For United Kingdom Users

Epson product guarantee
Under the law, goods sold must comply with their description and must be of merchantable quality and fit for their purpose or correspond with any sample. This guarantee does not affect the sellers legal obligation or the rights of the consumer in the consumer transactions under any Statute, including Sections 12 to 15 of the Sales of Goods Act, 1979. All Epson Products, other than OEM products, are fully guaranteed against faulty operation or performance for a period of ONE YEAR from date of purchase by the user of the product. All claims under this guarantee MUST be supported by evidence of purchase, normally the bill of sale invoice, and it is the responsibility of the claimant to furnish such proof. Epson (UK) Limited does not issue or operate any form of guarantee registration card. Claims are made by the user returning the product to the supplier from whom it was purchased or, if this is impractical, to any Epson supplier who also handles the same product. In the event of any difficulty, users are requested to contact the Service Co-ordinator Manager at Epson (UK) Limited. Epson (UK) Limited, or Epson Appointed Distributors, will at their discretion repair or replace part or all of the product to provide, in their judgement, a satisfactory performance of the product consistent with its age and apparent usage. This guarantee covers the cost of both the parts and labour required to correct any malfunction of the equipment, but specifically excludes: wear and tear, consumables, physical damage due to incorrect use or misuse and damage or faulty operation due to unauthorized and inexpert repair.
The guarantee is restricted to the performance of the product alone, and Epson (UK) Limited does not accept responsibility for any consequential loss or damage, nor claimed or implied performance, when the product is used in any combination with other equipment or program software. Product guarantee may be invalidated as a result of excessive or inappropriate use, use in an adverse environment or in conditions outside the specifications or if the product has been subjected to unapproved modifications. The guarantee does not cover visits to the users premises or the repair or commissioning of the product on site.

Use of options

Epson (UK) Limited shall not be liable against any damages or problems arising from the use of any options or consumable products other than those designated as Original Epson Products or Epson Approved Products by Epson (UK) Limited.

Safety information

Warning: This appliance must be earthed. Refer to rating plate for voltage and check that the appliance voltage corresponds to the supply voltage. Important: The wires in the mains lead fitted to this appliance are coloured in accordance with the following code: Green and yellow Earth Blue Neutral Brown Live
As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this appliance may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows: The green and yellow wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked with the letter E or with the earth symbol (G ) or coloured green or green and yellow.
The blue wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug marked with the letter N or coloured black. The brown wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug marked with the letter L or coloured white. If damage occurs to the plug, replace the cord set or consult a qualified electrician. Replace fuses only with a fuse of the correct size and rating.

Contents

Introduction
Features. Finding Your Way Around. Warnings, Cautions, and Notes Important Safety Instructions. 0-1 0-2 0-2 0-3

Chapter 1

Setting Up the Printer
. 1-2 1-3 1-4 1-4 1-5 1-5 1-9 1-10 1-13 1-13 1-15 1-16 1-17 1-18
Unpacking the Printer. Choosing a place for the printer. Assembling the Printer. Installing the paper-feed knob. Attaching the paper supports. Installing the ribbon cartridge. Plugging in the printer. Running the Self Test. Connecting the Printer to Your Computer. Using the parallel interface. Using the serial interface. Setting Up Your Software. Microsoft Windows 3.1 and all Windows programs Using non-Windows software.

Chapter 2

Using the Printer
. 2-2 2-2 2-4 2-5 2-5 2-5 2-6
Using the Control Panel. Lights and buttons. Selecting fonts. Printing on Single Sheets. Loading single sheets. Adjusting the loading position Getting the results you expect.
Printing on Continuous Paper. Printing with the push tractor. Switching back to single sheets. Printing with the pull tractor. Printing on Special Paper. Adjusting the paper-thickness lever. Multi-part forms. Labels. Envelopes. Changing the Printer Settings. Printer setting descriptions. Character spacing. Shape of zero. Skip-over-perforation. Character table. Auto line feed. Page length. Auto tear off. Tractor. Interface. Bit rate, parity bit, data length, and ETX/ACK Installing and Using Options. Cut-sheet feeder. Pull Tractor unit. Roll paper holder. Color upgrade kit.
2-7 2-7 2-11 2-11 2-15 2-16 2-17 2-17 2-18 2-19 2-22 2-22 2-22 2-22 2-23 2-23 2-23 2-23 2-23 2-24 2-24 2-24 2-24 2-28 2-29 2-31

Chapter 3

Troubleshooting
. 3-2 3-2 3-2 3-3 3-3 3-4 3-4 3-5 3-5
Problems and Solutions. Power Supply. Power is not being supplied. Printing. The printer does not print. The print is faint or uneven. Dots are missing in printed characters or graphics Printed characters are not what you expected. The print position is not what you expected.
Paper Handling. Single sheets do not feed properly. Continuous paper does not feed properly. Options. When you use the cut-sheet feeder, the paper does not feed properly. Switching between the cut-sheet feeder and the push tractor does not work properly. Using the pull tractor with the push tractor, continuous paper does not feed properly. With color upgrade kit installed, printer doesnt operate properly.

3-6 3-6 3-7 3-8 3-8 3-9

Appendix
Printer Specifications. Printing. Paper. Mechanical. Electrical. Environmental. Safety approvals. Interface Specifications. Parallel interface specifications Serial interface specifications. Serial pin assignments. Printer Settings. Command Summary. Sending printer commands. Using the command summary Printer operation. Data control. Vertical motion. Horizontal motion. Overall printing style. Print size and character width. Print enhancement. Word processing. A-2 A-2 A-3 A-6 A-6 A-7 A-7 A-7 A-7 A-8 A-8 A-9 A-10 A-10 A-10 A-11 A-11 A-11 A-12 A-13 A-13 A-13 A-14
Character tables. User-defined characters Color printing. Graphics.

A-14 A-15 A-16 A-16

_______ _______ _______/
A5 size 95/01/20 Introduction

Features

Your Epson 9-pin dot matrix printer offers these outstanding features: t High-speed printing. Print up to 220 characters per second (cps) in 10-cpi draft mode. Quiet operation. Youll notice the benefit of quiet printing in your work environment. Simple control panel. Three buttons and three lights give you fingertip-access to most printer functions. Two built-in interfaces: parallel and EIA-232D serial. Detachable push and pull tractor. Feed continuous paper with ease and print on single sheets without removing the continuous paper supply. Compact design. This printer fits neatly into available space in your home or office. Longer printable area. Print up to 66 lines on A4-size or 62 lines on standard letter paper. IBM 2380 printer emulation mode.

Unpacking the Printer

Your printer box should include these items.

Printer

Printout guide
BB1-01 BB1-02 BB1-03 BB1-04 BB1-05 BB1-05a Paper-feed knob Paper supports
Ribbon cartridge Power cord
In some locations, the power cord is attached to the printer.
Caution: There are several versions of this printer designed for different voltages, and it is not possible to change the voltage. If the label on the back of the printer does not show the correct voltage for your country, contact your dealer.
Choosing a place for the printer
When selecting a place to set up your printer, choose a safe, convenient location that provides the following: t t A flat, stable surface Adequate room around the printer to allow easy operation and maintenance. Make sure its close enough to the computer for the printer cable to reach. Place the printer where you can easily unplug the power cord. Moderate environmental conditions. Select a cool, dry area and protect your printer from direct sunlight, excessive heat, moisture, or dust. Appropriate power source. Make sure you use a grounded outlet; do not use an adapter plug. Avoid electrical outlets controlled by timers or wall switches; an interruption in power can wipe out the information in your computer or printer memory.
If you place the printer on a stand, follow these guidelines: t t t Use a stand that supports at least 10 kg (22 lb). Never use a stand that tilts the printer. Always keep it level. Provide enough clearance below the stand and between the legs so your continuous paper flows smoothly. Place cables so they do not interfere with paper feeding; secure them to a leg of the stand if possible.

