Epson XP-620 Ink Pad Replacement Guide: Waste Pad Location, Reset, and Compatible Kits

User question

how to replace epson xp 620 ink pad

Artificial Intelligence Response

Direct answer to the question

• The Epson Expression Premium XP-620 does not have a user-replaceable “maintenance box”.
• To clear the “ink pad at end of service life” error you must

1. physically replace (or thoroughly wash and dry) the waste-ink pads located in the plastic “potty” at the right-rear of the chassis, and
2. reset the waste-ink counter with service software (e.g., WIC Reset, Epson Adjustment Program).
   • Access requires removing the scanner/top cover (≈9–11 screws), extracting the waste-ink module, installing new pads, re-assembling the printer, then running the reset utility over USB.

Detailed problem analysis

1. Why the printer stops
   – Every cleaning cycle pumps ≈1 ml of ink into absorbent felt pads.
   – Firmware estimates pad saturation; at ~95 % it locks the printer to prevent overflow.

2. Pad location & mechanical layout (XP-600/610/620/640/720 family)
   – Pads sit in a removable plastic tray (“potty”) immediately beneath the capping/parking station, right-hand side of the base.
   – They are accessed from the top; the bottom plate on this model is riveted and does not expose the pads directly (correction to some older guides).

3. Required tools / materials
   • #1 Phillips screwdriver, small flat spudger, long-nose pliers
   • New pad set (OE P/N 1619466 or third-party “XP-600 series waste pad kit”)
   • Nitrile gloves, absorbent paper, IPA (≥90 %), lint-free wipes
   • PC + USB cable, WIC Reset key (~US$10) or Epson AdjProg (service mode)

4. Step-by-step mechanical procedure

   0. Unplug AC, remove paper & cartridges, wait 15 min for PSU caps to discharge.
   1. Lift scanner unit. Remove two silver M2.5 screws at the front hinge area.
   2. Open rear duplex slot; remove two black screws in the back corners.
   3. Slide output tray half-way, remove one screw hidden at the left slide rail.
   4. Gently pry the control-panel bezel; unplug flat-flex cable only if necessary.
   5. Tilt the scanner top 45 °, slide it 5 mm left, then lift—top cover comes off as an assembly exposing the chassis.
   6. The waste-ink potty is now visible at rear-right: white/grey box held by two plastic latches and an ink drain tube.
   7. Clamp or pinch the tube (to avoid drips), release latches, pull potty straight up.
   8. Remove saturated felt pads; dispose as hazardous waste (local regulations).
   9. Wash plastic tray with warm water & IPA; dry completely or swap in new pad set.
   10. Re-seat potty firmly; confirm tube is not kinked.
   11. Re-assemble in reverse order, ensuring every FFC is fully home and screws are snug but not over-torqued (0.4–0.5 N·m).

5. Software reset procedure (WIC Reset example)

   1. Install WICReset (www.wic.support) → run as Administrator.
   2. USB-connect printer (Wi-Fi won’t work), power-ON.
   3. Read counters; values generally show “Main pad 100 %”.
   4. Buy/enter a reset key → click “Initialize”.
   5. Cycle power when prompted. Counter returns to 0 %.

Current information and trends

• Later Epson “EcoTank”/“Plus” models use screw-in maintenance boxes that end-users can swap—XP-620 predates this.
• Open-source tool “ReinkPy” (Python) can reset many XP models for free, but still needs USB & admin rights.
• External waste-tank mods (routing tube to a bottle) are popular to delay future pad changes; kits with grommet + bottle cost < US$15.

Supporting explanations and details

• Pad capacity: ~110 ml combined; counter is set conservatively (~80 ml) to leave safety margin.
• Firmware stores the count in both EEPROM and NVRAM; most resets rewrite both.
• If pads are only washed, residual dye-based ink permanently stains them but absorbency is restored after full drying (>24 h).

Ethical and legal aspects

• Opening the enclosure voids remaining warranty and, in some regions, may infringe manufacturer service terms.
• Some jurisdictions treat firmware-counter resets as circumvention of “technological protection measures”; use software obtained from reputable, malware-free sources.
• Dispose of ink-contaminated pads in accordance with local hazardous-waste rules.

Practical guidelines (best practices)

• Photograph each disassembly step to aid re-assembly.
• Label screws by length; the XP-620 uses four different thread sizes.
• Keep FFC cables clean; fingerprints can cause intermittent carriage errors.
• After reset, run a single nozzle-check, not a full head-clean, to avoid immediately adding ink to the fresh pads.

Possible disclaimers or additional notes

• If the printer reports “0×EA” or “0×9A” errors after re-assembly, a flat-flex is likely mis-seated.
• Mechanical tolerances are tight; forcing the potty or mis-routing the drain tube can flood the chassis.
• Given the low replacement cost of some XP-620 units on the used market, weigh labour vs. replacement.

Suggestions for further research

• Download the official XP-620 Service Manual (part no. SM-XP600-01) for torque specs and exploded diagrams.
• Review iFixit guides or YouTube tear-downs: keywords “XP-640 waste ink”, “XP-720 potty removal” (same chassis).
• Investigate external waste-tank conversions for extended maintenance intervals.

Brief summary

Replacing the XP-620’s waste-ink pads is a two-part job: open the printer, swap or clean the pads in the right-rear “potty” module, and then reset the internal counter with a USB service utility. The task demands careful disassembly (≈30 min), clean handling of ink-soaked parts, and legally obtained reset software. When done correctly the printer returns to normal operation; failing to perform either the physical swap or the counter reset will leave the “service required” message active.

Disclaimer: The responses provided by artificial intelligence (language model) may be inaccurate and misleading. Elektroda is not responsible for the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the presented information. All responses should be verified by the user.