Troubleshooting Star Printers

The LED indicators located on the operation or control panel will report the printer error, should your printer malfunction.  Each LED pattern indicates a specific condition error.  User manuals are available for free to download at the Star Global Support Site. 

LED Troubleshooting

This page gives a lot of information about the LED and what they mean. For further in-depth explanations and how to fix your particular model, please continue with the tables below.

TSP650II

Recoverable errors:

Error description	Indicators	Power	Error	Recovery condition
Thermal head high-temperature detection error		Flashes at 1-second intervals	OFF	The printer recovers automatically after the thermal heads have cooled. Please wait until the temperature becomes low.
Cover open error		ON	ON	The printer recovers when you close the cover. Please make sure a printer cover is closed correctly.
Near end error		ON	Flashes at 4 second interval	The printer recovers when you set a new paper roll and you close the rear cover Please change a paper roll soon. If the error is not removed, please an adjust Near-End sensor
Paper out error		ON	Flashes at .05 second interval	The printer recovers when you set a new paper roll and close the cover Please change a paper roll.
Ethernet link disconnection (Physical link disconnection)		Flashes at 4 second intervals	Flashes at 4 second intervals	Connect an Ethernet cable Please make sure an Ethernet cable is connected correctly. Please try another cable and another Ethernet port on a router.
Ethernet link disconnection (IP address lost)		Flashes at .25 second intervals	Flashes at .25 second intervals	Set the correct IP address and restart the printer Please make sure an Ethernet cable is connected correctly. Please try another cable and another Ethernet port on a router. Please power on and off your network devices. Please assign a static IP address to your printer.

Unrecoverable errors:

Error description	Indicators	Power	Error	Cause	Recovery condition
Cutter error		OFF	Flashes at .25 second intervals	Paper cutting in progress error Paper is jammed inside/cutter is broken	After you restart the printer, the printer recovers when the mobile cutter returns to its home position Turn off your printer and remove jamemed paper inside. If you cannot solve it, please contact Star support to repair.
Flash memory error		OFF	Flashes at 1 second intervals	Flash memory access error Flash memory IC on a circuit board is broken.	Turn off your printer and contact Star support to repair.
EEPROM error		OFF	Flashes at 1.5 second intervals	This is not a recoverable error EEPROM is broken	Turn off your printer and contact Star support to repair.
SRAM error		OFF	Flashes at 2 second intervals	RAM access error SRAM is broken	Turn off your printer and contact Star support to repair.
Heat thermistor error		OFF	Flashes at 3 second intervals	Detection of heat thermistor error Heat Thermistor is broken	Turn off your printer and contact Star support to repair.
Power voltage error		OFF	Flashes at 4 second intervals	Detection of power voltage error Power outage is out of spec.	Check the condition of the power supply and restart the printer Turn off and on your printer. If you cannot solve it, please contact Star support to repair.

TSP700II

Recoverable errors:

Error description	Power	Error	Recovery condition
Thermal head high temperature detection error	Flashes at .5 second intervals	OFF	The printer recovers automatically after the thermal heads have cooled
Cover open error	ON	ON (RED)	The printer recovers when you close the cover
Near end error	ON	Flashes orange at 1 second intervals	The printer recovers when you set a new paper roll and close the cover
Black mark error	ON	ON (ORANGE)	The printer recovers when you set a new paper roll and close the cover
Paper out error	ON	ON (ORANGE)	The printer recovers when you set a new paper roll and close the cover
Ethernet link disconnection (Physical link disconnection)			Connect an Ethernet cable
Ethernet link disconnection (IP address lost)			Set the correct IP address and restart the printer

Unrecoverable errors:

Error description	Power	Error	Cause	Recovery condition
Cutter error	OFF	Flashes RED at .125 second intervals	Paper cutting in progress error	After you restart the printer, the printer recovers when the mobile cutter returns to its home position
Flash memory error	OFF	Flashes ORANGE at .5 second intervals	Flash memory access error	-
EEPROM error	OFF	Flashes RED at .75 second intervals	This is not a recoverable error	-
SRAM error	OFF	Flashes ORANGE at 1 second intervals	RAM access error	-
Head thermistor error	OFF	Flashes RED at 1.5 second intervals	Detection of head thermistor error	-
Power voltage error	OFF	Flashes ORANGE at 2 second intervals	Detection of power voltage error	Check the power supply and restart the printer

TP800II

Recoverable errors:

Error description	Power	Error	Recovery condition
Head high temperature detection	Flashes at .5 second intervals	OFF	The printer recovers automatically after the thermal heads have cooled
Cover open error	ON	ON RED	The printer recovers when you close the cover
Paper out error	ON	ON ORANGE	The printer recovers when you set a new paper roll and close the cover
Paper near end error	ON	Flashes ORANGE at 1 second intervals	Indicates paper is near the end of the roll, but continues to print
Black mark paper size error	ON	ON ORANGE	The printer recovers when you set a new paper roll and close the cover
Paper cut error	OFF	Flashes RED at .125 second intervals	The printer recovers when the mobile cutter returns to its home position after turning OFF and ON
Link disconnection detection	Flashes at 2 second intervals	Flashes at 2 second intervals	Connect an Ethernet cable