Assembling the Printer

Follow the steps in this section to get your printer up and running.
Installing the paper-feed knob
The first step in assembling the printer is installing the paper-feed knob. 1. Insert the knob into the hole on the printers side and rotate it slowly until it slips onto the shaft.

BB1-06

Push firmly on the paper-feed knob until it fits against the printer case.
Attaching the paper supports
You should install the paper supports before you begin using the printer. 1. Raise the paper guide. Hold one of the paper supports and push the tips into the notches on the edge guide.

BB1-07

Repeat for the other paper support. Lower the paper guide.
Installing the ribbon cartridge
Before installing the ribbon cartridge, make sure the printer is not plugged into an electrical outlet.

Open the printer cover to the upright position, then pull it up to remove it.

BB1-08

Warning: Never move the print head while the printer is turned on; this can damage the printer. Also, if you have just used the printer, let the print head cool for a few minutes before you touch it.
Slide the print head to the middle of the printer.

BB1-09

Turn the ribbon-tightening knob in the direction of the arrow to remove any slack from the ribbon so it is easier to install.

BB1-10

Insert the ribbon cartridge into the printer as shown; then press both sides of the cartridge firmly to fit the plastic hooks into the printer slots.

BB1-11

Use a pointed object, such as a ball point pen, to guide the ribbon between the print head and ribbon guide. Turn the ribbon tightening knob to help feed the ribbon into place; it should not be twisted or creased.

BB1-12

Slide the print head from side to side to make sure it moves smoothly. Re-install and close the printer cover.
When the printing becomes faint, you need to replace the ribbon cartridge. To remove the old ribbon cartridge, first move the print head to the center of the printer. Then remove the cartridge by lifting the posts on the either side and taking it out of the printer.

Plugging in the printer

1. Make sure the power switch on the printer is turned off. It is off when the N side of the switch is pressed down.

BB1-13

Check the label on the bottom of the printer to make sure the voltage required by the printer matches that of your electrical outlet.
Caution: If the rated voltage and your outlet voltage do not match, contact your dealer for assistance. Do not plug in the power cord.
If the power cord is not attached to the printer, connect it to the AC inlet on the printer. Plug the power cord into a properly grounded electrical outlet.

Running the Self Test

The built-in self test function demonstrates that the printer is working properly. You can run the test with either continuous paper or single sheets; this section describes the easier way, with single sheets. 1. Make sure the printer is turned off and the paper-release lever is pushed back to the single-sheet position. Raise the paper guide upright.

BB1-14

Caution: You should use paper at least 210 mm or 8 1/4 inches wide to run the self test; otherwise, the print head prints directly on the platen.
While holding down the LF/FF button, turn on the printer. The PAUSE light flashes.

BB1-15

Slide the left edge guide until it locks in place at the guide mark. Next, adjust the right edge guide to match the width of your paper.

BB1-16

Slide a sheet of paper down firmly between the edge guides until it meets resistance. The printer loads the sheet automatically. Press the PAUSE button, then the printer begins to print.

BB1-21

Note: If there is a ground wire at the end of the cable, attach it to the ground connector to the right of the interface.

BB1-22

Guide the interface cable through the slot on the side of the printer so that it does not block the paper supply.

BB1-23

Plug the other end of the cable into the computers serial interface; then tighten the screws on either side of the connector. (If there is a ground wire at the end of the cable, attach it to the ground connector at the back of the computer.) Use the Printer Setting mode to change the baud rate, parity bit, data length, or ETX/ACK if necessary. See Changing the Printer Settings in Chapter 2.

Setting Up Your Software

Most software lets you specify the type of printer you use so that you can take full advantage of the printers features. Your software probably provides an installation or setup section that presents a list of printers.
Microsoft Windows 3.1 and all Windows programs
If Windows is installed on your computer system, follow the steps below to install the right driver for your printer. Your printer will work correctly for all your Windows programs, such as Word for Windows, Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows, and CorelDRAW. If Windows is not already installed on your system, run the Windows setup program as described in the documentation that comes with the program. Follow steps 4 through 10 below when you reach the section about choosing a printer. 1. 2. 3. 4. In the Main window, double click the Control Panel icon. Double click the Printers icon. Choose the Add>> button. From the list of printers box, select Epson LX-300. If LX-300 is not available, select Epson JX-80 if you plan to use color or Epson LX-810, LX-850, or LX-800 if you do not plan to use color. Choose the Install button. A dialog box may instruct you to insert a diskette. If necessary, insert the diskette required. Choose the Setup button. Select the appropriate resolution. Choose the OK button.

6. 7. 8. 9.

10. Highlight Epson LX-300 (or the printer you added) and click the button labeled Set As Default Printer. 11. Click the Close button.
Using non-Windows software
Most application programs let you specify the type of printer you use so that the program can take full advantage of the printers features. Many programs provide an installation or setup menu that presents a list of printers. To take full advantage of your printers features, choose LX-300 from the list of printers. If the LX-300 is not listed, choose the first available printer from the following list. If you plan to use color, you must choose either LX-300, JX-80, or EX-800. The other printers cannot use color. LX-810/850 LX-800 LX-80/86 FX-850 FX-86e/800 JX-80 EX-800 Any FX printer Epson printer Draft printer
If your software does not list the LX-300, you may want to contact the software manufacturer for an update.
A5 size 95/01/20 Chapter 2

Selecting fonts

Roman Sans Serif Draft Draft Condensed Font

BB2-02

To choose one of the four internal fonts listed on the control panel, press the FONT button. The two font lights come on (N ) and go off (O ) to show the current selection. Press the button repeatedly to cycle through all of the available selections; then stop when you reach the desired font. Your selection stays in effect until you change it again or turn off the printer. However, any font choices you make with your software will cancel your control panel selection. The table below shows how the FONT lights appear for each selection.
FONT Lights N N N O O N O O
Font Epson Roman (NLQ) Epson Sans Serif (NLQ) Epson Draft Epson Draft condensed N = on O = off

Sample

BB2-03
Printing on Single Sheets
You can use the paper guide to print on single sheets with a width of 182 mm (7.2 inches) to 257 mm (10.1 inches).
Note: You can install an optional cut-sheet feeder to load up to 50 sheets automatically. See page 2-24 for details.

Loading single sheets

You load single sheets as shown in Running the Self Test in Chapter 1. For normal use, turn on the printer without pressing any other buttons. When the printer receives data, it begins to print.
Adjusting the loading position
If you want to adjust the position where printing begins on the page, follow these steps (these instructions also work when using the pull or push tractor): 1. With paper loaded, hold down the PAUSE button until the printer beeps once and the FONT lights begin to flash. Press the LF/FF button to feed the paper forward, or press the FONT button to feed the paper backward. (Press either button as many times as necessary until you reach the desired position.) To complete the adjustment, press the PAUSE button or send data from your computer.
Getting the results you expect
When you print on single sheets, you may notice that the printer prints the first page of your file correctly, but then prints too low on the next page, or that it prints the last few lines from one page onto the next. This happens because single sheet handling differs slightly from continuous paper handling. Its easy to adjust the printer so that you get the right results. Simply change some of the settings in your software program as described below. 1. When you install a software program, it normally asks you what printer you are using. Make sure you choose the correct printer. See Chapter 1 for instructions. Many programs have an option that you can use to set the maximum lines-per-page. If you are using standard 8 1/2 11-inch paper, set the lines-per-page to 61.

