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Troubleshooting the Zebra TLP 2824 (ZPL)

You will learn how to troubleshoot the Zebra TLP 2824-ZPL printer in Bravo, including fixing print quality issues, connection problems, and driver errors.

Steps for Troubleshooting the Zebra TLP 2824 (ZPL)

 

Problem:

The Labels don’t print exactly on the labels or start to drift down on the labels.

 

Possible Solutions:

The Printer needs to be calibrated. You can do a soft calibration or a physical calibration.

  • To perform a soft calibration:

 

    1. Navigate to your devices and printers inside of your control panel in windows.
    2. Right click on the label printer and select PRINTING PREFERENCES.
    3. Select the TOOLS tab
    4. Select the action called CALIBRATE MEDIA
    5. Click SEND
    6. Your printer will then begin printing a few blank labels. Then tap the feed button and one blank label will feed.

 

  • To perform a physical calibration:

 

    1. Go to the printer and begin holding down the feed button.
    2. The printer will then begin to make a series of progressive flashes. (The flashes will represent numbers in a sequence. It will go one, then one two, then one two three, then one two three four, etc. Continue until you see the seventh (7th) progressive flash and immediately release.)
    3. The printer will then start printing media tests to detect the set media type, media length, and adjust the media sensors to for optimal performance.
    4. When the printer has finished the test prints, tap the feed button one more time. A blank label will then be fed out.   

 

Problem

My Printer is not obtaining an IP Address. When I print the status page all I see is 0.0.0.0 or an IP Address that does not match the DHCP settings of my internal network configuration.

 

Possible Solutions:

  • The Printer needs a network reset or a factory reset done to release the current IP parameters and obtain a new DHCP IP Address. This can be done 1 of two ways:
    1. Hold down the feed button.
      • The printer will then begin to make a series of progressive flashes. The flashes will represent numbers in a sequence. It will go one, then one two, then one two three, then one two three four. Continue until you see the fourth (4th) progressive flash and immediately release.
      • This will put the printer into the factory default mode.
      • Once the printer has entered the Factory Default mode, the status light will turn amber for three (3) seconds.
      • During this time you may do two things:
        1. Do nothing and the printer will reset the factory defaults automatically as described above OR
        2. Press and hold the feed button to enter a factory default reset modes for printers with a network printer option. Releasing the button after the first flash resets the network factory options only. Releasing the button after the second flash sequence (two flashes) will reset the printer defaults only. Releasing the button after the third flash sequence (three flashes) will reset both the printer and network settings.
    2. You can also use the printer’s reset button.
      • This button is located underneath the power switch inside a small divot. You will need to find a paper clip and extend it out so that you can push the reset button.
      • The printer’s reset button can restore the printer or network (the internal print server) to factory default configuration.
      • By pressing and holding the reset button for one (1) or more seconds, the printer will enter a reset sequence and the status light will begin blinking every second until released.
      • Releasing the button at the appropriate time tells the printer which reset function to perform.
      • If you hold the reset button for 1-5 seconds printer shall perform a factory default reset. Upon completion of the factory default reset the printer shall automatically print a configuration label and a network label (if present).
      • If you hold the reset button for 6-10 seconds the printer shall drop connection to the network and a network factory default reset shall occur. Upon completion of the network default reset the printer shall automatically print a configuration label and a network label.
      • If no Ethernet is installed in the printer the printer shall perform no action if the button is pressed 5 or more seconds.
      • If you hold the reset button for 10 or more seconds the printer exits the reset factory defaults function without resetting the printer or changing the printer settings to the factory defaults.
      • In order to reset the printer and network using the reset button, you must perform two separate reset actions: a printer reset (press and hold the button 1-5 seconds) and a network reset (press and hold the button 6-10 seconds).

 

Problem

The Light on the printer is solid red or flashing red and will not print!

 

Possible Solution

If the light is a solid amber color or red then this means that the printer’s status is STOPPED.

  1. Power the printer off for 30 seconds, then power it back on.
  2. The printer is out of labels, load more of the correct labels into the printer.
  3. The printer is open, close the printer.

 

Problem

The printer is doing a double green flash and will not print!

 

Possible Solution

The printer is paused:

  • Press the Feed button to resume printing.

 

Problem

The printer is flashing green and red and will not print!

 

Possible Solution

The printer starts to alternately flash Green and Red or Red, Red, Green.

  • The printer needs service, contact zebra tech support.

 

The printer starts to alternately flash Red, Amber, and Green.

  • The printer is defragging the memory. Do Not Turn The Printer Off! Wait untill it is done.
    • Defragmentation is a normal operation of the printer – necessary to manage the memory space for optimal use.
    • The printer will defragment its memory both after a factory default and when the printer detects that a defragment is required. .
    • When the printer is in this condition, allow it to finish defragmenting.
    • If this warning occurs frequently, check the label formats. Formats that frequently and repeatedly write to and erase from memory may cause the printer to defragment more often. Using formats that avoid frequent and repeated memory write/erase event will minimize the need for defragmentation.

 

Problem

There is nothing appearing on the label when I print a tag!

 

Possible Solution

The media may not be direct thermal media when printing without ribbon (i.e. thermal transfer)

  1. Purchase the correct labels.

 

Problem

The label is only printing half of the label correctly. The label only shows up on the left or right sides.

 

Possible Solution

The thermal transfer unit of the printer could be damaged.

  • Contact Zebra’s Technical support.

There could be a label suck inside on the thermal transfer unit.

  • Open the printer and see if there is a rogue label in the way of the thermal transfer unit.
  • Remove the rogue label and try to print again.

 

 

AFTER COMPLETING ALL OF THE ABOVE STEPS YOU STILL NEED ASSISTANCE WITH TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR PRINTERS PLEASE CONTACT BRAVO STORE SYSTEMS SUPPORT at (888) 407-6287 option 3.