Waste Ink Maintenance Counter Utility

Website · Download · User Guide · FAQ

Version 1.0.0 — Open-source, maintenance-focused, EUPL-1.2 licensed.

Executable: MaintenanceCounterUtility.exe Platform: Windows 64-bit, USB connection only.

Download & install

1. Download the latest release: https://github.com/devmosman/MaintenanceCounterUtility/releases/latest
2. Unzip and run MaintenanceCounterUtility.exe (no installation needed).
3. On first run, read and accept the Terms of Use.
4. Connect the printer by USB cable, power it on, then use the app.

Unsigned binary note: the .exe is not code-signed, so Windows SmartScreen may show "Windows protected your PC" → click More info → Run anyway. Some antivirus tools flag PyInstaller .exe files as a false positive.

Verify your download (recommended): each release includes SHA256SUMS.txt. Check the file's hash with PowerShell:

Get-FileHash .\MaintenanceCounterUtility.exe -Algorithm SHA256

and compare it to the value in SHA256SUMS.txt. You can also build it yourself from source (see the build instructions below) — the full source is published with every release under EUPL-1.2.

Full step-by-step usage: see the User Guide.

(A) What this project is

The Waste Ink Maintenance Counter Utility is an open-source, maintenance-focused utility for selected compatible inkjet printers. It reads the approximate waste-ink maintenance counters that some printers expose, creates a local backup of the relevant data, and can reset those counters only after the printer owner has physically inspected, cleaned, replaced, or redirected (via an external tank) the waste-ink pad/tank.

This tool performs no physical maintenance and is not a way to avoid service requirements. It is a software aid for owners who have already carried out the necessary physical service on their own hardware.

It runs with no runtime dependencies beyond the Python standard library and ctypes. The only build dependency is PyInstaller.

(B) Non-affiliation notice

This project is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or approved by Epson. Epson is a trademark of its respective owner. Product names are used only to describe compatibility with selected printer models.

(C) Supported models

The embedded model database contains 108 compatible models.

• Verified (hardware, June 2026): L3250, L3251, L3253, L3255. These were verified on real hardware by this project.
• Experimental (EUPL-derived): all other models. This data is derived from epson_print_conf (EUPL-1.2, Copyright (c) 2024-2025 Ircama) and has not been verified on hardware by this project. Treat experimental entries with extra caution.

There is no unlicensed, proprietary, vendor, or reverse-engineered vendor database in this project.

For the complete list and the full data provenance, see:

• SUPPORTED_MODELS.md — full model list and verification status.
• DATA_PROVENANCE.md — where the data came from and how it was licensed.

(D) What the tool does

• Reads the approximate waste-ink maintenance counters where the model supports it.
• Creates a local backup of the relevant EEPROM data where supported, taken automatically before every reset.
• Can reset the maintenance counters after the owner has performed the required physical maintenance.

All values are approximate. Counter readings depend on model support and may differ from the printer's internal accounting.

(E) What the tool does NOT do

• It does not clean, replace, or service the waste-ink pad.
• It does not empty or maintain an external waste-ink tank.
• It does not repair any hardware or perform any physical maintenance.
• It does not guarantee compatibility with any printer, especially Experimental models.
• It does not override or remove the need for physical maintenance.
• It does not provide legal advice.
• It is not an official Epson product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Epson.

(F) Physical maintenance warning

Waste-ink maintenance counters exist to track ink absorbed by the waste-ink pad/tank. Resetting these counters without performing the corresponding physical maintenance may cause ink leakage, overflow, staining, or damage to the printer and surrounding surfaces.

Before resetting, you must have physically inspected, cleaned, replaced, or redirected (via a functioning external tank) the waste-ink pad/tank. The reset only updates a counter — it does not absorb or remove any ink.

The application enforces several safeguards to keep this maintenance-focused:

• A first-run Terms-of-Use acceptance.
• A mandatory pre-reset warning with 8 points.
• A required checkbox: "I confirm that the waste ink pad has been inspected, cleaned, replaced, or an external waste ink tank is installed and functioning."
• A required second confirmation: "I understand this action modifies printer maintenance counters and I accept full responsibility for ensuring physical maintenance has been completed."
• An automatic EEPROM backup taken before every reset. The reset stops if the backup fails, unless the user explicitly overrides with a warning.
• Restore-from-backup support.
• Local operation logs recording model, transport, counter values, backup path, confirmation flags, and errors — but not serial numbers or personal data.
• A low-counter caution and a reminder to power-cycle the printer after a reset.

There is no telemetry; nothing is transmitted off the device.

(G) Legal caution

This is not legal advice.

Anti-circumvention, repair, warranty, consumer-protection, product-liability, and trademark laws vary by jurisdiction. This project makes no claim of legal clearance and provides no warranty that any particular use is lawful in your location.

If you intend to distribute this software for payment, it requires legal review before paid distribution by a qualified local IP/product lawyer. This project is offered as a risk-reduced, compliance-oriented, maintenance-focused tool, but only a qualified lawyer in your jurisdiction can advise on your specific situation.

(H) Build instructions

# Create a virtual environment
python -m venv .venv

# Activate (Windows)
.venv\Scripts\activate

# Install the build tool
pip install pyinstaller

# Run the app from source
python maintenance_counter_app.py

# Run the tests
python -m unittest discover -s tests -v

# Build the binary
pyinstaller --onefile --windowed --clean --noconfirm --name MaintenanceCounterUtility --hidden-import epson_d4 --hidden-import model_db --hidden-import printer_core --hidden-import eeprom_io --hidden-import operations --hidden-import oplog maintenance_counter_app.py

The only build dependency is PyInstaller. There are no runtime dependencies beyond the Python standard library and ctypes.

(I) Usage steps

1. Select and connect your printer over USB (Windows 64-bit, USB connection only).
2. Read the approximate waste-ink maintenance counters where supported.
3. Review the reported values and the verification status of your model (Verified vs Experimental).
4. Create a backup — an automatic EEPROM backup is taken before every reset; the reset stops if the backup fails unless you explicitly override.
5. Physically service the waste-ink pad/tank: inspect, clean, replace, or install/verify a functioning external waste-ink tank.
6. Confirm the acknowledgement checkbox and complete the second confirmation after reviewing the mandatory pre-reset warning.
7. Reset the maintenance counters.
8. Power-cycle the printer when prompted.
9. Review the local operation logs if you need a record of what was done (model, transport, counter values, backup path, confirmation flags, errors — no serial numbers or personal data).

If anything looks wrong, you can restore from backup.

(J) Adding new models

Contributions of new compatible models are welcome, provided the data has clear, compatible provenance.

• See CONTRIBUTING.md for how to propose changes and add models.
• See DATA_PROVENANCE.md for the required provenance and licensing for any model data.

Do not add unlicensed, proprietary, vendor, or reverse-engineered vendor data.

(K) License

This project is licensed under the EUPL-1.2. See LICENSE.txt.

The EUPL-1.2 is a copyleft license: the corresponding source code must be published with any binary release. If you distribute MaintenanceCounterUtility.exe, you must also make the matching source available under the same terms.