10. Attach the printer cover and adjust the paper position with the paper-feed knob. Turn the knob until the perforation between pages is just above the print head. Then turn on the printer. 11. Make sure the printer cover is closed. When the printer receives data, it begins printing automatically. If you want to change the position where printing begins on the page, press LF/FF to advance the page to the next top-of-form position, and then follow the steps on page 2-5 to adjust the loading position. To eject the paper, tear off the paper entering the printer; then press the LF/FF button to feed the paper forward.
Printing on Special Paper
In addition to printing on single sheets and continuous forms, your printer can also print on a wide variety of paper types, including multi-part forms, labels, and envelopes. Before printing on special paper, you need to change the paper thickness setting.
Caution: When printing on multi-part forms, thicker-than-normal paper, labels, or envelopes, make sure your software program settings keep the printing entirely within the printable area. Printing past the edge of these papers can damage the print head.
For multi-part forms and labels, you should not print any closer than 0.5 inch or 13 mm from either side of the paper. For information on the printable area of envelopes, see the Appendix.
Adjusting the paper-thickness lever
The paper-thickness lever lets you specify the correct setting for your printing material. It is factory-set for standard office paper. Heres how to change the setting for special papers: 1. Turn the printer off and open the cover. The paper-thickness lever is on the left side of the printer. The numbers next to the lever indicate the thickness setting. For normal use, the lever should always be set to position 0.

BB2-15

Use the table below to select the appropriate paper thickness.
Paper type Standard paper (single sheets or continuous) Multi-part forms 2-sheet 3-sheet Labels Envelopes 18 to 22 lb 24 lb Lever position 2 3
Close the cover. When you finish printing, move the paper-thickness lever back to position 0.

Multi-part forms

You can use the built-in tractor to print on carbonless multi-part forms of up to three parts (one original plus two copies). Before you print on the forms, set the paper thickness lever as described in the previous section. These tips will help you get good results: t Load multi-part forms with the tractor only, not in the cut-sheet feeder or paper guide. For instructions, see Printing on Continuous Paper on page 2-7. Use only multi-part forms that are joined by spot gluing and that are free of wrinkles and waves. Never load multi-part forms joined by metal staples, tape, or continuous gluing. If you need to adjust the loading position, use your software program or change the loading position as described on page 2-5. When you use side-crimped multi-part forms, the copies may not align with the original. If this happens, raise the paper guide.

Page length

This option is available only when you use continuous paper with the tractor. You can set the page length to 8.5, 11, 12, or 70/6 (the length of A4 paper) inches.

Auto tear off

When you use continuous paper with the push tractor, this feature advances the paper perforation to the tear-off position where you can easily tear off the printed pages. When the printer receives data, it automatically reverses the paper to the top-of-form position and starts printing, so you can use all of the next sheet. When you use the tractor to print on labels, set this feature to off.

Tractor

When you use the tractor as a pull or push tractor, leave this option set to Single. If you install an optional tractor and use both tractors as a push-pull tractor, set it to Double.

Interface

When this feature is set to Auto, the printer determines which interface is receiving data and switches to that interface until the end of the print job (when no data is received from the selected interface for the amount of time specified). You can specify either 10 seconds or 30 seconds. Set this option to Parallel only if you want the printer to ignore data from the serial interface or to Serial only if you want the printer to ignore data from the parallel interface.
Bit rate, parity bit, data length, and ETX/ACK
These options are available only when the interface is set to Serial. See your computer manual for the appropriate settings.
Installing and Using Options

Cut-sheet feeder

The optional single-bin cut sheet feeder (C80637V) handles up to 50 sheets of standard bond paper ( 82 g/m2 or 22 lb) without reloading. Follow these steps to install the cut sheet feeder: 1. 2. Make sure the printer is turned off. Remove the paper guide. If the tractor is installed in the pull-tractor position, remove it and re-install it in the push-tractor position. Make sure the paper-release lever is in the single-sheet position.
Hold the cut-sheet feeder in both hands and press on the latch levers. Fit the notches in the cut-sheet feeder over the mounting posts on the printer. Releasing the latch levers locks the cut-sheet feeder in place.

BB2-16

Slide the left paper guide so it is aligned with the triangle mark. Next, slide the right paper guide to roughly match the width of your paper. Slide the paper support midway between the paper guides.

BB2-17

Pull the paper-set levers all the way forward until the paper guides retract and lock open to allow for paper loading.

The print is faint or uneven
Printed characters have parts missing at the bottom. The ribbon cartridge may not be installed properly. See page 1-5. The printout is faint. The ribbon may be worn out. Replace the ribbon cartridge as described on page 1-5.
Dots are missing in printed characters or graphics
A line of dots is missing in the printout. The print head is damaged. Stop printing and contact your dealer to have the print head replaced.
Dots are missing in random positions. Either there is too much slack in the ribbon or the ribbon has come loose. Re-install the ribbon cartridge as described on page 1-5.
Printed characters are not what you expected
The typestyles or characters you sent with your software did not print. Check that the software is correctly configured for your printer. For instructions, see page 1-16. The font selected on the control panel does not print. Your software may be overriding your control panel setting. Check the font setting in your software program.
The print position is not what you expected
Printing starts too high or too low on the page, or the bottom part of one page is printed at the top of the next page. See Getting the results you expect on page 2-6. Also, it is possible to turn the platen to make minor adjustments to the loading position for the current page only. (Do not turn the platen if you are printing labels.) Page length does not match the length of the paper. Check the page length set by your software and adjust it if necessary.
If you are using continuous paper, change the page length in the Printer Setting mode. See Changing the Printer Settings on page 2-20. Regular gaps occur in the printout. One-inch skip-over-perforation may be set. Set skip-over-perforation to off in the Printer Setting mode. See Changing the Printer Settings on page 2-20.

Paper Handling

Single sheets do not feed properly
Paper does not feed. Continuous paper may be left in the printer. Remove the continuous paper. Set the paper-release lever to the single-sheet position. Insert a new sheet. Move the paper a little to the left. Paper feeding is crooked or the paper jams. Turn off the printer and pull out the paper. Insert a new sheet straight into the paper guide. Make sure youre using the right type of paper. See the paper specifications in the Appendix. Make sure the printer cover is closed. Paper does not eject completely. Use the LF/FF button to eject the page. Make sure the printer cover is closed.
The paper may be too long. Use paper that is within the specified range. See the paper specifications in the Appendix.
Continuous paper does not feed properly
The tractor does not feed the paper. Check that the paper-release lever is pulled forward to the continuous-paper position. If not, turn off the printer, move the lever, and turn it on again. The paper may have come off the tractor. Reattach the paper to the tractor. Paper feeding is crooked or the paper jams. The position of your paper supply may be preventing it from feeding straight. Make sure the paper supply is not obstructed. Make sure that your paper supply is positioned within 1 meter (3 feet) of the printer. Make sure the printer cover is closed. Make sure the edge guide postions are correct. Position the edge guides at the diamond-shaped guide marks. Check that the holes on the sides of the paper are aligned with each other. Also, make sure the sprocket units are locked and their covers are closed. Check that the paper size and thickness are within the specified range. See the paper specifications in the Appendix. When you use side-crimped multi-part forms, the copies may not align with the original. If this happens, raise the paper guide to keep the printing position accurate.

