check the positioning of the encoder strip.
h. Once the encoder strip has been re-seated, close the scanner lid.
i. Re-connect the power cord to the printer and try again to print.



Incorrect position of encoder strip




Correct position of Encoder strip




Hope it should fix the issue.

There could be 4 possibilities.

1. Ink cartridges lids are open which is not allowing cartridges to move freely.
2. Ink cartridges carriage will not move from its original position(left) when front cover is opened
3. Encoder strip is Dirty.
4. Encoder strip is Out of position.

Solution:
1. Open the front cover and check if ink cartridges lids are properly snapped in.

2. Turn the printer off and pull out the power cable from power socket, open the front cover and manually center the ink cartridges carriage.
Clean the metallic rod inside the printer using WD40 or Kleenex from Left corner to right corner properly.

3. Cleaning the encoder strip:
a. printer should be off and disconnected from power.
b. open the front cover.
c. Using a dry, lint free cloth, pinch the encoder strip on the right-hand side of the cartridge carriage and pull your fingers across it toward the right-hand side of the printer and you can move the cartridges carriage to clean the strip completely.
d. Note: The encoder strip is a narrow band of clear plastic and can be difficult to see without direct lighting running parallel to metallic rod.
e. Close the printer and try again to print.

4. Repositioning the Encoder strip.
a. Remove the power cord from the printer.
b. Open the front cover.
c. Gently slide the ink cartridge carrier to the middle of the printer.
d. Gently move the top part of the printer belt to the right.
e. Using an index finger, gently push encoder strip down and then back up, to get it back into the slot located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.
f. Gently press the strip first to the rear, and then forward, to ensure that it is seated correctly.
g. Manually move the ink cartridge carrier to the left, then to the right, to check the positioning of the encoder strip.
h. Once the encoder strip has been re-seated, close the scanner lid.
i. Re-connect the power cord to the printer and try again to print.



Incorrect position of encoder strip




Correct position of Encoder strip




Hope it should fix the issue.

This fixed the problem for me : found it on the Dell support website:

Reposition the Encoder Strip

1. Remove the power cord from the printer.
   
   
2. Lift the scanner unit to expose the inside, where the printer cartridges are located.
   
   
3. Gently slide the ink cartridge carrier to the middle of the printer.
   
   
4. Gently move the top part of the printer belt to the right.
   
   
5. Using an index finger, gently push encoder strip down and then back up, to get it back into the slot located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.
   
   Note: There is a small slot on the back of the ink cartridge carrier, into which the encoder strip fits.
   
6. Gently press the strip first to the rear, and then forward, to ensure that it is seated correctly.
   
   
7. Manually move the ink cartridge carrier to the left, then to the right, to check the positioning of the encoder strip.
   
   
8. Once the encoder strip has been re-seated, close the scanner lid.
   
   
9. Re-connect the power cord to the printer.

What do you call the encoding strip? Do you means the contact strip on the back of the cartridge? If so buy a new cartridge. If you mean part of the printer-did you put it back correctly- if still in trouble-take a look at www.fixyourownprinter.com. If no luck there try the Dell Tech support team If still out of luck Buy a new printer-