Laserwriter II Ozone Filter

[jmacz]

For those with functioning Laserwriter IIs, have you replaced the ozone filter and if so, with what?

The Laserwriter IIf I recently picked up had a completely crumbled ozone filter. There isn't much on the site about it outside of Printerworks which is no longer in business.

I know it's not the same thing but can I just drop a filter bag with activated carbon in there as a replacement?

 

[4seasonphoto]

For those with functioning Laserwriter IIs, have you replaced the ozone filter and if so, with what?

The Laserwriter IIf I recently picked up had a completely crumbled ozone filter. There isn't much on the site about it outside of Printerworks which is no longer in business.

I know it's not the same thing but can I just drop a filter bag with activated carbon in there as a replacement?

TBH, I had no idea that anyone was concerned about ozone and particulate emissions until much more recently. I did a search for "printer ozone filter" and came up with a bunch of hits for what looks like the same sort of carbonized foamy material one might buy for home air filters.

 

[danda]

I haven't bothered to replace the filter in my LaserWriter II. I don't have it on for long periods of time.

However if you want to, I think that the HP part number you're looking for is the RF1-2130-CLN. The LaserWriter II uses a Canon SX engine, the same as the LaserJet II, so parts for that will work in it. There seem to be some NOS parts available on various sites - whether they are any good is another question, however.

 

[RepairManiac]

From the HP LaserJet II / III Service Manual (same Canon engine as the Laserwriter II series):

"Ozone Emissions:
General - The corona assemblies found in laser printers and photocopiers generate ozone gas (O3) as a by-product of the electrophotographic process. Ozone is only generated while the printer is actually printing (i.e. while the corona assembly is energized). Underwriters (UL) has established a standard for ozone emissions. All LaserJet printers meet this standard when shipped from the factory.

Employer Responsibility - Because ozone can be an irritant, various regulatory agencies have stablished limits to the amount of ozone to which employees may be exposed. The employer should provide a work environment that meets the following standards:
* A person may not be exposed to an average concentration of greater than 0.1 part per million (PPM) of ozone for a period of 8 hours.
* At this time, the American Conference of Governmental Industries Hygienists (ACGIH) has proposed a ceiling limit of 0.1 PPM for ozone

Recommended for Minimizing Ozone Exposure:
Almost all ozone concerns arise from abnormal site or operating conditions. The following conditions may generate an ozone complaint:
* Multiple laser printers in a confined area
* Extremely low relative humidity
* Poor room ventilation
* Printer exhaust port directed toward the faces of personnel.
* Existing ozone filter in need of replacement (see chapter 4)
* Long, continuous printing combined with any of the above conditions

Chapter 4:
Ozone Filter replacement
"... The filter should be replaced every 50,000 pages...Visual inspection will not show that a filter is dirty, page count is the only reliable indicator on which to base a decision to changea filter."

Hmm, this explains why they changed to a charge roller in later models to avoid this ozone "smell". Some people, including myself, complained of feeling lightheaded and now that makes sense. As I recall, it was just a carbon-based filer. We did blow air through them when they were dusty and replaced them if they were crumbling or when a maintenance kit was replaced.

Thanks for the memory lane!

 

[jovianartifact]

"I prefer laser writers myself. Cleaner type, and leaves that memorable ozone smell."
Brotherhood of Beige soldier, Retrout 4