Buffer: Download memory: Character fonts:
Character tables: Europe Other countries Character sets: Color printing (optional): Method Ribbon color Print ribbon shifting Black, Magenta, Cyan, and Yellow One italic and 14 graphics character tables One italic and 8 graphics character tables 13 international character sets
Single sheets (CSF): Width: Length: Thickness: Weight: 182 to 216 mm (7.2 to 8.5 inches) 210 to 364 mm (8.3 to 14.3 inches) 0.07 to 0.12 mm (0.0028 to 0.0047 inches) 64 to 91 g/m2 (18 to 24 lb) t Use 90 g/m2 (24 lb) paper only under normal temperature and humidity conditions.
Single sheets (manual insertion): Width: Length: Thickness: Weight: 182 to 257 mm (7.2 to 10.1 inches) 182 to 364 mm (7.2 to 14.3 inches) 0.065 to 0.14 mm (0.0025 to 0.0055 inches) 52 to 90 g/m2 (14 to 24 lb) paper under normal conditions. t Use 90 g/m2 (24 lb) paper only under normal temperature and humidity conditions.
Continuous paper: Width: Copies: Thickness: Weight: 102 to 254 mm (4 to 10 inches) Three sheets (one original plus two copies) 0.065 to 0.25 mm (0.0026 to 0.0098 inches) total 52 to 82 g/m2 (14 to 22 lb) for one sheet 40 to 58 g/m2 (12 to 15 lb) per sheet in multi-part forms t Use only two- or three-part carbonless multi-part forms fed with the tractor. t When using side-crimped multi-part forms, raise the paper guide to keep the printing position accurate. t When using the push tractor, the printing position for the last page may not be accurate because the page comes off the tractor.
Note: Use recycled paper under normal conditions only. If ribbon consumption or paper jamming increase, use a higher grade of paper.
Labels: Size: 102 to 254 mm (4 to 10 inches) width for backing sheet 63.5 23.8 mm (2.50 0.94 inches) minimum for a label 0.07 to 0.09 mm (0.0028 to 0.0035 inches) for backing sheet 0.16 to 0.19 mm (0.0063 to 0.0075 inches) total 64 g/m2 (17 lb) for label only t Use only continuous type labels and use them only with the tractor. t Use labels only under normal temperature and humidity conditions.

Thickness:

Weight:
Envelopes: Size: Thickness: Weight: No. 92 mm (6.5 3.6 inches) No. 104 mm (9.5 4.1 inches) 0.16 to 0.48 mm (0.0063 to 0.019 inches) 45 to 90 g/m2 (12 to 24 lb) t Use envelopes only under normal temperature and humidity conditions.
Roll paper (optionalnot available in some countries) Width: Diameter: Thickness: Weight: 213 to 219 mm (8.38 to 8.62 inches) Up to 127 mm (5.0 inches) 0.07 to 0.09 mm (0.0028 to 0.0035 inches) 52 to 64 g/m2 (14 to 17 lb)

Printer operation

ASCII Dec. Hex. Description
ESC @ DC1 DC3 ESC s 1/0 ESC ESC U 1 /0 ESC 8 ESC 9 BEL

3C 39 07

Initialize Printer Select Printer Deselect Printer Turn Half-Speed Mode On/Off Select Unidirectional Mode (one line) Turn Unidirectional Mode On/Off Disable Paper-Out Detection Enable Paper-Out Detection Beeper

Data control

CR CAN DEL

0D 18 7F

Carriage Return Cancel Line Delete Character

Vertical motion

FF ESC C n ESC C 0 n ESC N n ESC O LF ESC 0 ESC 1 ESC 2 ESC 3 n ESC A n

0C 4E 4F 0A 41

Form Feed Set Page Length in Lines n = Number of lines Set Page Length in Inches n = Number of inches Set Skip-Over-Perforation n = Number of lines Cancel Skip-Over-Perforation Line Feed Select 1/8-inch Line Spacing Select 7/72-inch Line Spacing Select 1/6-inch Line Spacing Select n/216-inch Line Spacing Select n/72-inch Line Spacing

Description

ESC J n VT ESC B nn

4A 0B 42

Perform n/216-inch Line Feed Tab Vertically Set Vertical Tabs Up to 16 tabs entered in ascending order; last n should be 0 Set Vertical Tabs in Channels The c selects a channel for the vertical tabs, which must be between 0-7 Select Vertical Tab Channel

ESC b c nn

ESC / c

Horizontal motion

ESC l n ESC Q n BS ESC e 0 n
Set Left Margin n = Left margin column Set Right Margin n = Right margin column Backspace Set Horizontal Tab Increments n = Horizontal tab interval in spaces (n< 21 at 10 cpi, 25 at 12 cpi, or 36 in condensed modes) Set Vertical Tab Increments n = Vertical tab interval in lines Horizontal Skip n = Number of spaces to skip Vertical Skip n = Number of lines to skip Tab Horizontally Set Horizontal Tabs Up to 32 tabs entered in ascending order; last n should be 0
ESC e 1 n ESC f 0 n ESC f 1 n HT ESC D nn

Overall printing style

ESC x n
Select NLQ or Draft n = 1: NLQ 0: Draft Select NLQ Font n = 0: Roman 1: Sans Serif Master Select To find the value of n, add together the numbers of the typestyles you want to combine from the list below: n = 0: 10 cpi 16: Double-Strike 1: 12 cpi 32: Double-Width 4: Condensed 64: Italic 8: Emphasized 128: Underline

Safety information, vvi, 3-4 Selecting fonts, 2-4 Self test, 1-1012 Sending printer commands, A-10 Serial interface, 1-1516 Setting up the printer, 1-216 your software, 1-1618 Settings, changing printer, 2-1924 Shape of zero, 2-22 Single sheets, 2-56 Skip-over-perforation, 2-22 Software, setting up your, 1-1518 Spacing, character, 2-22 Special paper, 2-1518 Specifications interface, A-78 printer, A-27
Tractor, 2-32 pull, 2-1115 push, 2-711 unit, 2-2829 Troubleshooting, 3-111
Unpacking printer, 1-2 Upgrade kit, color, 2-3134 Using command summary, A-10 control panel, 2-24 parallel interface, 1-1314 printer, 2-134 serial interface, 1-1516
Warnings, cautions, and notes, 2 Where to get help for United Kingdom users, iv for United States users, iii Windows, Microsoft, 1-17

Zero, shape of, 2-22

EPSON LX-300+
paper supports paper guide edge guides

Options

Single-bin Cut-sheet Feeder (C806371)
Feeds up to 50 sheets of ordinary single-sheet paper.

printer cover

Additional Tractor Unit (C800301)
Used in combination with the other tractor, improves continuous paper handling and reduces the chance of paper jams. This is especially useful for printing on continuous multipart forms.
Roll Paper Holder (#8310)
Allows you to use your printer with 8.5-inch roll paper.

control panel

paper release lever

Printer Specifications

ribbon cartridge paper tension unit

Mechanical

Printing method Emulation Printing speed 9-pin impact dot matrix EPSON ESC/P and IBM 2380 Plus High-speed draft 300 cps at 10 cpi 337 cps at 12 or 15 cpi High-speed draft condensed 321 cps at 17 cpi 300 cps at 20 cpi

serial interface

tractor parallel interface
paper thickness lever (gap) power switch
Draft 225 cps at 10 cpi 270 cps at 12 cpi 225 cps at 15 cpi Draft condensed 191 cps at 17 cpi 225 cps at 20 cpi NLQ 56 cps at 10 cpi 67 cps at 12 cpi 56 cps at 15 cpi 47 cps at 17 cpi 56 cps at 20 cpi Printing direction Bidirectional logic seeking for text and graphics printing. Unidirectional text or graphics printing can be selected using software commands.

