Zebra ZP 505 Troubleshooting

The printer is not receiving power and the LED status light is not on.

Make sure that your thermal printer is turned “on” by checking the power switch at the back of the printer. The LED status light will also glow solid green if the printer is on.

Check connections from the wall outlet to the power supply, and from the power supply to the printer. If there are no irregularities with the power cord and it is plugged into the wall, disconnect the printer from the outlet for 30 seconds and then plug it back in.

Paper is not being fed into the printer and the status light is flashing red.

Ensure that the printer is loaded with a roll of paper. Follow the instructions for loading rolls that is on the inside of the printer and then press the feed button to resume printing.

Close the top cover before attempting to print. Once the printhead is closed, press the feed button to resume printing.

There is no print on the labels.

Check to see if the labels are in the printer backwards. To figure out which side the printer prints on, scratch the surface of the blank label with your nail and it should leave a black mark.

When printing a label the print on the label is ‘off the page.

To calibrate the printer:

1. Load the printer with the labels for your application

2. Power on the printer.

3. Press and hold the Feed Button until it flashes two times then release it.

4. Allow the printer to complete feeding labels and printing a sensor profile.

5. The printer should now be calibrated. Press the feed key and one label should be

issued each time.

Steps from Zebra documentation

The printed image does not appear as expected (ie. print on labels are too dark or light).

The printhead could be dirty. Zebra recommends purchasing a cleaning pen. Be sure to always use a new cleaning pen, as an old one can carry contaminants from previous usage and damages the printhead.

Caution: ''The printhead becomes hot while printing. To protect from damaging the

printhead and risk of personal injury, avoid touching the printhead. Use only the cleaning pen to perform maintenance.''

1. Rub the cleaning pen across the dark area of the printhead. Clean from the middle to the outside. This will move adhesive transferred from the edges of media to the printhead

outside of media path.

2. Wait one minute before closing the printer.

Steps from Zebra documentation

If the indicator light is flashing amber, your printhead is under temperature. Continue printing while the printhead reaches the correct operating temperature.

The darkness setting might need adjusting in the driver on your computer.

On the General tab of the driver window, click on printing preferences

Expand Device Options and then expand Head Settings…

Select Darkness Wizard and click the Settings button

Follow the instructions in resulting window

Steps from Zebra documentation

The media is incompatible with the printer. Make sure your media is recommended for your application, and use Zebra approved labels and tags.

The printhead could be worn out due to friction between the printer and the media and may need to be replaced.

The platen (driver) roller may be losing traction due to foreign objects attached to its surface, rubbery smooth surface has become slippery, or there is damage to the normally smooth surface. You may need to replace the platen.

The printer produces labels with blank vertical lines.

The printhead could be dirty. Zebra recommends purchasing a cleaning pen. Be sure to always use a new cleaning pen, as an old one can carry contaminants from previous usage and damages the printhead.

Caution: ''The printhead becomes hot while printing. To protect from damaging the

printhead and risk of personal injury, avoid touching the printhead. Use only the cleaning pen to perform maintenance.''

1. Rub the cleaning pen across the dark area of the printhead. Clean from the middle to the outside. This will move adhesive transferred from the edges of media to the printhead

outside of media path.

2. Wait one minute before closing the printer.

Steps from Zebra documentation

To calibrate the printer:

1. Load the printer with the labels for your application

2. Power on the printer.

3. Press and hold the Feed Button until it flashes two times then release it.

4. Allow the printer to complete feeding labels and printing a sensor profile.

5. The printer should now be calibrated. Press the feed key and one label should be

issued each time.

Steps from Zebra documentation

1. With the printer power off, press and hold the feed button while you turn on the power. Continue holding the feed button down until the printer begins flashing green (pause mode). The printer will flash several different color and flashing combinations prior to flashing only green. Release the feed button. The printer prints out a listing of its current configuration. After printing the label, the printer will automatically enter a diagnostic mode in which the printer prints out a literal representation of all data subsequently received. To exit the diagnostic mode and resume printing, turn off and then turn

on the printer.

2. With the printer power on and top cover closed, press and hold the feed button for several seconds. The green status LED will flash a number of times in sequence. The explanation at the right (Action) shows what happens when you release the key after the specific number of flashes. (See https://support.zebra.com/cpws/docs/zp50...) for explanataion of codes.