Unrecoverable errors:

Error description	Power	Error	Recovery conditions
Flash access error	OFF	Flashes ORANGE at .5 second intervals	This is not a recoverable error
EEPROM	OFF	Flashes RED at .75 second intervals	This is not a recoverable error
SRAM	OFF	Flashes ORANGE at 1 second intervals	This is not a recoverable error
Head thermistor error	OFF	Flashes RED at 1.5 second intervals	This is not a recoverable error
Power voltage error	OFF	Flashes ORANGE at 2 second intervals	This is not a recoverable error

SP700

Recoverable errors:

Error Description	Power	Error	Buzzer	Recovery Conditions
Paper end error	ON	Flashes at 1 second intervals	Four short beeps (repeated 2x)	The printer recovers when you set a new paper roll and close the cover
Printer cover open error	ON	ON	BEEP	The printer recovers when you close the cover
Front cover open error	Flashes at .5 second intervals	ON	BEEP	The printer recovers when you close the front cover
High temperature detection	Flashes at 1 second intervals	OFF	-	The printer recovers automatically after the print heads have cooled (not uncommon)
Board high temperature detection	Flashes at 2 second intervals	OFF	-	The printer recovers automatically after the board has cooled
Cutter error (if model has one)	ON	Flashes at .125 second intervals	3 short beeps	The printer recovers when the mobile cutter returns to its home position after turning OFF and ON
Mechanical error (other than cutter)	ON	Flashes at .25 second intervals	2 short beeps	Turn off power and clear jam.The printer recovers when the mobile cutter returns to its home position after turning OFF and ON
Black mark detection error	ON	Flashes at .5 second intervals	3 short beeps	Clear jam or change to correct paper roll
Link disconnection detection (Physical link disconnection)	Flashes at 2 second intervals	Flashes at 2 second intervals	-	Connect with Ethernet cable
Link disconnection detection (IP address lost)	Flashes at .125 second intervals	Flashes at .125 second intervals	-	Set the correct IP address and restart the printer

Unrecoverable errors:

Error description	Power	Error	Buzzer
Flash memory write error	OFF	Flashes at 1 second intervals	-
Thermistor failure error	OFF	Flashes at .25 second intervals	2 short beeps
Power supply error	OFF	Flashes at 2 second intervals	-
CPU error	OFF	ON	1 long beep
RAM R/W error	OFF	ON	-

TSP100ECO

Recoverable 

Error description	Indicators	Power	Error	Recovery Conditions
Cover open error		ON	ON	The printer recovers when you close the cover Please make sure a printer cover is closed correctly. If you cannot solve an issue. Please contact Star Support.
Rear Cover open error		ON	ON	Please make sure a printer cover is closed correctly. If you cannot solve an issue. Please contact Star Support.
Power cord disconnection error		Flashes at .5 second intervals	Flashes at .5 second intervals	The printer recovers when you plug the cord into an AC outlet Please make sure a power code is plugged into AC outlet correctly and try another outlet.  If the error is not removed, please contact Star support.
Head high-temperature detection		Flashes at .5 second intervals	OFF	The printer recovers automatically after the print heads have cooled Please wait until the temperature becomes low.
Board high temperature detection		Flashes at 2 second intervals	OFF	The printer recovers automatically after the board has cooled Please wait until the temperature becomse low.

Nonrecoverable errors:

Error description	Power	Error	Recovery Conditions
Head thermistor error	Flashes at .5 second intervals	Flashes at .5 second intervals	Non-recoverable
Board thermistor error	Flashes at 2 second intervals	Flashes at 2 second intervals	Non-recoverable
VM voltage error	OFF	Flashes at 1 second interval	Non-recoverable
VCC voltage error	Flashes at 1 second interval	Flashes at 1 second interval	Non-recoverable
Nonvolatile memory error	Flashes at .25 second interval	Flashes at .25 second interval	Non-recoverable
USB error	Flashes at 5 second intervals	Flashes at 5 second intervals	Non-recoverable
CPU error	OFF	OFF	Non-recoverable
RAM error	OFF	ON	Non-recoverable

NOTE: If you receive a Non-recoverable error, turn the power OFF immediately and consult the dealer for repairs.

Paper Cutter Error

Error Description	Power	Error	Recovery Conditions
Paper Cutter Error	OFF	Flashes at .125 second intervals	Recovered by turning OFF, removing the paper jam or affected area, returning the cutter to the home position and turning ON
Paper Cutter Error	ON	Flashes at .5 second intervals	The printer recovers when you set a new paper roll and close the cover

NOTE:  When an unrecoverable error happens, you can turn off and back on to see if the error goes away.  You may also want to try another power source as well.  However, if the error continues, you will need to turn off the printer and contact the person you purchased the hardware from, or the manufacturer.

More Info

Articles in this section

• How to do a Feed Test (Star Printers)
• Troubleshooting Star Printers