User Replaceable Parts

User replaceable part Knob Logo plate Paper supports Paper eject assembly Printer cover assembly Sheet guide assembly Reference number Part number 1050626 1054395

EPSON LX-300+ - 1

Line spacing Printable columns 1/6 inch or programmable in 1/216-inch increments 80 columns (at 10 cpi) Reliability Total print volume 12 million lines (except print head) MTBF 6,000 POH (25% duty) Print head life approximately 400 million strokes per wire (black); 100 million strokes per wire (color) Dimensions and weight Height Width Depth Weight Ribbon 6.3 inches (160 mm) 14.4 inches (366 mm) 10.8 inches (275 mm) 9.8 lb (4.4 kg)
Resolution (maximum) dpi (NLQ) Interfaces 1 standard bidirectional, 8-bit parallel interface with IEEE-1284 nibble mode support, and 1 EIA-232D serial interface Friction (top paper entry) Push tractor (rear paper entry) Pull tractor (bottom or rear paper entry) Push and pull tractor (optional) Cut-sheet feeder (optional) Roll paper holder (optional) Paper feed speed Continuous 3 inches/second Intermittent 88 ms/line at 1/6-inch line spacing Buffer Built-in fonts 8KB Bitmap fonts EPSON Draft 10, 12, 15 cpi EPSON Roman 10, 12, 15 cpi, proportional EPSON Sans Serif 10, 12, 15 cpi, proportional Bar code fonts EAN-13, EAN-8, Interleaved 2 of 5, UPC-A, UPC-E, Code 39, Code 128, POSTNET Character tables 1 Italic table and 12 graphical character tables (35 graphical character tables are available in some countries) 13 international character sets and 1 legal character set Printing method: ribbon shifting Colors: black, magenta, cyan, yellow
Power consumption Input voltage range Rated frequency range Input frequency range Rated current

Paper feed methods

Black ribbon cartridge (#8750) Color ribbon cartridge (#S015073) Black ribbon life: 3 million characters (Draft: 10 cpi, 14 dots/character) Film ribbon life (draft, 10 cpi, 14 dots/ character): Black: 1 million characters Cyan: 0.7 million characters Magenta: 0.7 million characters Yellow: 0.5 million characters

Electrical

120 V 99 to 132 V 220 to 240 V 198 to 264 V 50 to 60 Hz 49.5 to 60.5 Hz 0.6 A (maximum 1.4 A depending on the character type) 0.3 A (maximum 0.7 A depending on the character type)
Approx. 23 W (ISO/IEC 10561 letter pattern)

Environmental

Temperature Operation Storage 41 to 95 F (5 to 35 C)

22 to 140 F (30 to 60 C)

Humidity (without condensation) 10 to 80% RH 0 to 85% RH
Character sets Color printing (optional)

2 - EPSON LX-300+

Use recycled paper, envelopes, and single-sheet multipart forms only under normal temperature and humidity conditions, as follows: Temperature: 59 to 77 F (15 to 25 C) Humidity: 30 to 60% RH Do not load paper that has been folded or is damaged, wrinkled, or curled.
Ordinary single sheets: paper guide and cut-sheet feeder entry Continuous paper (standard and multipart): rear and bottom entry
Width Length Copies Thickness
4 to 10 inches (101.6 to 254 mm) 4 to 22 inches (101.6 to 558.8 mm) 1 original + up to 4 copies Printable area 0.0025 to 0.015 inch (0.065 to 0.39 mm) Perforated edges up to 0.035 inch (0.9 mm) 14 to 22 lb (52 to 82 g/m2)
Weight (not multipart) Binding
Weight (1 multipart sheet) 12 to 15 lb (40 to 58 g/m2) Spot glued or crimp bound on both sides (bottom or rear entry)
Paper guide 3.9 to 10.1 inches (100 to 257) Cut-sheet feeder 7.2 to 8.5 inches (182 to 216 mm) Paper guide 3.9 to 10.1 inches (100 to 257 mm) Cut-sheet feeder 10.1 to 14 inches (257 to 356 mm) 0.0028 to 0.0047 inch (0.07 to 0.12 mm) Cut sheet feeder: 0.0028 to 0.0055 inch (0.07 to 0.14 mm) 14 to 24 lb (52 to 90 g/m2) Cut sheet feeder: 18 to 24 lb (64 to 90 g/m2)

Length

The continuous multipart forms should be securely joined together along the left and right edges by crimping. Crimping should be pressed in from the original sheet side and go completely through all copy sheets. The ratio of the cut/uncut length at the perforation should be between 3:1 and 5:1. The perforation between pages should not extend all the way to the edges of the paper. At the perforation between pages, the horizontal and vertical perforation cuts should not cross. The thickness of the perforation part when extended should be 1 mm or less.

Thickness

Weight
Single-sheet multipart forms
Width Length Copies Thickness Weight Binding

Envelopes

3.9 to 10.1 inches (100 to 257 mm) 3.9 to 14.3 inches (100 to 364 mm) 1 original + up to 4 copies 0.0047 to 0.015 inch (0.12 to 0.39 mm) 12 to 15 lb (40 to 58 g/m2) Line glue at the top of form
Continuous paper with labels: bottom entry only
Label size (minimum) Backing sheet width Backing sheet length Backing sheet thickness Total thickness Label weight

0.938 2.5 inches (23.8 63.5 mm) 0.1 inch (2.5 mm) corner radius 4 to 10 inches (101.6 to 254 mm) 4 to 22 inches (101.6 to 558.8 mm) 0.0028 to 0.0035 inch (0.07 to 0.09 mm) 0.0063 to 0.0075 inch (0.16 to 0.19 mm) 17 lb (64 g/m2)

Size Thickness Weight

No. 6: 6.5 3.6 inches (mm) No. 10: 9.5 4.1 inches (mm) 0.0063 to 0.0205 inch (0.16 to 0.52 mm) 12 to 24 lb (45 to 90 g/m2)
Roll paper: rear entry with optional roll paper holder only

Width Thickness Weight

8.5 0.12 inch (mm) 0.0028 to 0.0035 inch (0.07 to 0.09 mm) 14 to 22 lb (52 to 82 g/m2)

EPSON LX-300+ - 3

Paper Alignment
Printing starts at 0 on the scale. The unprintable area is to the left of the 0.

Continuous paper

A printable area

Printable Area

Single sheets and envelopes

A B A printable area

A The minimum top and bottom margins above and below the perforation are 0.17 inch (4.2 mm). B The minimum left and right margins are 0.51 inch (13 mm). The maximum paper width is 10 inches (254 mm). The maximum printable width is 8 inches (203.2 mm). For continuous paper wider than 9 inches (229.2 mm), the side margins increase proportionally to match the width of the paper. B

printable area

Roll paper
A The minimum top margin is 0.17 inch (4.2 mm). B The minimum left and right margins are 0.12 inch (3 mm). The maximum paper width is 10.1 inches (257 mm). The maximum printable width is 8 inches (203.2 mm). For single sheets wider than 8.23 inches (209.2 mm), the side margins increase proportionally to match the width of the paper. C The minimum bottom margin is 0.17 inch (4.2 mm).
A The minimum top margin is 0.17 inch (4.2 mm). B The minimum left and right margins are 0.12 inch (3 mm). The maximum printable width is 8 inches (203.2 mm).

