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Original HP 771 Photo Black & Light Gray Printhead (CE020A)
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Factory dual-color thermal inkjet printhead delivering 4.5 pL droplets for Photo Black and Light Gray in HP DesignJet Z6200 and Z6800 systems.
OEM Replacement Component
Original HP 771 Photo Black and Light Gray Printhead (CE020A)
OEM Part Number: CE020A (HP No. 771) | Dual-Color Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) High-Speed Production Printhead
Product Overview
The Original HP 771 Photo Black and Light Gray Printhead (CE020A) is an authentic original equipment manufacturer dual-color thermal drop-on-demand (DoD) inkjet printhead engineered specifically for high-volume industrial photo production printers, including the HP DesignJet Z6200, Z6600, and Z6800 series. Serving as the primary monochromatic grayscale imaging engine within HP’s 8-ink Vivid Photo pigment architecture, the CE020A printhead manages dense Photo Black (pK) for rich optical black laydown on glossy and semi-gloss substrates alongside ultra-dilute Light Gray (LG) pigment ink to deliver grain-free photographic highlights, neutral continuous tones, and smooth monochrome transitions.
Housing 2,112 active addressable nozzles (1,056 nozzles dedicated per channel across dual interleaved arrays), the HP 771 printhead deposits calibrated 4 picoliter (pL) micro-droplets at native print resolutions up to 2400 × 1200 optimized DPI. Equipped with HP’s built-in Smart Printing Technology, the onboard cryptographic EEPROM continuously communicates with the carriage electronics to monitor nozzle health, dynamically compensate for thermal shifts, and execute automated drop detection and channel remapping. Built for use with HP 771 Vivid Photo pigment inks, the printhead ensures exhibition-grade archival stability exceeding 200 years, moisture resistance, and rapid turnaround times across fine art rag, photo gloss, satin films, canvas, and backlit signage.
Part Information
| Product Name | Original HP 771 Photo Black and Light Gray Printhead |
| OEM Manufacturer | HP Inc. (Hewlett-Packard) |
| OEM Part Number | CE020A (HP No. 771) |
| Component Classification | Dual-Channel Drop-on-Demand (DoD) Thermal Inkjet Replacement Head |
| Ink Color Allocation | Photo Black (pK) and Light Gray (LG) |
| Ink Chemistry Pairing | HP 771 Vivid Photo Pigment Inks / HP 773 Pigment Inks |
| Manufacturing Standard | Genuine HP Factory Original Sealed Package (Singapore / Ireland) |
Technical Specifications
| Print Technology | HP Scalable Printing Technology (SPT) / Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) |
| Total Active Addressable Nozzles | 2,112 nozzles (1,056 nozzles per color channel across interleaved arrays) |
| Native Channel Resolution | 1200 nozzles per inch (npi) per row pair |
| Maximum Output Resolution | Up to 2400 × 1200 optimized DPI |
| Calibrated Base Drop Volume | 4 picoliters (pL) native micro-droplet |
| Swath Width per Pass | 21.6 mm (0.85 inches) |
| Smart Chip Integration | Onboard cryptographic EEPROM for dynamic thermal voltage compensation and nozzle monitoring |
| Operating Temperature Range | 5°C to 40°C (41°F to 104°F) |
| Storage Temperature Range | 5°C to 40°C (41°F to 104°F) in original sealed foil packaging |
| Operating Humidity Range | 20% to 80% RH non-condensing |
| Physical Dimensions & Weight | 28 × 143 × 132 mm; approx. 0.07 kg (70 g net / 110 g gross) |
Key Features & Operational Advantages
- Neutral Grayscale Depth: Paired with the Matte Black channel, the Photo Black and Light Gray channels produce neutral, balanced black-and-white prints, eliminating color casts, metameric failure, and bronzing across various gallery illumination conditions.
- Grain-Free Highlight Gradations: Deposits ultra-dilute Light Gray pigment micro-drops across pale photographic zones, eliminating visible halftone dot stippling in skies, delicate textures, and specular reflections.
- Industrial High-Speed Performance: Calibrated specifically to withstand high-velocity carriage sweeps on 42-inch and 60-inch production plotters without droplet deflection, misting, or ink starving.
- Active Optical Drop Detection: Interacts with the printer carriage sensor to identify clogged or deflected nozzles during production, dynamically substituting adjacent operational channels to eliminate horizontal banding.
CRITICAL TECHNICAL & OPERATIONAL ADVISORY
1. Platform Differentiation from HP 70 C9407A: Although the HP 771 (CE020A) and the older HP 70 (C9407A) share the Photo Black / Light Gray channel pair and physical housing geometry, the CE020A features high-frequency thermal firing pulse electronics and cryptographic keys configured specifically for HP 771/773 Vivid Photo pigment inks. They are not interchangeable; never attempt to use an HP 70 printhead in DesignJet Z6200/Z6800 production engines.
2. Automated Alignment & Optical Calibration: After latching the CE020A printhead, allow the printer to complete its automated printhead alignment routine. Ensure clean white photo gloss or heavyweight matte paper is loaded on the platen so the onboard optical sensor can clearly read the calibration patterns for both Photo Black and Light Gray channels.
3. Electrical Contact Pad Care: Never touch the rear gold contact array or the lower nozzle orifice faceplate with bare fingers. Skin oils and electrostatic discharge (ESD) can cause smart chip recognition errors or open-circuit faults. If contaminated, clean the pads gently using a lint-free cleanroom wipe lightly dampened with distilled water.
4. Packaging & Expiration Management: Keep the printhead sealed in its protective foil blister pack until immediately prior to physical installation to prevent nozzle dehydration. Check the "Install By" date on the packaging carton to ensure proper fluid wetting and actuator responsiveness.
Compatible Models & Systems
| Printer Series | Ink Chemistry | Supported Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| HP DesignJet Z6200 Series | HP 771 Vivid Photo Pigment | DesignJet Z6200 42-in (CQ109A / CQ109B) & Z6200 60-in (CQ111A / CQ111B) Photo Production Printers |
| HP DesignJet Z6800 Series | HP 771 Vivid Photo Pigment | DesignJet Z6800 60-in Photo Production Printer (F2S72A / F2S72B) |
| HP DesignJet Z6600 Series | HP 771 / HP 773 Pigment | DesignJet Z6600 60-in Production Printer (F2S71A) |
*Model Differentiation Note: The HP 771 Photo Black and Light Gray printhead (CE020A) operates in the 8-printhead carriage configuration of high-speed photo production platforms (Z6200/Z6800) alongside CE017A (Matte Black/Chromatic Red), CE018A (Magenta/Yellow), and CE019A (Light Magenta/Light Cyan). It is not compatible with desktop or standard graphic plotters (Z2100, Z3100, Z3200, Z5200, Z5600) or HP 746/747/774 architectures. Always verify production engine model before breaking the vacuum foil seal.
Terms, Warranty & Customer Protection
Condition: 100% Brand New, Genuine OEM Factory-Original HP Replacement Printhead sealed in official packaging with factory storage fluid intact.
HP Manufacturer Warranty: Covered under HP's genuine parts limited warranty against materials and workmanship defects until the "Warranty Ends" date printed on the exterior carton, or until the factory-rated ink throughput threshold is reached, whichever comes first.
Return Policy: Precision electronic consumable component. Unopened, factory-sealed boxes are eligible for standard commercial return. Once the protective blister seal is opened, the orange protective shipping cap removed, or the head seated into the carriage and charged with ink, returns cannot be accepted due to smart chip activation, fluid priming, and cross-contamination risks.
CE020A
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