4 - EPSON LX-300+

Safety Approvals

120 V LF/FF button

Feeds paper line by line when pressed and released. When held down, ejects a single sheet or advances continuous paper to the next top-of-form position.

Safety standards EMI

UL 1950 CSA C22.2 No. 950 FCC part 15 subpart B class B CSA C108.8 class B

Load/Eject button

Loads or ejects a single sheet of paper. When the tractor is installed in the push position, loads continuous paper from the standby position or feeds continuous paper backward to the standby position.
Safety standards EMI Acoustic noise
EN 60950 EN 55022 (CISPR pub. 22) class B AS/NZS 3548 class B Approx. 49 dB (A) (ISO 7779 pattern)

Paper Out light

On when no paper is loaded in the selected paper source or paper is not loaded correctly. Flashes when paper has not been fully ejected or a paper jam has occurred. In Micro Adjust mode, selects the font indicated by the Tear Off lights.

CE Marking

Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC EMC Directive 89/336/EEC
EN 60950 EN 55022 Class B EN 61000-3-2 EN 61000-3-3 EN 50082-1 IEC 60801-2 IEC 60801-3 IEC 60801-4

Pause button

Stops printing temporarily, and resumes printing when pressed again. When pressed for 3 seconds, turns on Micro Adjust mode.

Pause light

On when the printer is paused. Flashes when the printer is in the Micro Adjust mode or when the print head has overheated.
Control Panel Buttons and Lights

Micro Adjust mode

When you hold down the Pause button for 3 seconds, the printer enters the Micro Adjust mode. In this mode, you can press the LF/FF D and Load/Eject U buttons to adjust the top-of-form or tear-off position.

Tear Off lights

f f When continuous paper is in the tear-off position; otherwise the lights indicate the selected font.

Tear Off (Font) button

When the tractor is installed in the push position, advances continuous paper to the tear-off position. Feeds continuous paper backward from the tear-off position to the top-of-form position.

EPSON LX-300+ - 5

Selecting Fonts
After entering the Micro Adjust mode by holding down the Pause button for three seconds, you can change font settings with the Tear Off button. The two Tear Off lights come on (n) and go off (o) to show the current selection. Press the button repeatedly to cycle through all of the available selections; then stop when you reach the desired font. Your selection stays in effect until you change it again or turn off the printer. However, any font choices you make with your software will cancel your control panel selection. The table below shows how the Tear Off lights appear for each selection.
Font EPSON Draft EPSON Draft condensed EPSON Roman EPSON Roman condensed EPSON Sans Serif EPSON Sans Serif condensed Tear Off lights o o n n n f n f o n f o f Pause f Paper Out n Pause Sample Problem Solution No paper is loaded in the selected paper source. Load paper in the printer. Then press the Pause button to turn off the Pause light, if necessary. The paper is not loaded correctly. Remove your paper and reload it. Then press the Pause button to turn off the Pause light, if necessary. Paper is jammed in the printer. Clear the paper jam. Continuous paper is not fed to the standby position. Tear off the printed document at the perforation; then press the Load/Eject button. The printer feeds the paper to the standby position. Press the Pause button to turn off the Pause light. A single sheet of paper is not fully ejected. Press the Load/Eject button to eject the sheet. Then press the Pause button to turn off the Pause light, if necessary. Paper is jammed in the printer. Clear the paper jam. The print head is overheated. Wait a few minutes; the printer resumes printing automatically once the print head cools. f Paper Out f Pause f f Tear Off An unknown printer error has occurred. Turn off the printer and leave it off for several minutes; then turn on the printer again. If the error recurs, contact your dealer.

State of Beep panel lights pattern n Paper Out n Pause
n = on o = off f = flashing

Error Indicators

You can identify many common printer problems using the lights on the control panel. If your printer stops working and one or more control panel lights are on or flashing, or the printer beeps, use the following table to diagnose and fix the problem.
State of Beep panel lights pattern n Pause Problem Solution The printer is paused. Press the Pause button to resume printing. Paper from another paper source is currently in the paper path. Move the paper release lever back to the appropriate position and press the Load/Eject button to feed the paper out of the paper path. Then set the lever to the position you want to use. Press the Pause button to turn off the Pause light, if necessary.
n = on, f = flashing = short series of beeps (three beeps) = long series of beeps (five beeps) The printer beeps once if you press a control panel button when the corresponding function is not available.

Status Monitor

The EPSON Status Monitor 3 utility comes with the printer but is available only for use with Windows 95, 98, or NT 4.0. It allows you to monitor your printers status, alerts you when printer errors occur, and provides troubleshooting instructions.

6 - EPSON LX-300+

If you plan to use a tractor in the pull position, you can remove the tractor from the push position and reinstall it in the pull position, or you can purchase an optional tractor unit (C800301) and install it in the pull position.

Paper Positions

Top-of-Form Position
The top-of-form position is where the printer starts printing on single sheets or continuous paper.
Printing with the Push Tractor
When using the push tractor, it is a good idea to set the Auto tear-off feature in the default setting mode to On. Before loading paper, remove the printer cover and the paper guide and place the paper-release lever in the continuous paper position.

The letters ABC are printed at the top-of-form position

Tear-off Position

Continuous paper is in the tear-off position when the perforation is aligned with the tear-off edge. You can easily tear off your printed document at this position. After you load paper, attach the paper guide to separate the incoming paper from the printed paper. Fit its notches over the printers mounting posts as shown below. Then slide the paper guide toward the front of the printer until you feel it click.

Standby Position

Continuous paper is in the standby position when it is attached to the tractor but not loaded in the printer.
Printing on Continuous Paper
You can choose from two tractor positions (push and pull) for printing on continuous paper:
If you often need to tear off sheets of continuous paper (for printing purchase orders or sales slips, for example), it is best to use the push tractor. This allows you to use the tear-off edge to easily tear off printed sheets of continuous paper at the perforation. When continuous paper is loaded on the push tractor, you can also load single sheets from the paper guide without removing the continuous paper from the tractor. The tractor is installed in the push position when the printer is shipped. If you often print on thick or heavy continuous paper, such as multipart forms or continuous paper with labels, use a tractor in the pull position. You cannot use the tear-off feature with the pull tractor.
Switching Back to Single Sheets
To switch to single sheets, press the Load/Eject button; the printer feeds the paper backward to the standby position. Then you are ready to load single sheets for printing.
Always tear off the printed document before you press the Load/Eject button. Reverse feeding several pages at a time may cause a paper jam.

EPSON LX-300+ - 7

Printing with the Pull Tractor
To load continuous paper using the pull tractor, you must move the tractor to the pull tractor position, as described in steps 1 through 4 below. If your tractor is already installed in this position, make sure the printer is off and skip to step 7.
Use the knob on the left side of the printer only to clear paper jams and only when the printer is off. Otherwise, you may damage the printer or cause it to lose the topof-form position. When using the pull tractor, set the Auto tear-off feature in the default setting mode to Off; otherwise the paper may jam.
4. Move the tractor forward to the mounting slot at the top of the printer and tilt it into place as shown below. When you push the tractor onto the posts, you should feel the notches snap into place.

1. Turn the printer off; then remove the printer cover and the paper guide. 2. Remove the paper tension unit by squeezing the tension units lock tabs gently and pull the tension unit away from the printer. Pull the paper-release lever forward to the continuous paper position. 5. Release the sprocket units by pulling the sprocket locks forward.
3. Squeeze the tractors lock tabs gently and rotate the tractor up and pull it away from the printer.
6. Insert the paper into the paper slot as shown below and pull it up. Position the paper using the scale on the printer as a guide. The printer prints to the right of the position marked 0.

0 position

8 - EPSON LX-300+
7. Slide the left sprocket unit so that its sprockets match the position of the holes in the paper and lock the unit in place. Then slide the right sprocket unit to match the width of your paper, but do not lock it. Move the paper support midway between the two sprocket units.
Adjusting the Top-of-Form Position
The top-of-form position is where the printer will start printing on the page. If your printing appears too high or low, follow the steps below to use the Micro Adjust feature to adjust the top-ofform position.
Never use the knob to adjust the top-of-form position; this may damage the printer or cause it to lose the topof-form position. Your top-of-form position setting remains in effect until you change it, even if you turn off the printer. The top margin setting made in some application software overrides the top-of-form position setting you make with the Micro Adjust feature. If necessary, adjust the top-of-form position in your software.
1. Make sure the printer is turned on and paper is loaded. 8. Open the sprocket covers, fit the first holes of the paper over the sprocket pins, and then close the sprocket covers. Slide the right sprocket unit to remove any slack in the paper and lock it in place. 2. Remove the printer cover. 3. Hold down the Pause button for about 3 seconds. The Tear Off lights start flashing and the printer enters the Micro Adjust mode. 4. Press the LF/FF D button to move the top-of-form position up on the page, or press the Load/Eject U button to move the top-of-form position down on the page.
9. To separate the incoming paper from the printed paper, attach the paper guide. Hold it horizontally and fit its notches over the printers mounting posts. Then slide the paper guide toward the back of the printer until it clicks. 10. Attach the printer cover and adjust the paper position with the paper-feed knob. Turn the knob until the perforation between pages is just above the print head. Then turn on the printer. 11. Make sure the printer cover is closed, but with the paper guide cover open. If you want to change the position where printing begins on the page, press LF/FF to advance the page to the next top-of-form position, and then see Adjusting the Top-of-Form Position (below) to adjust the loading position. To eject the paper, tear off the paper entering the printer; then press the LF/FF button to feed the paper forward.

plastic ribbon cover

The printer has a minimum and maximum top-ofform position. If you try to adjust it beyond these limits, the printer beeps and stops moving the paper. When the paper reaches the default top-of-form position, the printer also beeps and stops moving the paper briefly. You can use the default setting as a reference point when adjusting the top-of-form position.

EPSON LX-300+ - 9

To adjust the top-of-form position for continuous paper loaded on the pull tractor, see the following example: First mark a point 0.1 inch (2.5 mm) above the papers perforation; then position the paper so that the mark is even with the top edge of the plastic ribbon cover. This gives you a 0.33-inch (8.5-mm) margin on the next page, meaning the printer starts printing 0.33 inch (8.5 mm) below the perforation. If you mark a point 0.22 inch (5.5 mm) above the perforation, you get a 0.22-inch (5.5-mm) margin on the next page.
Advancing the paper to the tear-off position automatically
To automatically advance your printed documents to the tear-off position, turn on the Auto tear-off mode and select the appropriate page length for continuous paper in the default setting mode. See Changing Default Settings on page 13. When Auto tear-off is on, the printer automatically advances the paper to the tear-off position when it receives a full page of data or a form feed command followed by no more data.
Adjusting the tear-off position
If the paper perforation is not aligned with the tear-off edge, you can use the Micro Adjust feature to move the perforation to the tear-off position. Follow the steps below.
Never use the knob to adjust the tear-off position; this may damage the printer or cause it to lose the tear-off position. Your tear-off position setting remains in effect until you change it, even if you turn off the printer.
5. After you set the top-of-form position, press the Pause button to exit Micro Adjust mode.
Advancing Paper to the Tear-Off Edge
When you use the push tractor, you can use the tear-off feature to advance your continuous paper to the tear-off edge when you finish printing. You can then easily tear off the printed document. When you resume printing, the printer automatically feeds the paper back to the top-of-form position, saving the paper normally lost between documents. You can use the tear-off feature manually by pressing the Tear Off button, or automatically by turning on the Auto tear-off mode. If the perforation between pages is not aligned with the tear-off edge, you can adjust the position of the perforation using the Micro Adjust feature.

Never use the tear-off feature to feed continuous paper with labels backward; they may come off their backing sheet and jam the printer.
1. Make sure the Tear Off lights are flashing (the paper is at the current tear-off position). If necessary, press the Tear Off button to advance the paper to the tear-off position. 2. Open the paper guide cover. 3. Hold down the Pause button for 3 seconds. The Tear Off lights flash and the printer enters the Micro Adjust mode. 4. Press the LF/FF D button to feed the paper backward, or press the Load/Eject U button to feed the paper forward until the paper perforation is aligned with the tear-off edge.

tear-off edge

Using the Tear Off button
After your document prints, check that the Tear Off lights are not flashing. Then press the Tear Off button. The printer advances the paper to the tear-off edge.
If the Tear Off lights are flashing, the paper is in the tear-off position. If you press the Tear Off button again, the printer feeds your paper to the top-of-form position. The printer has a minimum and maximum tear-off position. If you try to adjust the tear-off position beyond these limits, the printer beeps and stops moving the paper.

10 - EPSON LX-300+

5. After you set the tear-off position, press the Pause button to turn off the Micro Adjust mode. 6. Tear off the printed page(s). When you resume printing, the printer automatically feeds the paper back to the top-of-form position. 2. Slide the left edge guide until it locks in place at the guide mark, then adjust the right edge guide to match the width of your paper.
Printing on Single Sheets
You can load single-sheet paper one sheet at a time using the printers paper guide. The printer accommodates single sheets from 3.9 to 10.1 inches (100 to 257 mm) wide. Before printing on single-sheet multipart forms, envelopes, or other special paper, be sure to the set the paper thickness lever to the appropriate position. See Adjusting the Paper Thickness Lever on page 12 for details.
To load a stack of single-sheet paper, use the optional cut-sheet feeder. You can use the paper guide to load single-sheet carbonless multipart forms that are fastened at the top by line gluing. Insert multipart forms in the paper guide, bound edge first and printable side down.

3. Slide a sheet of paper down firmly between the edge guides until it meets resistance.

Loading Single Sheets

1. Make sure the paper-release lever is pushed back to the single-sheet position, as shown below. Raise the paper guide upright.
Printing on Special Paper
The printer accommodates multipart forms, labels, and envelopes. For multipart forms and labels, you should not print any closer than 0.5 inch or 13 mm from either side of the paper.
When printing on multipart forms, thicker-than-normal paper, labels, or envelopes, make sure your software program settings keep the printing entirely within the printable area. Printing past the edge of these papers can damage the print head.

EPSON LX-300+ - 11

Adjusting the Paper Thickness Lever
Before printing on special paper, you need to change the paper thickness setting. The paper thickness lever is under the cover on the left side of the printer. The numbers next to the lever indicate the thickness setting.

Labels

You must use the tractor as a pull tractor to print on labels. Keep these tips in mind:
Choose labels mounted on a continuous backing sheet with sprocket holes made for use with a tractor. Do not print labels as single sheets, because the shiny backing sheet almost always slips slightly. You load labels the same way you load continuous paper, except that the paper thickness lever should be set to 1. See Printing with the Pull Tractor on page 8 for loading instructions. Because labels are especially sensitive to temperature and humidity, use them only under normal operating conditions. Make sure the printing stays entirely within the printable area. Dont leave labels loaded in the printer between jobs; they curl around the platen and may jam when you resume printing. To remove the labels from the printer, tear off the fresh supply at the rear of the printer; then press LF/FF to advance the remaining labels out of the printer.
Never feed labels backward through the printer; they can easily peel off the backing and jam the printer.
Use the table below to select the appropriate paper thickness.
Paper type Standard paper (single sheets or continuous) Multipart forms 2-sheets 3-sheets 4-sheets 5-sheets Labels Envelopes Lever position 2 to 4
You can feed envelopes individually using the paper guide.

Multipart Forms

You can use carbonless multipart forms of up to five parts (one original plus four copies). Before you print on the forms, set the paper thickness lever as described in the previous section. These tips will help you get good results:

Before loading an envelope, set the paper thickness lever to 2, 3, or 4. See Adjusting the Paper Thickness Lever (above). Load an envelope the same way you load single sheets, but insert the wide edge of the envelope into the printer first, printable-side down. When you insert the envelope between the paper guides, push it firmly and hold it until it feeds into the printer. Use envelopes only under normal temperature and humidity conditions. Make sure the printing stays entirely within the printable area. The print head must not go past the left or right edge of the envelope or other thick paper.
Use only multipart forms that are joined by spot gluing or side-crimping, and that are free of wrinkles and waves. Never load multipart forms joined by metal staples, tape, or continuous gluing. If you need to adjust the loading position, use your software program or change the loading position as described in Adjusting the Top-of-Form Position on page 9. When you use side-crimped multipart forms, the copies may not align with the original. If this happens, raise the paper guide.

12 - EPSON LX-300+

Changing Default Settings
Follow the steps below to enter the default setting mode and change the printers default settings.
To print the language selection and default setting mode instructions, you need 5 sheets of letter- or A4-size single-sheet paper or 5 pages of continuous paper. If you use single sheets, you need to load a new sheet each time the printer ejects a printed sheet.

Default Settings

While you can often set the default settings through your application software or printer driver, you may need to change a default setting from the printers control panel using the default setting mode. The table below lists the default settings (in bold) and options you can select in this mode.
Settings Page length for tractor Skip over perforation Auto tear-off Auto line feed Print direction Software 0 slash High speed draft I/F mode Auto I/F wait time Baud rate (bps) Parity Parallel I/F bidirectional mode Packet mode Character table* Options Length in inches: 3, 3.5, 4, 5.5, 6, 7, 8, 8.5, 11, 70/6, 12, 14, 17 On, Off On, Off On, Off Bi-D, Uni-D ESC/P, IBM 2380 Plus On, Off On, Off Auto, Parallel, Serial 10 seconds, 30 seconds 19200, 9600, 4800, 2400, 1200, 600, 300 None, Odd, Even, Ignore On, Off Auto, Off Standard model: Italic, PC 437, PC 850, PC 860, PC 863, PC 865, PC 861, BRASCII, Abicomp, Roman 8, ISO Latin 1, PC 858, ISO 8859-15, All other models: Italic, PC 437, PC 850, PC 437 Greek, PC 853, PC 855, PC 852, PC 857, PC 866, PC 869, MAZOWIA, Code MJK, ISO 8859-7, ISO Latin 1T, Bulgaria, PC 774, Estonia, ISO 8859-2, PC 866 LAT, PC 866 UKR, PC APTEC, PC 708, PC 720, PC AR864, PC 860, PC 863, PC 865, PC 861, BRASCII, Abicomp, Roman 8, ISO Latin 1, PC 858, ISO 8859-15, PC 771 Italic U.S.A., Italic France, Italic Germany, Italic U.K., Italic Denmark1, Italic Sweden, Italic Italy, Italic Spainsecond, 1.5 seconds, 2 seconds, 3 seconds On, Off On, Off Table 2, Table 1

1. Make sure paper is loaded and the printer is turned off.
Whenever you turn off the printer, wait at least 5 seconds before turning it back on; otherwise you may damage the printer.
2. While holding down the Tear Off button, turn on the printer. The printer enters the default setting mode and prints the language selection instructions. 3. If you need to select a different language, press the LF/FF button until the Tear Off lights indicate the language you want, as described in the language selection instructions. 4. Press the Tear Off button to confirm your language selection and print the current default settings. 5. If you do not need to change any settings, go to step 6. If you want to change any of the default settings, press the Tear Off button to print the instructions (three pages) in the language you selected. Follow the instructions to change the default settings using the buttons on the printers control panel.
The arrows on the instruction sheets indicate the printers current settings.
6. When you finish, turn off the printer to exit the default setting mode. The current settings remain in effect until you change them again.
International character set for Italic table Manual feed wait time Buzzer Auto CR (IBM 2380 Plus)* IBM character table*
* These settings take effect only when IBM 2380 Plus emulation is selected.

EPSON LX-300+ - 13

To temporarily stop the self test, press the Pause button. To resume the test, press the Pause button again.

Bidirectional Alignment

If you notice that the vertical lines in your printout are not properly aligned, you can use the printers bidirectional adjustment mode to correct this problem.
To complete the steps below, you need 5 letter or A-4 size single sheets or 5 pages of continuous paper. If you use single sheets, you need to load a new sheet of paper each time the printer ejects a printed sheet onto the paper guide.
3. To end the self test, press the Pause button to stop printing and the Load/Eject button to eject the printed page. Then turn off the printer. If the self test results are satisfactory, the printer is working properly and the problem probably results from your printer driver settings, application settings, computer, or interface cable. (Be sure to use a shielded interface cable.) If the self test does not print properly, there is a problem with the printer.

Printing a Hex Dump

If you are an experienced user or a programmer, you can print a hexadecimal dump to isolate communication problems between the printer and your software program. In hex dump mode, the printer prints all data received from the computer as hexadecimal values. You can print a hex dump using either single sheets or continuous paper. 1. Make sure paper is loaded and the printer is turned off.
2. While holding down the Pause button, turn on the printer. It enters the bidirectional adjustment mode, then prints instructions and the first set of alignment patterns. 3. As described in the instructions, compare the alignment patterns and select the pattern with the best alignment. 4. Follow the instructions to print the remaining sets of alignment patterns and select the pattern with the best alignment in each set. 5. After you select the best pattern in the final set of alignment patterns, turn off the printer and exit the bidirectional adjustment mode. Your selections are saved automatically.

Printing a Self Test

Running the self test helps you determine whether the printer or the computer is causing a printing problem. You can print the self test using either single sheets or continuous paper. 1. Make sure paper is loaded and the printer is turned off.
2. To enter hex dump mode, hold down both the LF/FF and Load/Eject buttons while you turn on the printer. 3. Open a software application and send a print job to the printer. Your printer prints all the codes it receives in hexadecimal format.
2. To run the test using the Draft font, hold down the LF/FF button while you turn on the printer. To run the test using the printers near letter-quality fonts, hold down the Load/Eject button while you turn on the printer. Either self test can help you determine the source of your printing problem; however, the draft test prints faster than the letterquality test. After a few seconds, the printer loads the paper automatically and begins printing the self test. A series of characters is printed.
If characters are printable, they appear in the right column as ASCII characters. Nonprintable codes, such as control codes, are represented by dots. By comparing the characters printed in the right column with the printout of the hexadecimal codes, you can check the codes the printer is receiving. 4. To exit hex dump mode, press the Pause button to stop printing and the Load/Eject button to eject the printed page(s). Then turn off the printer. 5/00

14 - EPSON LX-300+

6. Make sure the tractor that came with your printer is installed in the push position. 7. Repack the printer, ribbon cartridge, and paper guide in the original packing materials and place them in the printers original box.